Released in 2024, Gloucestershire’s Economic Strategy announces plans for the county to become a hub for the UK’s intelligence, security, and cyber agencies. It also aims to attract world-leading businesses in digital communications, advanced manufacturing, and agri-tech. Proposals include initiatives to accelerate investment, create jobs, and develop future skills, positioning Gloucestershire as a leader in green industries and technologies.

Despite these plans, Gloucestershire County Council’s new economic growth board predicts that the local economy will stagnate this year due to the impact of the government’s National Insurance increase on local SMEs.

The Gloucestershire Growth Forum, hosted at the University of Gloucestershire and supported by their dedicated Growth Hub team, will run its first event on March 19th, to provide actionable growth guidance to more than 20 local businesses. Attendees will hear from senior business leaders and voices from across the region delivering a series of workshops covering funding, growth, team development, innovation strategy, ESG, exit planning, sales, and technology adoption, as well as 1-2-1 sessions.

Guest speakers include Alex Brown, CEO of Gloucester Rugby, who will be discussing his experiences with leadership both received and given during his rugby career, the transition into off-field leadership roles at Gloucester Rugby, and how his leadership approach has steered the club to its strong competitive and commercial position.

Other business leaders supporting the forum include Nikolas Venios, Founder of The Ideas Agency, Peter Quintana, Director at business consultancy hgkc, and Paul Hillis, Regional Director of Sandler Training. Better Business Better World’s Camilla Barnes, a sustainability consultant specialising in B Corp certification, is also backing the event, alongside Nigel Griffiths, Corporate Finance Consultant from FRP Advisory, and Hayley Parker, Director of Tandem Consultancy.

Nigel Church, CEO of Emerge Digital, said: “The county has a huge amount of untapped potential for growth. The plan outlined by the council last year highlights the scope of the opportunities in the region across multiple sectors, especially technology and cyber. These events will help businesses to understand the steps they can take to take advantage of these opportunities, improve their offerings, support growth, and help boost the local economy.”

Alex Brown, CEO of Gloucester Rugby, said: “The support for Gloucestershire Growth Forum is fantastic. As a local company deeply rooted in the county, it’s exciting to see so many businesses coming together to connect and fuel growth in the region. Gloucestershire is a county which has lots to offer across multiple sectors, and the Gloucestershire Growth Forum will seek to provide practical advice to all of them, while also giving leaders the chance to network and learn about each other’s businesses.”

Alex Cottrell, Head of External Relationships at the University of Gloucestershire, said: “We are delighted to support this event and play our part in connecting regional businesses with opportunities for growth. Through our dedicated Growth Hub which first opened its doors in 2014, and our unique access to academics, research, student talent and skills, our teams have supported thousands of SMEs. Our growing portfolio of services to business allows us to drive economic growth and create lasting careers and professional development opportunities for our student and business communities.”

The funds received from registration fees will also go to three charities, The King’s Trust, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) and Cheltenham Animal Shelter.

About Emerge Digital

Emerge Digital is a technology and digital innovation company and Managed Services Provider (MSP) dedicated to igniting tech-powered growth for SMEs. Whether a business is scaling rapidly or looking to reclaim industry leadership, Emerge Digital aids in providing sustainable growth through innovation.

The company’s solutions – including outsourced IT support, cyber security, cloud infrastructure, and advanced technologies like AI and automation – are tailored to organisations’ specific needs, helping not only meet today’s challenges but also lead tomorrow’s trends.

South West businesses, Everhot, The HR Dept, Green Gourmet, Bannister Transport, 4R Group, Blueprint Project Solutions, and DEYA Brewing Company are the latest in the region to undergo digital transformation projects with the support of Emerge Digital, while firms BWS Group, Lakes Showering Spaces, Frog Environmental, H&H Distribution and Constructing Excellence South West, have agreed ongoing IT support contracts. From AI adoption and app development to CRM updates and IT support, these new installations will update and improve the processes, products and outcomes for these businesses and their customers. 

