Manchester-based digital consultancy Parker Neal is set to nearly double its turnover after taking part in Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub’s ASCEND programme.
Co-founder and director Dave Parker described the company’s involvement with ASCEND as game-changing as they prepare for the ‘Big Bang’ phase of business growth.
Founded by data expert Parker and cybersecurity specialist Gareth Neal, the firm operates across three core pillars – cybersecurity, data, and data privacy – delivering tailored solutions for SMEs. But 2024 marked a significant shift in focus and momentum.
“We were pivoting our business last year to bring out new products, new services, more of a focus in SME and ASCEND really helped us to achieve that in terms of giving us all of the knowledge and capability needed to drive the business forward,” said Parker.
That pivot was completed around September 2024, followed by a rebranding and repositioning of the business.
The results have been striking. From around a £260,000 turnover last year, the company is now on track to exceed £500,000 this financial year.
Former Barclaycard and Virgin Money change manager Parker has attributed the accelerated growth to a refined focus and the practical benefits of ASCEND.
“It’s all our hard graft but ASCEND gives you the tools and it gives you the links to people,” noted Parker.
“You’re almost becoming embedded in that growth spider’s web of being connected. There are a lot of like-minded businesses and like-minded individuals and that really helps.”
Among the highlights of the Manchester-based firm’s recent growth trajectory was a successful showing at Web Summit, where Parker Neal secured three key international clients.
Combined, those contracts have already delivered around £120,000 in revenue – and all came from non-UK businesses, marking a first step towards international expansion.
This success has led to international opportunities and recognition. Since Web Summit, Parker has represented Greater Manchester as a business ambassador in the Ruhr region of Germany and is due to visit Lausanne, Switzerland, in July to explore further growth with the Business Growth Hub there.
He added: “Lausanne is a great space for us, easy to get to, but our products are white labelled, so we can lift and shift them across Europe very quickly.”
With the foundations now stable – revenue climbing, a growing team of 12 (including both permanent staff and contractors), and a recently expanded office at Manchester tech hub DiSH – Parker Neal is all set to enter a crucial phase in its growth.
Parker explained: “We’re now kind of looking at doing a Big Bang now. We’ve got the business stable, we’ve got money coming in, we’ve brought Dr Vikas Shah on as a non-executive director.
“We’re looking now to start doing that Big Bang growth and the scaling that we need to do.”
To support that ambition, the company has brought in cybersecurity expert Stephen Mann as head of strategic solutions and is in the process of hiring an in-house marketing lead.
The coming months are expected to be pivotal as the business looks to build on its blossoming momentum.
It is set to be fuelled by strong strategic planning, international reach and a powerful network of support provided through programmes like ASCEND.
For Parker Neal, the Big Bang isn’t just a metaphor – it’s the next logical step in a potentially large Manchester business growth story.