Dorset company named fifth-fastest growing in Europe

A software engineering company co-founded and run by a Dorset-based entrepreneur has been named by the Financial Times one of the fastest-growing in Europe.

Spryosoft, which was co-founded in 2016 by Andrew Radcliffe, a former government technology advisor and Head of Development at Ordnance Survey, ranked fifth on the annual list. Top of the charts was London’s Bulb Energy.

Radcliffe launched the business in Wroclaw, Poland, but has set up a UK base in Ferndown, Dorset, from where he works as chief executive. The company describes itself as a “space for IT enthusiasts” that “combine[s] embedded and enterprise domains, implementing end-to-end systems: from embedded software to cloud applications”.

Spryosoft now employs 600 people, works with more than 150 customers worldwide and has offices across Europe. It listed on Poland’s NewConnect stock market last year, when its revenue increased to £21.6m from £13.7m in 2019.

Radcliffe said: “The Covid pandemic has seen an even more rapid acceleration towards automation, machine learning and the use of artificial intelligence in all sectors. Businesses have realised they need to be more pandemic-proof and they are looking for technology partners to help them achieve that.

“Whether an increasing switch to e-commerce, robotics or simply having technology solutions perform a wider range of business tasks, companies are looking to us to develop software that ensures they can maintain operations in the midst of a pandemic.

Radcliffe added: “We spotted a growing gap in the market between technology providers and business and decided that we could fill it by providing strong technological competence allied with many years of business experience.

“That enables our software engineering teams to create innovative solutions for our customers across a wide range of sectors.

“We are working at the cutting edge, bringing numerous global clients’ ideas to life by recognising their problems and formulating effective and thorough technology solutions in a range of sectors.

“Being recognised in the FT1000 list alongside some other great companies across Europe is a fantastic achievement for everyone associated with Spyrosoft, including the clients that have hired us, given that we started just under five years ago.

“I am proud of so many things about the continued development and growth of Spyrosoft - the difference we have made for our clients, the professionalism of our teams and their ability to think the unthinkable and make it happen. The very first person we hired five years ago still works for us - and that is another thing that makes me proud to be running a business like Spyrosoft.”