In the last 12 months, Emerge Digital has increased its turnover by 30% and customer base by 26% with these latest contracts contributing to 84% growth for the Innovation arm of Emerge Digital’s business, which handles all client projects involving new, cutting-edge technologies, such as AI and automation. These projects are contributing towards Emerge Digital’s two-year growth plan to double its revenue by mid-2026. 

Nigel Church, CEO of Emerge Digital, said: “We’ve had a really good year driven by a demand among businesses in the region to adopt new, emerging technologies. We’ve helped these businesses to deliver against their ambition to digitalise, improving the way they operate and giving them the tools to service their customers effectively.” 

Jon Smith, Managing Director of 4R Group, said: “As a sustainable waste recycling company, it’s crucial that we provide transparency to our customers, especially those operating in fields like farming. Emerge Digital is helping us build an app which automates the generation of reports around soil assessments & soil health, a key tool which will support farmers to meet regulatory requirements. Although this project is still in motion, we’ve been extremely happy with Emerge Digital’s service so far and are looking forward to seeing the finished application.” 

John Lord, Chief Operating Officer of DEYA Brewing Company said: “Since we began working with Emerge Digital, they have helped us not only to modernise and improve our IT, but also to consider new technology which could streamline our operations, in the brewery, in the taproom and online. They are currently helping us with process automation and transformation, to find ways to boost efficiency and therefore profitability.” 

About Us

Emerge Digital is a technology and digital innovation company and Managed Services Provider (MSP) dedicated to igniting tech-powered growth for SMEs. Whether a business is scaling rapidly or looking to reclaim industry leadership, Emerge Digital aids in providing sustainable growth through innovation.  

The company’s solutions – including outsourced IT support, cyber security, cloud infrastructure, and advanced technologies like AI and automation – are tailored to organisations’ specific needs, helping not only meet today’s challenges but also lead tomorrow’s trends. 

Conservation Efforts with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)

Based just 20 miles from our headquarters, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) is pivotal in maintaining biodiversity, climate protection, and public health through their conservation of wetlands. These ecosystems play a crucial role in carbon sequestration, protection against extreme weather, and climate change mitigation. Our support for WWT will aid them in continuing their vital work, ensuring these natural habitats receive the attention and protection they deserve.

Empowering Youth with the King’s Trust

At Emerge Digital, we attribute many of our achievements to the innovative and dynamic contributions of young talent. Partnering with the King’s Trust, we aim to support the next generation in acquiring skills, confidence, and opportunities to succeed. This collaboration underscores our investment in young people, reflecting our belief in nurturing potential to foster future leaders.

Supporting Animal Welfare at Cheltenham Animal Shelter

Following a company-wide vote, we have chosen to support the Cheltenham Animal Shelter. As a sanctuary for animals in need, the shelter represents our team’s dedication to compassionate, community-centric initiatives. Our involvement will help ensure that the shelter continues to provide necessary care and support for local animals awaiting their forever homes.

A Year of Active Engagement

Our plans for the coming year include fundraising through the events we run, direct donations, and awareness campaigns. While we’re still finalising the specifics, we’re excited about the potential to include volunteer activities that allow our team to engage directly and personally with our charity initiatives.

The hire rounds off a year of rapid growth for the company, which closed out its financial year with revenues reaching £3 million—an increase from £2.2 million in just 12 months. 

Recent figures from a UK government report indicate that the Managed Services Providers (MSP) market is growing at an estimated Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12% to 2027, meaning that Emerge Digital is outpacing the industry average currently with a CAGR of 33%. 

Mark, who also holds a business development role at Gloucester Rugby, will be focusing on unlocking opportunities in new markets, as part of Emerge Digital’s two-year growth plan to continue its trajectory and double its revenue by 2026. 

Emerge Digital rebranded in 2022 and updated its business offering to encompass a full suite of technology solutions including outsourced IT support, cloud services and cyber security. Since then, its revenue has grown 77% and its client base has expanded by 45%, serviced by a growing team of 20 staff members. 

