Software and IT Services Sector overviewPart of Wales' vibrant technology industry, the software and IT services sector includes companies that develop software, provide IT support and technical consultancy. It is making an increasingly significant contribution to the Welsh economy as a whole, employing some 6,000. The software and IT services sector has been growing in strength and size since the mid-1990s. Home-grown SMEs such as Cwmbran-based Comtec Europe, UK market leader in software for the travel industry and Wales' seventh fastest growing company are amongst those in the vanguard of this trend. There has also been significant investment by blue-chip players such as EDS, IBM, Fujitsu Services and LogicaCMG. 2004 has seen global IT services company LogicaCMG announced a 750-job expansion of its Bridgend IT outsourcing operation. Vertical market solution software and IT services are examples of particular sector highlights. Growth is now firmly on the sector's agenda, with collaboration and innovation being bywords of the sector's culture, and all of this is built on the stable foundations Wales offers the sector. Expansion fuelled by collaboration and partnershipsGreater collaboration and an increasing number of partnerships - particularly with global players such as Microsoft, Macromedia and Palm - have fuelled the sector's expansion, cementing its credibility and enhancing its reputation for innovation. Collaboration between business and academia is also on the agenda - twenty accredited centres of excellence help companies exploit the kind of expertise that can lead to large gains in innovation and knowledge. Aberystwyth- and Cardiff-based Centre for Advanced Software and Intelligent Systems and Swansea's Centre for Communications and Software Technologies are examples of this kind of collaboration.
Peter Evans, a successful provider of complex and secure software solutions to the financial services sector, developed one of its earliest products in conjunction with Cardiff University, and continues to maintain strong links with both Cardiff University and Glamorgan University, Where students have assisted with data research for clients like Lloyds of London
Innovation driven growthClick for more information about Technium (opens in a new window): http://www.technium.co.uk (This link will open in a new window)
From its beginnings at Technium Swansea, Rockfield Software has grown to become a world leader in computational modelling, and now has offices in Australia and USA.
Technium Digital and Technium CAST are the latest additions to the WDA's Technium incubation network and both have the exploitation of software at their heart: - Technium Digital is ideal for young technology businesses creating commercial propositions that exploit scientific and high performance software, sophisticated next generation optical and wireless communication systems and graphics software. - Technium CAST offers the opportunity for technology businesses to commercialise, develop and deploy distributed/GRID computing applications. Niche players succeeding globallyNiche players are at the heart of the software and IT services sector in Wales. Many continue to target particular market niches with innovative software products and continue to report growth and expansion.
Stable foundations benefit the sectorWales - providing the right connections for software and IT service businessesThe WDA has strong relationships with many software and IT services businesses and has helped them to achieve their aspirations and growth plans. Dedicated account managers work with companies to provide advice, guidance and 'sign-posting' on a range of business issues such as marketing, strategy development, identifying suitable property, sources of expertise and comprehensive funding advice. What if the WDA could do the same for your software and IT services business? |
