Headquartered in Dublin, with an office in London, Phonovation provides solutions for high profile clients such as Vodafone, Three and Payzone. The company develops award winning software and processes in excess of 200 million international calls and text messages every year.
However, being located in Ireland alongside Facebook and Apple, it found that quality developers were at a premium and decided to explore alternative locations to establish a development studio.
Paddy Woods, Director of Phonovation, first learned about the strength of the digital sector in the North East from the website of the region’s inward investment agency, Invest North East England. Following a visit to the region, he decided that the Gateshead Technology Park provided the ideal base.
Invest North East England and the Enterprise and Industry Unit of Gateshead Council worked with Phonovation to help the company identify the ideal location and premises and provided the foundation to set up Phonovation’s North East operation.
Mr Woods said: “The experience of setting up an office in Gateshead has been fantastic. The team have been very accommodating and went out of their way to help us out. The recruitment process was something I haven’t experienced in a while, with such talent available we were spoilt for choice. We have recruited three developers initially and are very excited at what they can bring to the business.”
Along with cyber security, Phonovation provides four main communications services: Bulk SMS, IVR, SaaS and Premium Rate Services. The company’s innovative solutions, technology and high standards have been recognised through a Microsoft Silver Partnership status. And Phonovation received the Cyber Solution of the Year 2017 Award at the Cyber Threat Summit, in recognition of their suite of Cyber Security products, PhonoSecure.
Councillor John Adams, Portfolio holder for Economy at Gateshead Council said: “We are delighted to welcome such an innovative, award winning company to Gateshead. They complement the existing business community in our Technology Park, and it’s exactly the type of company we want to see here. Phonovation are a new and exciting addition to the business life of the borough. We look forward to working with them to support their continued growth and success.”
Guy Currey, Director at Invest North East England, said: “It was a real pleasure to organise Phonovation’s first visit to the North East. The team was able to showcase some of the area’s fantastic technology companies and assets, as well as a variety of property options and the tremendous support networks we have here. I am delighted that Phonovation has invested in Gateshead where it joins a fantastic array of world class digital technology companies.”
Over the next 18 months, Phonovation plans to continue its expansion and create a further seven new jobs in the North East, specifically focussing on .NET developers in order to fulfil their strong pipeline of work.
Posted in: Digital and Tech, General