AND Digital has launched its latest office in Manchester and plans to create 60 jobs in the city in the next year.
The tech consultancy now has 13 bases across the UK – known as ‘clubs’ – as well as a newly established international base in Amsterdam.
It works with clients across a range of sectors, including financial services, media, telecommunications, retail, hospitality and the public sector.
Club Jemison – which takes its name from American astronaut Mae Jemison, the first woman of colour to travel in space – will double the tech company’s presence in the city. Its first base there, Club Kilburn, launched this year and now counts Co-op, the Very Group and The Prince’s Trust among its key clients.
The move will see AND consolidating its longer term plans to build a northern hub – one which has already seen significant expansion in Yorkshire and Scotland to date.
“Manchester is the fastest-growing tech hub in Europe currently, with around £527 million of funding being funnelled into companies based in the city,” said CEO and founder Paramjit Uppal.
“Not only does this present AND with an enormous growth opportunity, it also means that we can make a much bigger impact in helping clients accelerate their digital delivery while closing digital skills gaps in the region.
“We believe it takes more than tech or data alone to win. Technology and digital services don’t build themselves: it takes the right people, set up in the right environment, to deliver, manage and continuously improve it.”
The new base will be led by Rick Boyce, who was previously technical director for Infinity Works’ Manchester-based operations.
“Manchester is synonymous with innovation, technology, and is even considered the birthplace of the first modern computer,” he said.
“Not only is it currently home to six of the UK’s 14 tech unicorns, it also offers a rich and diverse pool of tech talent given the close proximity of some of the UK’s leading universities.
Newcastle base to create 100 jobs at tech consultancy Thoughtworks
“As a result, it’s only natural that AND Digital would want to expand its presence in this thriving tech destination.
“What appealed to me about this role was AND’s unique approach of putting people at the heart of everything it does. Operating using the ‘club model’ means we can keep the close relationships and individuality of a small company and the scale of impact of a large company in the work we do with clients, while growing rapidly and at scale – a winning formula that’s proven successful for AND, as demonstrated by its explosive growth to date.
“Given our ambitious plans to create a northern hub, we’re continually looking for the ambitious and curious people to support us in our mission to help clients deliver tech that makes life better for 200 million people, every day.
“In Club Jemison alone we will create over 60 new jobs for the city in the next year.”
Uppal added: “In Rick, we have a club executive who has a proven track record of success, and brings with him the knowledge and know-how to motivate our people and clients to achieve great things with tech and data.”