SME Member of the Week: Coeus Software
Coeus Software is the second of October's SME Member of Week. This month, techUK are highlighting the contributions made by members to improve the local and regional tech scene, playing a vital role in the levelling up agenda through innovation and engagement.
Coeus Software (Coeus) is a software and services company founded to address the specific needs of frontline workers in a range of industries, including the police, health, social care, automotive and broader public and private sectors. The company has strong roots in Tees Valley and Teesside University, and the company is headquartered in Middlesbrough's Boho Zone, which is part of the ‘DigitalCity’, a joint venture between the local authority and Teesside University.
Having received support from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) at the beginning of its journey, Coeus has been keen to play its part in the levelling up agenda of the Tees Valley, working to nurture local talent through apprenticeships, while investing in the local area in any way we can.
We believe in the goals of the DigitalCity to support digital growth and transformation across the Tees Valley. We believe there is significant untapped talent in the area. We sought to build a place to work so that people wouldn’t have to leave the area to get a job with a software company, while ensuring our core intellectual property is built and nurtured in the UK.
Our two most recent appointments were apprentices, recruited directly from the local area through Darlington-based apprenticeship training provider, Baltic. As a provider that focuses solely on tech and digital skills, Baltic were a perfect fit for Coeus.
Charles Street, who is undertaking a Digital Marketing Apprentice Level 3 at Coeus, joined as an apprentice after a career in sales, “I graduated from Teesside University in 2015 (BA Media Studies). Whilst I found my university learning experience to be invaluable, just 5 months into my apprenticeship I already feel more confident and hopeful about my prospects than I did when I graduated. The structure of my role at Coeus allows me to gain real-world experiences in my chosen field, allowing me to participate in the day-to-day tasks of a professional organisation whilst learning and perfecting my craft on the job.”
“While I had been matched to a few different companies, Coeus’s commitment to developing local talent really stood out to me. There is an ambition for Coeus to be at the forefront of digital growth and transformation in the area. It is an exciting prospect to be a part of that journey.”
Daniel Broome, who is due to complete his apprenticeship in Software Development later this year, hopes to stay on as a full-time employee with the company. “For me, the biggest advantage of an apprenticeship is that not only do I gain real world experience of my field, I also gain the experience of a working within a professional organisation and building relationships with my peers. I have friends who have finished university with degrees in such things as media or art, but now have a job in something entirely different. I am privileged to spend my time earning qualifications in the very same sector I want to work in, with a job almost guaranteed at the end of it.”
Coeus has had an overwhelmingly positive experience with apprenticeships in Tees Valley. We will definitely be investing in more in the future. The opportunity to combine academic work with the practical, hands-on experience of the workplace is a powerful advantage for the apprentice, but it benefits the employer too. We gained two outstanding team members who made a real difference to Coeus. I should also point out that the apprenticeship scheme is not just for school leavers. Charles and Daniel were both in their mid/late 20s when they joined us, demonstrating that apprenticeships can be a perfect vehicle for those looking for a career change too. To borrow a quote from Victorian novelist George Eliot ‘It is never too late to be what you might have been.’”
Looking to the future, Coeus is committed to investing in Tees Valley through additional recruitment and investment in the local area, while continuing to support frontline workers with the tools to make their lives easier every day.
Recent Success
The company has recently secured Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS) as the debut customer for its most recent product, CheckPlate, a new mobile Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) vehicle stock audit app for vehicle leasing and remarketing companies. Since using CheckPlate, VWFS has reduced vehicle audit times by 90%, while reducing the number of agents required to conduct audits by two thirds.
Company Background
Coeus builds intelligent mobile solutions to address the very specific needs of frontline workers in a range of industries, including the police, health, social care, automotive and broader public and private sectors. We are mobile-first, cloud-first, partner-first.
More information
Visit the Coeus Software website: https://www.coeussoftware.com/
SME Member of the Week: November, Sustainability
For November's SME Member of the Week, we’ll be focusing on sustainability, with the COP27 summit due to take place throughout the month. We're looking for SMEs who have made an impact on the transition to net zero, either through developing technology to combat the climate crisis or showcasing what they've done to reduce their own carbon emissions. Submit your case study here.
techUK – Building Stronger Local Economies
techUK champions the tech sector throughout the UK. We work with local authorities, devolved government, and local and national policy makers to advocate for the tech sector in strengthening economic growth and resilience. We provide opportunities for our members and local stakeholders to meet, build relationships, and collaborate to drive forward local projects. For more information or to get in touch, please visit our Nations and Regions Hub and click 'contact us'.
