SCC more nimble in digital transformation services with new buy

The newly acquired company brings a headcount of 150

SCC is on a mission to become the leading firm in digital transformation services with its majority investment in digital engineering consultancy, Nimble.

The 150-person strong group headquartered in Sheffield was established in 2016 and helps organisations create digital products and services.

The acquisition of Nimble marks a significant step in SCC's ‘digital solutions and services provider' (DSSP) strategy - a plan that will see the company build a 2,000-person European digital consultancy within the next ten years, it says.

"For decades, our customers across Europe have trusted us to bring value and support in their technology environments," said James Rigby, CEO of SCC EMEA.

"The investment in Nimble - alongside organic investments we have already made in the areas of cloud, cybersecurity, and digital workplace - will enable SCC to bring that same trust and value as they embark on digital transformation journeys."

Rigby added SCC's hunt for the right firm to "seed" its digital transformation services business ended when he and his team encountered the Nimble crew, led by CEO Chris Roberts.

"We looked first for a company that shared our values and our commitment around customer service," explained Rigby, "The way Nimble engages with its clients, the culture Chris and the team have created, and the pragmatic way they make decisions - it felt comfortable from the first conversation and will fit well with the way we are already operating in our cloud."

Nimble's opportunities

For Nimble, the opportunity to engage with SCC's public and private sector clients was the initial draw, it said.

Moreover, the three year old group welcomed the opportunity to expand its reach into Europe, and extend the company's services by leveraging SCC's delivery teams in Romania and Vietnam.

"Partnering with SCC gives us rocket fuel to grow Nimble both in the UK and beyond," said Roberts.

"This gives 'Nimblers' an even bigger playing field to deliver innovation across our current capabilities and to consider new areas where we can help customers accelerate their transformation, including AI."

SCC will operate Nimble as a separate company under the guidance of Roberts and the current Nimble management team, with additional strategy support to be provided by senior SCC executives.

Terms of the investment were not disclosed. Nimble was advised by Squire Patton Boggs and Alantra, while SCC advisors included Eversheds Sutherland and Grant Thornton.

SCC's M&A drive

Earlier this year SCC added to its M&A pipeline by acquiring near £100m-revenue product reseller Vohkus - which ranked 58th in CRN Top VARs, in a deal CEO James Rigby labelled a "classic scale play".

The buyout was SCC's first since it unveiled a £300m M&A warchest designed to consolidate its position as Europe's largest private investor in technology.

Rigby told CRN at the time the deal brought a set of customers it otherwise would have taken SCC "a very long time" to win on its own.

"Their services business is fairly modest - less than ten per cent of revenue. Services for us is around £200m in the UK vs £10m for them, so we can unlock that portfolio for them and go and sell those higher-margin services into their accounts," he said.