After joining Gloucester Rugby in 2014, Mark played 168 times over a ten-year period for the club, while also being called-up for the Barbarians and England Rugby. Having recently made the transition from sport to business, Mark said:  

“Since leaving the game, I’ve wanted to challenge myself in a new industry, and what better industry than technology. Emerge Digital’s growth and determination piqued my interest, and I’m excited to bring my experience and drive to this new role. My existing relationship with Emerge through their partnership with Gloucester Rugby made this the perfect fit.” 

Mark’s hire also coincides with the sixth year of Emerge Digital’s partnership with Gloucester Rugby, a relationship which has seen the club enhance match day experiences for 250,000 fans, as well as staff and shareholders, by investing in new, state-of-the art technology, with the help of Emerge Digital. 

Nigel Church, CEO of Emerge Digital, added: “Transferring ambition from sport to business is a natural progression. Businesses thrive with ambitious, intelligent individuals who are driven by clear goals. Mark exemplifies these qualities in every respect.” 

About Emerge Digital

Emerge Digital is a technology and digital innovation business and Managed Services Provider (MSP) which provides solutions to SMEs that drive efficiency, competitiveness, and profit. Using comprehensive solutions, including outsourced IT support, cyber security, cloud infrastructure, and innovative technologies like process automation and data visualisation – Emerge Digital enables businesses to invest in technology that supports them in achieving their goals.    

With the sports and entertainment industry rapidly digitising, the rugby club recognises not only a need to keep up with current trends, but also the opportunity to offer more personalised, direct communications with its supporter base. 

A recent report revealed that revenues fell short of operating costs for all Rugby Premiership clubs, while fan attendances were down slightly on the year before. This highlights the need for evolution within the sport, a fact which Gloucester Rugby is keen to address, particularly through digital advancement. 

Having previously relied on a dated, legacy IT system which was unable to integrate with new, emerging technologies, Gloucester Rugby has modernised its digital infrastructure under the guidance of Emerge Digital. These investments include the installation of a new, high-tech, highly resilient Cisco Meraki network that gives the club massive opportunities for the expansion of its IP requirements, scaling in line with the club’s technology needs, as well as new security solutions, all of which will improve the club’s IT resiliency and capability. 

The new network will support the Club’s vision to move into a more data-led approach, better serving its supporters both in the stadium and outside, through personalised offerings and improved efficiencies. 

In the next three to five years, the club will also look to explore technology such as Internet Protocol (IP) TVs installed in all hospitality boxes and lounges, Internet of Things (IoT) implementation, and internal data analytics systems which would allow Gloucester Rugby to tailor its services and optimise individual visitor experiences. 

Nigel Church, CEO of Emerge Digital, said: “As a long-time fan of Gloucester Rugby and season ticket holder, it’s a pleasure to be working so closely with the club to create a significantly enhanced digital infrastructure, helping to support its continued development. The world of sport is changing, and we need to change with it. Sport, as with many other sectors, has seen a huge shift towards digitised ways of working, and it’s critical that teams no longer just compete on the field, but also across their entire infrastructure. This is business critical to the rugby club. 

“The need for technology within sport and the desire from fans to be engaged by clubs all year round isn’t likely to slow down. Gloucester Rugby recognise the potential impact both regionally and within the sport, and we’re delighted to be helping them implement technology in a well-considered and strategic manner.” 

Alex Brown, CEO of Gloucester Rugby, said: “Since the pandemic we have seen a rising demand for digitally enabled services to become a part of our matchday experiences. We know that there is an appetite from the fanbase for more technology-driven experience, and the recent implementations from Emerge Digital have given us some of the tools to deliver this, as part of our digital ambitions.“ 

About Emerge Digital

Emerge Digital is a technology and digital innovation business and Managed Services Provider (MSP) which provides solutions to SMEs that drive efficiency, competitiveness, and profit. Using comprehensive solutions, including outsourced IT support, cyber security, cloud infrastructure, and innovative technologies like AI, process automation, and data visualisation – Emerge Digital enables businesses to invest in technology that supports them in achieving their goals.