Leeds digital services scaleup acquires local consultancy in “groundbreaking” deal

Leeds based digital services partner Hippo Digital has acquired fellow Leeds firm The Data Shed, a data consultancy, widening its offering to the market and enabling the business to deliver “meaningful transformation” for customers on a bigger scale.

This unification of two home-grown tech scaleups establishes a trailblazing alternative to traditional firms and showcases the “ambition” of these rapidly growing companies.

The growth of both companies echoes the overall trajectory of the Leeds’ tech sector over the last decade, which has seen a number of acquisitions and the creation of two Unicorns, as well as countless startups. Hippo and The Data Shed are two of the highest-profile firms to have been founded in Leeds in the last decade.

Hippo Digital, established in 2016, has already made a significant impact in transforming the delivery of digital services across the NHS and central government. With over 300 specialists in user research, service design, UX, data, engineering, technical architecture, and security, Hippo has fast become a “serious player” in the digital transformation space.

Shaped from the belief that data should be incorporated into every aspect of an organisation to inform long-term business strategy, The Data Shed offers tech solutions blended with strategy and business change to optimise investment in data solutions.

By combining forces, these Leeds based firms have created a nearly 400-strong team that will disrupt the market and offer a “new and innovative” alternative to the traditional, legacy systems integrators, and digital transformation organisations who have previously dominated this space.

Adam Lewis, CEO of Hippo Digital, commented: “The Data Shed has an impressive history of delivering for clients and has established itself as a real leader in the data field.

“This acquisition significantly strengthens our data and engineering capabilities to nearly 200 people allowing us to continue to help us solve wider problems for clients, and The Data Shed’s private sector experience extends our reach. We’re delighted to welcome the team to the Hippo family.”

Ed Thewlis, co-founder and chief commercial officer of The Data Shed, added: “By bringing the two businesses together, we combine our talent and experience to disrupt the current market offering, driving meaningful transformation to more clients and ultimately realise better outcomes for citizens and customers everywhere.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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