Member Article

Opencast wins Leadership Prize at Northern Tech Awards

Newcastle-founded independent tech consultancy Opencast has won the prestigious Judges Leadership Award at the 2023 Northern Tech Awards – with chief executive Tom Lawson picking up the prize for “the management team with the strongest vision and best leadership.”

Tom was handed the GP Bullhound award at a gala dinner for investors and business leaders in Edinburgh on Thursday after presenting Opencast’s model for human-centred and values-driven growth to judges.

Opencast was also named for the first time among the top 10 fastest-growing technology business in the North. The ranking is based on revenue growth over the last three years – and after finishing at 21st last year in 2023 the business was ranked in ninth place this time.

Opencast’s ranking in the NTA Top 10 reflects a compound annual growth rate for the business of 99%.

From the fastest-growing technology companies list, 10 business were selected by the Northern Tech judging panel to present and compete for one of seven special Judges’ Awards.

Opencast has now been named in the GP Bullhound-organised Top 100 list six times in the 10 years that the awards has been running.

Since 2022 Opencast has more than doubled its team to more than 450, supporting government clients like HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions, as well as big enterprises including Sage.

While growing, the company has supported its people through innovative career paths, building out a model for values-driven growth. Last year it opened new hub offices in London, Leeds and Edinburgh, with more openings planned this year.

Welcoming the award win, Opencast chief executive Tom Lawson said: “We are absolutely delighted with this award win. GP Bullhound’s Northern Tech Awards are data-driven so rely primarily on the facts of business growth. We were pleased to have been named in the top 10 fastest-growing businesses – but to then receive the prestigious Judges Leadership Award is fantastic.

“The award is recognition of the entire leadership team at Opencast – as well as to everyone working in the organisation. It is a privilege to lead an organisation with such committed and smart individuals. We are working hard to build a new kind of technology consulting business – and this award win is validation of that work.

“Congratulations to all the award winners and to all other great companies named in the 2023 Northern Tech Top 100.”

Opencast is a fast-growing, independent technology consultancy working with government and business to design, build and run technology solutions with purpose.

It provides services in digital architecture, user-centred design, software, digital & technical delivery, DevOps, cloud & platform engineering, and live services support.

Opencast was founded in 2012 by co-chairs Charlie Hoult and Mike O’Brien. It is headquartered Newcastle Upon Tyne, with hubs in London, Leeds and Edinburgh.

The company believes in making life better through the power of people and technology. It delivers human-focused solutions to the challenges its clients face – harnessing the potential of people and working together to ensure technology is done in the right way.

Opencast’s vision is to make a positive impact on society through solutions that are simpler, more sustainable and fairer for all.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Hoults Yard .