UK-based IT consultancy BJSS expands into Glasgow, Scotland
IT consultancy BJSS has used a contract which will see it deliver large-scale IT transformation for Disclosure Scotland as a springboard to open a Scottish office. The firm arrives north of the border with a view to recruiting 70 people by the end of 2018.
Leeds-based BJSS was founded in 1993, and turns over more than £70 million per year. The company delivers software solutions to a wide range of industries, including financial services, which saw it deliver a trade reporting system to the London Stock Exchange. Other projects, including the development of a global oil pricing system, have seen the firm expand to the status of a global consulting force. With almost 800 employees, BJSS operates in six UK cities and has a US presence in New York. However, in its 24 year life-span, the now-international firm has never before had a presence north of Hadrian’s Wall.
Now, the consulting firm has established its first office in Glasgow, recruiting 12 professionals in the Scottish city already. The new location comes on the back of its obtaining of a large scale project on behalf of the Scottish government. BJSS, which initially won the contract in January 2017, are presently working to deliver IT transformation for Disclosure Scotland. Disclosure Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, providing criminal records disclosure services for employers and voluntary sector organisations.
Company Director James Whitehouse said as many as 30 would eventually be recruited, including a head of delivery, who will be recruited from the local area to spearhead growth during the sizeable project for the Scottish Government agency. Ultimately, the firm hopes the Glasgow office will be as large as others in the company – with the firm’s London office currently boasting a 220-strong staff, while others have between 80 and 90.
Whithouse said of the move, “We were looking for the opportunity to get up here. That opportunity presented itself and we went for it. Uncertainty around political environment would affect some companies but we see opportunity in everything,” before adding, “Scotland gives us access to big clients that we already work with in other areas of the business, such as Lloyds and RBS. But also to try and get a different part of the business growing, so it’s an obvious choice for us, being a UK consultancy, to branch out into Scotland and try and build a successful business there.”
The business has signed up to the Scottish Government’s Scottish Business Pledge, while Whitehouse said BJSS was developing relationships with Codebase, Datalab and ScotlandIS. The firm also plans to help develop the local economy, in line with its company ethos, by using local staff, rather than parachuting in English talent.
Speaking on the boost this offers the Scottish business environment, the SNP administration’s Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Paul Wheelhouse, added, “BJSS’ plans to create 70 local jobs within its new Scottish hub shows the strength of the financial and business services sector in Scotland and is great news for the local economy in and around Glasgow.”
The news follows further confirmation of expansion from UK business and IT consultancy Waterstons. Earlier in the year, the professional services firm opened its first office in Scotland, as it eyed further growth and expansion. Meanwhile, the firm has appointed IT management veteran Ricky Milliken as Regional Head.