An international software development company, based in Derby, is planning to double its workforce over the next two years, thanks to support from Derby Enterprise Growth Fund (DEGF).
CommonTime, which won a Derbyshire Business Awards for innovation in 2011, has received a £484,090 grant and £600,000 loan towards the company’s £1.75 million expansion program to further develop its innovative mDesign mobile application platform.
Alongside this research and development program, the company plans to expand its worldwide customer base and recruit 49 new staff at its headquarters in Pride Park in areas such as software development, engineering, customer support, marketing and sales roles.
CommonTime is among the latest companies to be supported by the £20 million DEGF which is part of the Government’s Regional Growth Fund.
The DEGF is run by Derby City Council and aims to support growth and job creation in businesses in the city and surrounding area through a mix of loans and grants.
CommonTime is a global provider of mobile software solutions. They work with a wide range of companies, in a variety of sectors, to improve the efficiency of their workforce by using mobile apps to mobilise key business functions.
Mobile apps created through the mDesign platform have included:-salesforce applications that receive and send real time information; construction applications used for filing health and safety incidents instantly onto a central system; and health applications that allow care workers to download and submit reports immediately back to head office.
CommonTime MD Ian Knight
CommonTime Managing Director Ian Knight explained: “mDesign is an ideal app development platform for a wide range of customers.
“It allows organisations of all sizes to benefit from increased efficiency and reduced costs by embracing mobile app technology for mobilising key tasks.
“With mDesign we’re able to create cross-platform mobile apps much quicker and cheaper than if the customer took the traditional ‘native’ approach to app development.
“We are seen as the UK market leader in the enterprise app development sector and are increasingly being recognised as a key player internationally, particularly in the USA. However, it’s vital that we continue the development work on mDesign now to keep us ahead of the game within this fast moving technology environment.
“The support from the DEGF will enable us to take the development and implementation of mDesign to the next level. It will allow us to expand into new markets and recruit the technical and commercial staff that we need to support this expansion.
“Investment from other avenues was not an option so DEGF has enabled us to capitalise on our competitive advantage and we will be launching the first wave of the recruitment drive in the near future.”
Leader of Derby City Council Cllr Paul Bayliss, who chairs the DEGF panel, said today: “Derby Enterprise Growth Fund is all about supporting the growth of innovative businesses and creating high quality jobs in the city and surrounding area.
“CommonTime is a real success story in Derby and we were keen to support this company’s ambitions to be a world leader in mobile app technology.
“As a high tech city with a high quality skills base and graduate population, we are confident that this expansion will create local jobs for local people. It will contribute to the retention of current and future skills in the city for the benefit of the local economy.”
Applications for the Derby Enterprise Growth Fund continue to be accepted by Derby City Council. To find out more visit: www.derby.gov.uk/degf . Alternatively call 01332 641628 or email degf@derby.gov.uk .
Source: Derby City Council
