4Projects

4Projects Limited
Private
Industry Computer software
Founded Sunderland (2000)
Headquarters Sunderland
Key people
 Richard Vertigan,
CEO
Products 4Projects
Revenue £5.0m (2011)[1]
Number of employees
 43
Website www.4projects.com

4Projects is a UK privately held Software as a service (SaaS) company based in Doxford International Business Park in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. It also has offices in the USA, Canada, and the Middle East. The company, which is a Microsoft Gold Partner,[2] provides a project collaboration platform for management teams to streamline document, communication and process management procedures.

Initially developed to serve the construction industry it expanded during the late 2000s into other sectors including energy (oil and gas, and renewables), retail, and marine construction.[3]

History

4Projects Ltd was founded in 2000 as an independent trading company by current CEO Richard Vertigan, with investment from Sunderland-based educational publisher, Leighton Group, after an extensive period of product development and testing. Customers include Microsoft[4] and Centrica.[5][6]

The company contributed to an independent research paper in 2003 by Compagnia which examined the cost and resource savings achievable via collaboration software.[7] Also in 2003, 4Projects was one of the founder members of the Network of Construction Collaboration Technology Providers[8] (then managed by CIRIA and today a grouping within Constructing Excellence).

2007 saw a management buy-out with the assistance of August Equity LLP.[9][10] Turnover rose from £3.1m in 2007 to £5.5m in 2009, while profits increased from £1.3m to £1.8m despite the impact of the late-2000s financial crisis on the construction market.[3] However, revenues dipped over the next two years; 4Projects reported revenues of £5m in 2011 (profits peaked at £2.1m in 2010, but dropped to £1.36m in 2011).[1]

The company's senior staff speak and deliver papers at construction and SaaS conferences (e.g. ICT4Construction organised in partnership with Constructing Excellence).[11]

Products

The 4Projects collaboration solution has a suite of products designed to connect people, information and processes. Features[12][13] include:

Having been founded during the initial surge of interest in SaaS in the UK construction and property markets, 4Projects has seen uptake of its services expand during the 2000s.[15]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 4Projects Annual Reports and Accounts for years ending 31 March 2010, and 31 March 2011. Downloaded from Companies House.
  2. ↑ Microsoft Case Study
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Software firm 4Projects continues with recruitment drive", NEbusiness, 6 May 2010
  4. ↑ Microsoft UK headquarters case study
  5. ↑ "Centrica Contracts Further With 4Projects as it Expands Its Activities" Oilvoice, 8 July 2010
  6. ↑ "Centrica Energy Upstream extends contract with 4Projects", Digital Energy Journal, 13 July 2010
  7. ↑ Compagnia Report (2003)
  8. ↑ "Eight construction software providers are joining forces to form a representative body", Construction News 16 January 2003
  9. ↑ August Equity portfolio
  10. ↑ Regent advises 4Projects on its MBO backed by August Equity
  11. ↑ ict4construction conference programme, November 2010
  12. ↑ Construction Software Review
  13. ↑ Nasdaq business software finder
  14. ↑ "4Projects launches Milestone Manager to keep teams on track" Document Manager Magazine
  15. ↑ "Firms save by outsourcing IT" Construction Manager May 2010

External links