IT support firm Shackleton Technologies is celebrating its 10th year in business in style, with turnover set to top £1 million for the first time later this summer.
The Dundee Technology Park company, which launched in 2004 with just three staff, said it expected to book a 30% hike in top-line sales for the year to June, and is now targeting the potentially lucrative Aberdeen market.
Its team of 13 headed by managing director Steve Ross and business development director Philip Magson have already secured a number of contracts with oil and gas firms, and are now looking at establishing a new office in the north east as they step-up efforts to win more work.
Shackleton, which receives support from national business development agency Scottish Enterprise after being named as one of the body’s ‘high-growth’ prospects, has already won deals with clients including jam-maker Mackays, insurance broker Clark Thomson, valve manufacturer Pacson and third-sector organisation Tayside Council for Alcohol.
But the firm’s work takes it all over the UK and the world.
“Shackleton’s UK client base ranges from Invergordon in the north to Rochdale in the south, but we also work with a number of clients who have staff working overseas and we’re actively managing their IT systems too, looking after servers in the States and staff working in Dubai and even Australia,” Mr Ross said.
He highlighted the introduction of cloud computing systems and a step-up in regular monthly system management revenues as particular boosts for his company over the last 12 months.
“I think people are investing again, in their whole infrastructure, so we are winning project work and management services,” Mr Ross said.
“The cloud has obviously been a game-changer in the last year, so we are capitalising on that with lots of businesses looking at cloud solutions.”
He said proper IT system support was now just as important as other business services, like proper accountancy and legal advice.
“We work with clients on a strategic level, future-proofing their IT systems and ensuring that they make the right decisions as they grow their business,” he said.
“Some of our clients start off by describing their systems as ‘organic’ but results come from planning their systems strategically, and in line with where they are going as a business.
“To succeed and grow, industry relies on accountants and solicitors but, with IT at the heart of all businesses, we see ourselves as having an equally crucial role to play in their success and growth.”
The company, a corporate sponsor of Dundee Heritage Trust, will celebrate a decade in business with a dinner aboard RRS Discovery next month.