Leeds-based tech firms Hippo Digital and The Data Shed join forces following acquisition

Anna Sutton, co-founder of The Data Shed, said: “We’re really proud of everything we’ve achieved together as a team, but we had got to the point where we were thinking about what comes next, and the answer was ultimately that we wanted to be with a partner and work with somebody else. That's where this conversation started.

“I think we've got a very similar ethos across both organisations, and I think we've come together in a really meaningful way to drive that.”

The Data Shed is an award-winning consultancy specialising in data integration and analytical projects,

With combined revenues in excess of £40m, Hippo Digital aims to scale its engineering and data practices to sustain growth in both the public and private sector.

Hippo Digital, which is now in its seventh year, plans to continue on its double digit growth trajectory and invest in growing the business to over 500 employees.

Hippo Digital CEO Adam Lewis noted that despite plans for growth, the firm remained aware of current economic issues.

He said: “We have been quite cautious, we’re very aware that in the industry at the minute there's a lot of disruption and some places are having to make lay-offs. We’ve always been pretty prudent and relatively conservative against what the opportunities were, and we’ll carry on with that. It's been consistent but considered growth.”

The two firms will slowly be brought together over the course of the next year, with naming and structure still to be decided.

Mr Lewis added: “I don't think we know 100 per cent what that looks like yet. We will work out what the right brand name and feel is, but nothing is off the table.”

Both firms said that no jobs would be lost in the deal, and that new opportunities would be opened up to staff through the acquisition.

The Data Shed co-founder Ed Thewlis said: “Lots of our team have been with us quite a long time, and getting them into bigger opportunities and allowing them to grow in other ways is really important.

“We’ve invested a lot of time, and they've reciprocated that and invested time to help us develop, and I think this gives us some great opportunities to take on new things. That could be line management roles, people leadership roles, or more hands-on project work, there's some great opportunities, so that is a huge positive.”

The Data Shed was founded 11 years ago while hasband and wife co-founder team Ms Sutton and Mr Thewlis were due to have their second son.

Ms Sutton added: “I had been made redundant, and we decided we were going to use that redundancy money to fund our mortgage for six months and give the business a go. It was something we had talked about it for about 18 months.

“Ed’s background is in data engineering and all things economics and languages, and mine is in marketing. We’d seen how data could drive value for businesses for a long time - and we thought that we could combine our skill sets to do something a bit different - so that's what we did.”

The firm now has offices in Leeds and Edinburgh, with clients including NHS Digital, Equifax, Emerald Publishing, GAMSTOP and Ecology Building Society.