CASE STUDY: Global Minds - A locally focused global business
19th June 2023
Software company Global Minds has seen rapid growth since setting up in Telford and it’s helping to further the town’s reputation as a centre for digital industries
To describe Global Minds’ decision to base its business in Telford as a shrewd move would be something of an understatement.
The software company, which specialises in cloud and digital technologies, has seen turnover rise from £200,000 to £21m in the space of just five years.
It now has a growing client base to match its name – serving customers in Europe, the United States and the Middle East.
But the most important measure of the firm’s success is the impact it’s had on Telford, says non-executive director Hema Kumar.
‘We’re very pleased with the way the company has grown but it’s not about the millions, it’s about creating opportunities – high value jobs – and delivering for the town. That’s really what defines us. We now have 70 staff and we are very proud that 12 of those people joined us as apprentices and have become full-time employees.’
Around 60% of the workforce are highly skilled IT professionals from the Asia Pacific region, many having moved to England to pursue a career in IT.
Hema believes this has contributed to Telford’s vibrancy. But it’s also a reflection of the borough’s growing appeal as a place to live, work and raise a family, he says.
‘We use Telford in our marketing to attract high calibre staff. These people are often based in London and are sought after by the big corporations, but we can show them the better quality of life and the opportunities available here.
‘They want to provide a better life for their kids and they can do that here because there are good schools and universities close by and you can also get a lot more spacious houses for your money.’
Many of those factors attracted Global Minds to Telford in the first place and the Marches Growth Hub and Enterprise Telford inward investment team, both run by Telford & Wrekin Council, made the transition simple.
From helping the company find suitable premises to enabling it to secure a £100,000 Business Growth Programme grant, Hema says the local authority has supported Global Minds every step of the way.
‘We came to them as just a small company and yet within two days they had arranged a meeting with the real estate team and started finding premises for us. They have impeccable customer service and as the business has grown we’ve received even more support – the encouragement from the council has been incredible.’
Hema, who also sits on the industry advisory panel of Telford College’s Digital Skills Hub, hopes Global Minds can raise aspirations and inspire more local young people to pursue a career in IT.
‘Telford & Wrekin Council are taking right steps to welcome and support digital start-ups like us. I think Telford can be at the forefront of things like AI, cyber security and machine learning. It has the right proposition and the potential to grow clusters around key sectors.’