Hippo are delighted to announce an investment from Growth Capital Partners (GCP); a private equity firm that specialises in partnering with UK SME fast-growth owner-managed businesses.
Since our inception in April 2016, we are proud to have quickly established ourselves as a leading supplier of digital leaders, service design teams and delivery expertise in support of large-scale digital transformation programmes to public and private sector organisations. Our key focus is to ensure that user-centred and evidence-based design is at the core of everything we do, researching, designing and delivering to add value and create lasting change.
Over the last five years, we are thrilled to have a workforce that has grown from 2 to almost 200, and we have a client base that includes health and care providers, financial services and government departments. The successful acquisition and integration of Converging Data has enhanced our data analytics and cyber capability and has helped to fuel our growth.
Demand for our services has increased throughout the pandemic. We have provided key services to combat the impact of the virus and supported Digital Transformation in the public sector.
Co-founder Robert Coop said, “The work Hippo has done with the Health Sector during the Coronavirus Pandemic has demonstrated the resilience of the business. It has been able to contribute to the public sector and its increasing use of digital technology.”
We recognise that to grow and sustain our ambition of becoming a national key player; we need to bring in a partner. GCP’s investment will assist it in the realisation of our intent to continue to create hi-tech jobs in Leeds and Coventry and expand into areas including Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Newcastle and London. This investment will see us grow from 200–400 people over the next 3 years.
Liz Whitefield, Director, said: “GCP specialises in supporting high-growth UK businesses, and we are really excited to be working with a team of experts who not only have proven expertise in our sector but absolutely get our culture, something all our Hippos align to and which is at the heart of our success.”
Co-founder Adam Lewis added: “We’re delighted to have GCP on board, they have a great track record in the digital transformation space and the investment will support the next phase of our growth plan, including implementing the new Hippo Academy. We were focused on finding a partner that can support us and in GCP we have found like-minded people and we’re excited to work with them going forward.”
Alex Thomson, Partner, GCP, commented, “We are thrilled to have completed an investment to support the exciting growth plans of Hippo. Hippo is a specialist digital transformation consultancy with an exceptional track record in designing and delivering digital services that are of critical importance to their clients. The business has grown impressively over the past few years, and Hippo has a differentiated culture that reflects technical excellence and client-centred delivery. We look forward to an exciting journey of supporting Adam, Rob, Liz and the rest of the Hippo team as the business continues to innovate, deliver for its clients and grow”.
