Bridewell
Specialist cyber security services provider
Contributing Sustainable Development Goals
Background
Bridewell is a cybersecurity services company providing end-to-end consulting and 24×7 managed detection and response solutions to organisations operating across Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) and other regulated industries. They are headquartered in Reading, employ over 300 people and have offices across the UK and USA. We partnered with founders Anthony Young and Scott Nicholson through a minority investment in March 2021.Our investment partnership
Bridewell has an excellent track record of delivering growth (43% CAGR since 2021) and is recognised as a leading cybersecurity specialist with a wide range of industry accreditations and deep technical expertise across Critical National Infrastructure. The business has embedded, trusted customer relationships with a focus on strategic advisory and long-term managed services solutions. Bridewell has an experienced technical management team led by CEO Anthony Young and is highly focused on people strategy and culture, quadrupling headcount since 2021. Bridewell is ideally positioned to take advantage of the large and growing cybersecurity market, driven by the ever-changing threat landscape, security complexities of digital transformation, Board level focus and increasing requirement for managed detection and response services.Strategic support through our Growth Toolkit
Since our investment we have closely supported the Bridewell team with numerous strategic growth initiatives, leveraging our Growth Toolkit and Network:Strategic Clarity
Business Shape
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International Expansion - Formation of a US trading entity to leverage opportunities with international customers
Proposition
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Service Line Development - Opening regional hubs to establish local presence across the UK
Accelerating Growth
Commercial
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Strategic Marketing - New website development and refinement of marketing strategy
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Sales/GTM - Investment in the sales team and refinement of the GTM strategy
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Key Account Management - Recruitment of a Microsoft Relationship Manager
- Improved CRM discipline
- Supported introductions that led to a direct relationship with Meta
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M&A - Development of a targeted buy and build strategy
- Supported the acquisition of cyber security consultancy Arculus to drive additional public sector capability and growth
People & Organisation
Leadership
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Senior Team - Recruitment of an experienced Chairman
- Recruitment of a CFO, CCO and COO
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Org Structure - Creation of a wider leadership team to support management bandwidth
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Succession Planning - Supported further board evolution to ensure a successful founder succession plan
Talent & Culture
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People Function - Support for wider equity participation through new employee option scheme
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Recruitment Engine - Development of in-house recruitment, engagement and training processes to significantly scale the specialist talent within the business.
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Academy - Development of the Bridewell Academy to introduce graduate, apprenticeship and retraining schemes
Platform for Success
Finance and Operations
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Finance Function - Recruitment of CFO and improved finance reporting and KPI monitoring
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Data/Automation/AI
- Investment in IP through proprietary Cybiquity platform to leverage automation, data and AI and drive highly profitable MSSP revenues
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Operating Systems - Supported investment in a proprietary security software platform, Cybiquity to provide customers with increased visibility of their security landscape
- Significant investment in the MSSP/MDR capabilities
Delivering the Best Outcome
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High-Quality Delivery - We funded the entire transaction to ensure deliverability and are now undertaking a senior debt process to support future acquisition strategy