Leeds data consultancy Oakland secures £500,000 funding to meet growing demand

A Yorkshire data consultancy which has more than doubled in size in two years has raised £500,000 to support its expansion.
By Greg Wright
Published 9th Jun 2023, 08:21 BST

Oakland Group Services has increased staff numbers from 33 to 80 since 2021 and plans to create 20 more jobs this year to meet the demand from customers. It has received the extra funding from NPIF – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.

Oakland provides a full range of data services including strategy and governance, data analytics and insights and cloud-based platforms.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Leeds-based company works with major brands including Vodafone, Blenheim Palace and Network Rail. It completed a data platform for London-based Femtech company Elvie, which makes smart devices such as breast pumps. It is currently working on large data programme with Yorkshire Water to help with customer engagement, leak management and other improvements, following a number of previous projects.

Pictured from left are David Wright of Mercia, Richard Corderoy and Rachel Smith of Oakland, and Laurence Richardson of Mercia. Picture: Shaun FlanneryPictured from left are David Wright of Mercia, Richard Corderoy and Rachel Smith of Oakland, and Laurence Richardson of Mercia. Picture: Shaun Flannery
Pictured from left are David Wright of Mercia, Richard Corderoy and Rachel Smith of Oakland, and Laurence Richardson of Mercia. Picture: Shaun Flannery

Richard Corderoy, Managing Director, said: “We hear a lot about the value of data but unless companies can access it in the right way, they will never feel the benefits. At Oakland we can help them to bring their data together in one place, ensure it is good quality and analyse it to provide insights to improve customer engagement and efficiency. This funding will enable us to help more companies and create more jobs.”

David Wright, Investment Manager with Mercia, added: “Businesses now recognise that harnessing the power of data is key to their success because it provides the insights they need to adapt and thrive in the changing marketplace.

"Data platforms are becoming a ‘must have’ for many firms, but few have the ability to create them themselves. We are pleased to be able to support Richard and the team by providing additional working capital to help them take on new and larger contracts as they continue to grow the business.”

Keira Shepperson at British Business Bank, said: “Data is an essential commodity that can transform the way businesses operate and can deliver them a competitive advantage in their industries."

Related topics:YorkshireLeedsDavid Wright