Waracle acquires Glasgow agency Screenmedia in major growth deal

Waracle has agreed a deal to acquire Screenmedia, the Glasgow-based design and software engineering agency, in a move to develop our digital product development capability further.

The acquisition will pair our 145-strong team – with its expertise in mobile app, digital product development and AI – with Screenmedia’s award-winning team of 60 to take Waracle to 200+ employees.

We have decided to make this strategic move to bolster our digital product development and AI offerings, as the market evolves and the technology services industry focuses on artificial intelligence and its impact on software development.

“We are ready for the new wave of AI-enhanced, intelligent customer experiences,” said Chris Martin. “This is a strategic business decision to continue our growth. We reviewed what we needed to succeed going forward and this acquisition was a key part of the answer.”

Chris Martin will be CEO of the new combined operation while Kenny Shaw will step back from day-to-day operations as Screenmedia become part of Waracle.

Screenmedia has a successful track record in crafting compelling user experiences across web and mobile, working with the likes of Edrington, BBC, NHS, Channel 4, Next and Honeywell. It also has a Bafta on its boardroom shelf for Best Interactive Media.

The acquisition, made with the support of our growth capital investor BGF – for an undisclosed sum – allows Waracle to branch out into new sectors, adding transportation, retail and the third sector to our primary industries of health, energy and financial services.

Speaking about the opportunity to diversify, Kenny Shaw said: “Waracle has an impressive track record across regulated industries and our team at Screenmedia have a broad cross-section of sector experience. I think our new, combined organisation will make us a formidable force in Scotland’s technology consultancy space.”

Waracle CEO Chris Martin said he was clear that further organic growth alongside strategic acquisitions would ensure Waracle was able to stay ahead of the demands of its clients.

He said: “This is the first step in our ambitious plans to grow by acquiring design and technology services agencies with complementary skillsets. We want to continue to employ talented technologists to solve our clients’ digital problems and be able to service changing client needs across the UK by covering a wider range of technologies like service design, artificial intelligence and sensors.”

He added: “There are a lot of large, London-based technology consultancies attempting to grow their presence north of the border. We are doing the same in England and we have a strong and growing team there with ambitious plans for further acquisitions.”

“We want to capitalise on our reputation as an unrivalled mobile development partner and continue to take those problem-solving abilities across the UK, to make sure that technology challenges are being addressed by talented, local and engaged teams rather than near-shoring or off-shoring solutions”.

This acquisition provides a foundation for continued growth here at Waracle, where over the last 16 years, we have grown and developed from a university spin-out to a business with revenues of over £20 million.