Hull cyber security firm seeks to expand headcount

A Hull based cyber-security and managed IT provider is set for further expansion with more space and more people.

Co-founders Scott Clark and Leon McQuade have hit the targets for their latest five-year business plan at the halfway stage, with growth down to changing working habits which they say may persist beyond the pandemic.

Leon said: “Things have changed, cyber-attacks are way up. As a result we have re-tooled the business to help our customers protect and grow what matters most – their revenues! The vast majority of managers expect more flexible work from home policies post-pandemic, and they want to be sure their systems are secure.”

Think Cloud had only five staff when Scott relocated his original business, Virtual Networking Ltd, to The Deep in late 2018 and joined forces with Leon, whose own business, Profound Inc, specialised in digital transformation for businesses.

Between them they added services for clients in accounts and finance, manufacturing, engineering and digital marketing. The central location at The Deep enabled them to attract people at a time when cyber-security skills were in short supply, and they now have 12 staff as well as a dedicated team of outsourced specialists.

From starting with a suite of 750 square feet at The Deep they have now added 500 square feet, creating the space to welcome more clients and colleagues.

Freya Cross, Head of Business and Corporate at The Deep, said: “Think Cloud are another example of a company coming to our business centre and making the most of the flexibility and support we offer to expand when they need to, without having to begin a search for new premises.

“They have progressed extremely well during the pandemic and they have done that by helping other businesses with essential IT support in difficult times. There’s a certain irony in the fact that Think Cloud’s new offices were previously occupied by one of our clients who moved out because they took the decision that all their staff should work remotely.”

When Covid hit and physical events were no longer possible the company stepped up to share its expertise online, notably with a series of masterclasses for the Hull and East Yorkshire LEP Growth Hub in partnership with Northern Powerhouse and as an associate of Winning Moves.

Against a background of data from the government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2021 showing an increase in cyber-crime and a decline in preparedness, Think Cloud looked at helping SMEs implement new technologies, with advice on hardware and software and on enhancing cyber-security.