A Manchester company which helps public sector bodies with digital transformation projects has secured a £1.4 million investment.
Shaping Cloud’s funding included £750,000 from NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance; £500,000 from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority; and £150,000 from internal management.
Established by Carlos Oliveira in 2010, the company works with government departments, councils and the NHS to adopt cloud technology and currently employs 18 people.
It counts the likes of NHS Digital, Manchester City Council, Homes England and the Universities of Sheffield and Nottingham among its clients.
“Our ambition as a company is to be part of making digital transformation within the public sector a reality,” Oliveira said.
“With ambitious targets set out in the government’s transformation strategy and health and social care integration agenda, our experience and products, we believe, make us well placed to support these objectives and transform the digital services delivered by public sector bodies.”
The funding will allow Shaping Cloud to continue to innovate and develop its cloud products and step up its sales and marketing activity.
It is expected to create a further 12 jobs in the coming months.
Oliveira added: “The additional support will also allow us to invest in and grow the team and become part of the growing number of innovative businesses based in Manchester and driving change.”
NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance is managed by Mercia Fund Managers and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.
Mercia Fund Managers’ Will Clark said: “Public sector organisations face the challenge of trying to build digital services while running many of their core functions on legacy systems. Shaping Cloud helps them to deliver a modern front end solution whilst also increasing efficiency and reducing costs.”
Grant Peggie, director at British Business Bank, added: “The business is in great shape, and this funding will only help it grow even further as it looks to bolster its headcount and develop new products.”
Shaping Cloud was advised by Rupert Wingate Saul of FWS Advisory.
Jan Winstanley of Kuits provided legal advice to Shaping Cloud whilst the Fund was advised by Melanie Yeomans of Manchester-based Ward Hadaway.