Brightwave named big player of the future

Extract from July/August 2004 issue of IT Training

Snapping at the heels of the current Top 50 firms are smaller but enthusiastic companies that could make it into future charts. Brightwave specialists in bespoke e-learning content for corporate clients, and around half its work is in the IT training space. Formed in 2000, the firm broke the £1m-turnover barrier in 2002/3 and continues to show excellent growth.

The company was founded by Charles Gould and Simon Brown, two PricewaterhouseCoopers consultants who saw the opportunity for custom development at a time when standard e-learning courses were the norm. Unusually they decided not to take advantage of the flood of venture capital funding available at the time, and this forced them to ensure that what they were offering really met customer needs.

"We chose not to go down that route," says Gould, the MD. "We were self-funded and profitable from day one. That means you have to be able to satisfy clients from day one as well."

Blended learning solutions are now common, with the client or third parties providing the instructor-led element. The firm's experience of engaging with clients at a high level means it is often called in at an early stage to define the whole programme.

The result is a blue chip customer list that includes Scottish Power, Universal Pictures, Nationwide, Royal Bank of Scotland and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

So, how has Brightwave managed to become successful so quickly? Gould puts it down to hiring highly experienced people and making a success of every project. "We've never failed to deliver. I doubt there are many of our competitors who could honestly say they've done that."