Successful Lincoln technology firm wants to double its workforce by 2014

New jobs have been created at a Lincoln technology company after it secured a succession of major NHS contracts.

Software Europe, based off Doddington Road, is looking to recruit eight software developers.

And it says it wants to take on even more staff to double its 36-strong workforce by 2014.

Record turnover figures have put the firm near the top of all UK firms working within its markets. And the business's managing director, Neil Everatt, is confident it will continue its impressive growth.

Turf and Soil Supplied and Laid

BCS Ltd Turf

View details

Print voucher

bcs ltd

Contact: 01522 705130

Valid until: Saturday, August 31 2013

A 50 per cent annual increase in sales of its "software as a service" offering, helped to push its turnover figure to £2.6 million last year.

And innovative product development increased its customer numbers by 35 per cent in the same period.

The latest deal with NHS Wales follows wins with Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust and three public healthcare branches in Nottinghamshire.

All the bodies are using the company's online expenses software. And Software Europe now helps administer more than 1.5 million NHS claims across the UK.

Mr Everatt said software development had accelerated the company to the head of the UK market for the technology.

"It's incredibly exciting," he said. "The transition to focus on online technology a few years ago was a gamble but it is really paying dividends.

"Organisations can completely take away their paper expenses system and logging claims takes half the time.

"We have ambitions to be a global player and Europe is the next target. We could well be double the size in the next year. I'm sure it will happen."

The business is also targeting other new product markets and has plans to create software for tablets and other mobile devices. In recent years Software Europe has leaned away from selling ready-made products and improved its own development.

Mr Everatt explained the biggest obstacle was finding staff with the right skills.

"We have been looking to recruit new people since Christmas because of the skills shortage," he said.

Michael Self, development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses in Lincolnshire, said the IT industry in Lincoln was growing.

"I think we have seen the benefit of the university in Lincoln and it is producing a lot of skilled graduates," he said.

"It is an industry that doesn't need a business to be in the high-cost areas of the country so there is a benefit to working here. This is a very encouraging example with it being such a large business."