NorthEdge-backed Altia gains Queen’s Award recognition and adds two to board

Submitted 28/04/2021 - 2:51pm

NorthEdge portfolio business Altia has been named a Queen’s Award for Enterprise winner for International Trade.

The specialist investigation and covert operation software business, which has offices in Nottingham, Glasgow, Melbourne and Calgary, provides software to public and private sector organisations across 17 different countries. Its software allows law enforcement agencies and investigation teams to solve crimes, reduce fraud and corruption, increase efficiency, save time and streamline processes using secure, trusted technology.
 
Last year over 25 per cent of its security software was sold outside of the UK – a key factor in the business being recognised by the awards, which have celebrated the best of British businesses since they were established in 1965.
 
The award win acknowledges the success of its software in helping law enforcement and private sector organisations connect the dots in big data and comes as the business aims to establish itself as the global leader in intelligence and investigation management software.
 
NorthEdge backed the primary MBO of Altia in November 2020. The investment is designed to support the business to expand its target addressable market to an increased range of private sector customers and additional international territories, both organically and through strategic acquisitions of companies with complementary technologies and customers.
 
To help drive its growth, Altia has also appointed Andy Peet as CFO and Huw Bristow as CTO.
 
Peet joins from sales software business, Sales-i, and brings more than 10 years’ experience in senior financial roles. Bristow has over a decade of experience in senior technology roles, leading development in businesses including smart home product provider Lightwave and contact centre systems provider Genesys.  
 
The business plans to target new private sector markets with its solutions including its case management and data analytics platform, which has applications across multiple sectors and international markets.
 
As part of this work the business has undertaken a brand refresh to help it target more clients around the world. The new brand focuses on the potential applications for businesses in both the private and public sector looking to connect the dots from big data.
 
Rob Sinclair, CEO at Altia, says: “Winning a Queen’s Award is the culmination of everyone in our team pulling together in the same direction. Security and customer excellence is at the heart of everything we do, and that has allowed Altia to grow internationally through our quality proposition. We’re one of a small number of businesses offering investigative solutions of this calibre globally and this has opened the door to conversations with public sector authorities around the world.
 
“We’re increasing the pace further in 2021. We’re honing our private sector and international sales strategies, reinforcing our team, and refining our proposition through a brand refresh – ensuring we effectively communicate how our best-in-class software can help private sector clients.”
 
Kevin O’Loughlin, Investment Director at NorthEdge, says: “Altia’s potential internationally is hugely exciting and gaining the recognition of a Queen’s Award is further evidence of its market-leading status.
 
“Altia is a great example of the type of business NorthEdge looks to partner with. It has a unique and exciting proposition, supporting investigation teams globally to transition to a digital-first approach, long-term customer relationships and an opportunity to increase its addressable market. However, ultimately, its ambitious and passionate people are the reason it is leading in its market.”
 

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