Hippo

Digital transformation consultancy

Sector
Technology
Region
Yorkshire and North East
Date of investment
March 2021
GCP team members
Website
Contributing Sustainable Development Goals

Background

Hippo is a design led digital transformation consultancy providing services to complex transformation programmes. They provide services across the full digital value chain from defining the business or policy problem, providing an evidence-based solution design, delivering the project and engineering a digital product or solution.

Headquartered in Leeds, Hippo also have offices in Manchester and Coventry and employ c.250 people. Hippo works with UK Government departments and private sector clients.

We are backing a highly experienced, technical management team which has driven significant and rapid growth.

Our investment partnership

Hippo has a track record of winning new clients, expanding existing client accounts and being valued partners on long-term programmes. They are recognised for their specialist expertise in user-centred design and delivery across key Government departments such as NHS, DWP, Cabinet Office and Defra.

The culture of the business and investment in talent attracts high calibre recruits, enabling headcount growth whilst maintaining quality. Hippo’s work has strong social purpose enabling the UK Government to deliver more effective digital services to improve the lives of UK citizens.

Strategic support through our Growth Toolkit

Since our investment we have closely supported founders Adam and Rob and their team with numerous strategic growth initiatives, leveraging our Growth Toolkit and network:

Driving Growth

  • Investment in business development
  • Prioritisation and enhanced KPI’s for strategic decision making
  • GCP-led acquisition programme to support non-organic growth

People & Organisation

  • Regional expansion to hire in new key hubs: Manchester, London and Bristol
  • Recruitment of COO and experienced Chair through GCP network
  • Establishment of the Hippo Academy training programme
  • Evolution of the organisational structure promoting leaders from within the business

Systems & Processes

  • Permanent CFO and Head of Legal appointed and finance function developed
  • Investment into new professional services automation system
  • Upgrading recruitment function and HR systems

Funding for growth

  • GCP funding to provide de-risking and liquidity for founders
  • Committed GCP and third-party follow-on funding for acquisitions
  • GCP led refinancing to optimise capital structure

Doing the right thing - our role in sustainable investing

Hippo has a strong culture of staff development, learning & development and career development including;

  • Personal training budget per employee.
  • Dedicated training budget, development and support framework.
  • ‘Communities of practice’ to share insights and best practice.
  • Hippo Academy – an eight-week training programme for candidates who are new to tech.

Hippo’s services are underpinned by social purpose.

  • Supporting the development of the NHS login platform and NHS app.
  • Improvement of the NHS Blood and Transplant Donor digital experience.
  • Working on the UK government’s Kickstart job creation and training scheme.

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