Firm's expansion sees Purple reign

WI-FI technology firm Purple, headed by Saddleworth businessman Gavin Wheeldon, has announced a move to a new HQ in Oldham and opened a new office in the United States.

The new, larger office in Tweedale Way, Hollinwood, will accommodate Purple's expanding team following a £5.4 million investment being used to recruit in excess of 100 new staff globally. The firm is looking to recruit 10 more staff to the team in Oldham.

More details on the Oldham move, which was announced yesterday, are expected soon.

Purple specialises in Wi-Fi analytics and marketing systems for commercial and public venues such as hotels, hospitals, shopping malls, airports, universities, zoos and sport stadia.

Technology

It was founded in 2012 by Mr Wheeldon after his previous business, Delph-based Applied Language Solutions, was bought by Capita for £7.5 million.

Purple now operates across the world and said its new office in Austin, Texas, will help it build its existing American team to meet increasing demand.

The company, formerly based in Ashton, specialises in Wi-Fi services that provide customers with real-time analytics and marketing services for venues and businesses. The technology and services also allow greater social media engagement between businesses and visitors, and greater understand of their physical use of buildings and spaces.

Mr Wheeldon said the United States is the largest market in the world for its services and Purple's former UK sales director Bill Williams will head the new Austin office.

Austin is seen as a key city for technology firms, from larger operators such as Apple and Hewlett-Packard to smaller companies.

Purple's customers include Pizza Express, KFC, Harvey Nichols, Trafford Centre-owner Intu; Hyatt, the University of Sunderland and NHS hospitals.

The So Purple Group was created by Mr Wheeldon from the merger of five established agencies in Saddleworth - ADSL24, Lawton Bailey, InGame and IMS24, all in Delph, and RedBox Media of Greenfield.

In 2015 Purple received a £3.3m boost from a group of investors including former Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy. Other investors included Bill Currie, Iain MacDonald and Bob Willett from the William Currie Group, and Juno Capital, a leading business investor syndicate.

Last year the group experienced significant growth, reached 20 million users across 73 countries and had offices based in the UK, Spain, Chile, Singapore and Australia.