Simpson Associates (data analytics)

Simpsons Associates had been going for 30 years when the company decided to open an office in South Yorkshire, to create more flexibility for colleagues and client to get together and maximise the benefits of working face to face.

“The Tech Welcome grant was really the icing on the cake to help us make the move. It helped us get a bit more space at Electric Works that allowed us to be a little more ambitious with our plans to build a hub in South Yorkshire.

“The process of applying was really easy, and the process from application to approval was something like four to six weeks, very quick.

“It became apparent that Sheffield is a really cost effective place to base yourself, with much lower rents than some of the northerly or West Yorkshire regions. But with that lower cost, it’s one of the biggest cities in the UK, so all the infrastructure is there, resources, individuals. We absolutely recognised that talent that was in Sheffield and South Yorkshire, with the two Universities and that talent pool, and we wanted to tap into that to bring new talent to the business. To me, that’s what makes it a great place to base a business.”

Giles Horwood, Managing Director, Simpsons Associates