News
Four LDC-backed businesses recognised in Northern Tech Awards Top 100
17 Jun 2022
The night of 16 June 2022 proved a successful one for LDC-backed CTI Group, iamproperty, WCCTV and Aspire Technology Solutions. They were all recognised in GP Bullhound’s Northern Tech Awards Top 100, while iamproperty also collected an individual award for innovation.
Since 2014, the annual Northern Tech Awards, organised by advisory and investment company GP Bullhound, has recognised the 100 fastest-growing technology companies in the North of England and Scotland.
The rankings are based on revenue growth over the last three years and this year the judges singled out four LDC-backed businesses, which is a real testament to the ambitious management teams that LDC continues to support.
Digital agency CTI Group ranked in 63rd place after recording an average growth rate of 23%. It helps companies to grow and develop through digital transformation and the use of cutting-edge technologies and has grown quickly having completed five acquisitions in the past three years. The business employs 175 people across its offices in Manchester and Lancaster. LDC is supporting the management team with its acquisitive growth strategy.
Newcastle-headquartered iamproperty, the UK’s largest residential auction service, creates technology-led software, platforms and services that support property professionals, speeding up transactions and improving security. LDC invested in the business in 2019 to support the development of its technology-led software. Today, the business employs 180 people. It delivered an annual growth rate of 23% to place 64th in the Top 100. iamproperty also collected the Judges’ Innovation Award in recognition of its technology-led approach in the property sector.
WCCTV, which is headquartered in Rochdale, provides wireless surveillance products including redeployable CCTV, site security solutions and body worn cameras, and placed 73rd in the Top 100. The business registered an average growth rate of 21%. WCCTV’s technology is used in the infrastructure, utilities, retail, transport and construction sectors, as well as by local authorities and housing associations across the UK and the US. LDC is helping the business to grow across the UK and overseas.
Aspire Technology Solutions is one of the fastest growing IT managed service and cyber security providers in the UK and placed 99 in the Top 100. LDC invested in the business earlier this year in a transaction that valued the business at £85m. It has offices in Gateshead and Stockton-on-Tees, employs more than 200 people and recorded an average growth rate of 11%.
The Northern Tech Awards come on the back of recent insights from GP Bullhound unveiling 2021 as a record year for the Northern technology ecosystem – with average growth rates of best-performing tech businesses across the North reaching an all-time high.
Analysis from GP Bullhound revealed that the Top 100 fastest-growing tech companies in the North recorded higher average growth rates than the previous two years (47% vs 42% and 39% respectively) and were higher than pre-pandemic levels.
LDC is a leading investor and supporter of technology businesses in the UK. It has provided over £1.3bn of investment to help more than 130 management teams to grow their TMT businesses. The private equity firm is committed to investing in at least 100 new mid-markets companies over the next five years.
We would like to congratulate all the businesses that feature in The Northern Tech Awards Top 100! You can find out more information on The Northern Tech Awards Top 100 here.
