Tech trailblazer Saggezza is planning to double the number of staff at its UK headquarters in Sunderland this year. But this growth doesn't come without its challenges, as Martin Williams, Saggezza UK's managing director, explains.
Saggezza is a global business – with offices in Sunderland and London, as well as the US and India – that works with some of the world’s best-known businesses to deliver bespoke tech solutions which generate bottom-line benefits.
The firm was founded in Chicago in 2006 by serialsoftware entrepreneurs Socka Suppiah and Arvind Kapur. A year later, the company expanded into India, opening its Bangalore base, then San Jose’s Silicon Valley, before the UK was identified as a target.
Martin Williams, Saggezza UK’s managing director, was the man tasked with establishing the business in the UK, starting off in London. “I joined the company as its first UK employee back in 2014” he recalls.
“Prior to this, I worked for an aviation business, which at the time, was working with Saggezza to help us make better use of our software. I was the company’s first and only UK employee, which was both exciting and daunting.
“There was me, a desk and a chair in an office in Paddington. But, I knew the company’s capabilities having worked with them as a client, so I knew we had a valuable proposition.”
Martin’s hunch proved right and Saggezza was a huge hit in the UK from the off. The company landed a huge contract to work with a global printing firm just weeks after launching and the work soon started to roll in.
“Before we knew it, we were up to a team of 20 employees in London and firing on all cylinders, he added. “The offer worked for the UK market, just as well as it did overseas. In fact, we soon realised that there was even more demand for our services here in the UK.”
London proved to be a great starting base for the company, but as a ‘small fish in a huge pond’, Saggezza found that its growth was being hampered by the ultra-competitive market in the capital. With this in mind, the firm decided to spread its wings.
“One of the members of our London team was from the North East and suggested it might be worth exploring an office in the region, and so the discussion began, says Martin, who works between Sunderland and London. Then, in 2014, Saggezza began the search for possible bases in the region, and found the perfect location at the Software Centre, in the heart of Sunderland city centre. It not only provided the right infrastructure, but also the right workforce.
“We visited the centre and immediately knew it would be a great fit for us. It was centrally located, enjoyed great links to London with a rail station and direct connection to the city just minutes away, and of course the building was custom-built for businesses just like Saggezza.
“We met with Sunderland City Council’s business investment team, and agreed to test the viability of opening an office in the centre. It became clear to us very quickly that this could really work.
Within a year, Saggezza had relocated its UK HQ to Sunderland, and recruited a team of 14 people to service the growing number of clients on its books.
The company has since grown to a team of 45 and Martin and his team have ambitious plans to increase this further over the next 12 months. However, he is aware of the challenges this will bring.
“Companies across the UK are struggling to recruit staff with the required skillsets to fill highly skilled roles, especially when it comes to software, java and GMC developing, he adds.
“And the North East is no exception. “One way we have helped to try and plug this skills gap is through the 0Gravity coding club, which was set up to teach 8-11 year olds how to code.
The club which ran weekly groups up until March 26 – worked with young people every Monday evening to teach them the technical skills to expand the popular game Minecraft, by using java and a system and course called Code Kingdoms.
He continued: “It helped inspire the next generation to take an interest in technology, and sparked a desire among many of them to pursue a career in the sector in the future. “We’ve also worked with the local universities and colleges to help give students an insight into what the world of tech can offer them.
“It’s fantastic for us to be able to showcase the opportunities available here in the North East to local people. “It reassures them that they don’t necessarily have to move away to fulfil their dreams, there are opportunities aplenty right here.
“But, whilst this has helped spur on the next generation of workers, we still have to address the pressing challenge in front of us of improving the skills of the existing workforce.
The latest research by TechNationUK and EY backs up Martin’s claims, highlighting that on average, there are around 1.4 job adverts for every digital tech worker per year across the North of England, and the skills gap is only growing wider. Looking ahead, Martin is keen to stress that, as more businesses look to relocate to the region, we must continue to develop the skills of our workforce to ensure the sector can compete on a global stage.
He concludes: “More and more technology companies are now looking to relocate to the region and, whilst it’s great news for the sector and the regional economy, we must all work together to ensure we continue to nurture the skills of our workforce.
“The North East is a fantastic place to start and grow a business and is fast establishing itself as a breeding ground for high growth tech businesses. But we must make sure the sector is sustainable. Collaboration is key and communication is vital.
“Working together, the private sector must work closely with education providers and the public sector to ensure we’re doing all that we can to push the sector forward. “As we approach post-Brexit Britain, it’s up to both employers and educators to cast their nets wider and devise new ways to reach and train raw talent.
“You can’t build a business without people and we all have a role to play in ensuring we have the right people here to take our companies forward.