We at Vindico are reversing the trend, closing the gender gap in Wales, and celebrating the wonderful women in tech. We’re part of an industry that’s bound to an outdated stereotype of male coders. A kind of ‘boys club’ if you will. But it wasn’t always this way. Whereas some industries have closed the gender gap, tech is one field where women have actually lost ground. A recent Forbes article points out that in 1984, 37% of computer science graduates were women. By 2015, this had dropped to just 18%. In the UK, women have accounted for – give or take – just 16% of the tech workforce during the last decade. And this percentage is decreasing. What’s more, A PwC research report found that just 27% of female students in the UK would consider a career in tech, compared to 62% of their male peers. But we’re here to make a change. We’re actively crushing tech’s outdated stereotypes. And we’re proving that it’s no longer an all-male industry that’s solitary, technical, and uncreative. It’s a place for blue sky thinking. A place to innovate. A place for everyone. We’re committed to closing the tech gender gap in Wales. We’re proud to be paving the way for women in tech, and if you’re a developer who’d like to join us on the journey then we’d love to hear from you! You can drop us a line here, or email us at

Rhys Perkins will use his wealth of business development experience to head partnerships at Vindico. Vindico is growing rapidly, and our latest recruit will use his exceptional experience to build and nurture our wonderful client relationships. Rhys joins us following a successful career in the insurance industry. His previous roles include business development manager at Jelf, development leader at Marsh Commercial, and business development associate at UKGI Group. Rhys’s track record of building and engaging in long lasting relationships clients – as well as helping to build future-proof solutions for businesses – means he’s a perfect fit for Vindico. “I’m genuinely thrilled to be joining Vindico at this time,” says Rhys. “I’ve admired the company and culture ever since I met [Vindico MD] Jo four years ago. I’ve seen the team grow and thrive year on year, and I’m excited to see how I can help Vindico along the journey.” Rhys will now be using his skills to engage with new clients and sectors, while also building on our existing client relationships – with our #ThinkPurple ethos at the core. In case you haven’t heard yet, #ThinkPurple means asking better questions to deliver better outcomes, deliver better outcomes by asking better questions. And it’s more than a catchy slogan. It’s our ethos, our mission, it underpins everything we do. It’s what clients such as the Welsh Rugby Union, Oomph!, Penderyn Distillery, and Transport for Wales know and trust. But we digress… Rhys now joins our team of 22 of the finest thinkers and innovators that Wales has to offer. And Vindico MD Jo Polson couldn’t be happier. “I first met Rhys about four years ago – when he came to Vindico HQ to try and sell us insurance,” says Jo. “We ended up selling him the #ThinkPurple dream instead and have kept in touch ever since. Those conversations grew and with every coffee we were even more sure that he’d be the perfect fit. I’m delighted to be able to count Rhys among our ranks now as we build our team ready for the year ahead.” We at Vindico want to extend a huge welcome to Rhys, and we can’t wait to see how he’s going to add tons of #ThinkPurple attitude to his new

Want to know what it’s really like to get hands-on tech experience? Vindico intern, Rory Durrant, spills the beans on his tech placement. Tech is having a bit of a moment. As businesses and households alike all shift to a more digitised approach, there’s never been a better time to consider a career in tech. But what’s it really like to get stuck into the fast-paced world of an ever-changing industry? We sat down with our very own tech intern, Rory Durrant, to get the low-down on his experience so far. Vindico: How have you found your tech placement with us so far? Rory: The placement so far has been outstanding, I never expected to be able to contribute to so many different projects. Each one’s been completely different from the last, requiring its own set of skills. I’ve gained so much experience and learnt a ton from the amazing and insanely skilled team here at Vindico. Vindico: What did you expect from the tech placement? Rory: I wasn’t completely sure what to expect from the tech placement. I assumed I would be working on either a single project or lots of different versions of the same thing. Coming from development experience in the public sector, I assumed it would be very similar, leaning towards older techniques and battle-tested technologies. Vindico: So, did this match the experience? Rory: Not at all! I’ve never worked on so many different, interesting projects in such a short amount of time! Every single week has been something different, or something new and upcoming. Plus, the emphasis on fast and new technologies was a game-changer for me. It’s allowed me to gain experience that will future-proof my development skills, rather than stick to already established practices. Vindico: Best bit about the placement? Rory: It has to be the people. Jo has built such an amazing team with the best workplace atmosphere I’ve ever been a part of. Everyone is incredibly skilled at what they do and is willing to support and guide you – even if you’re a complete newbie like me. Vindico: How has the tech placement compared to any other jobs or experience you’ve had? Rory: It’s been a world of difference from previous development jobs I’ve had. From the pace of development and the use of faster, cutting-edge tech to the team and workplace ethic. So far it has been a blast to work and learn here at Vindico. Vindico: What would you say to anyone thinking about a year in industry with Vindico? Rory: If you get the chance to take on a tech placement with Vindico then I’d highly recommend it – especially if you want to build your skills in web development and server-side applications. Interested in taking on a tech placement at Vindico? We’re always on the hunt for tech talent to join our expanding team. Drop us a line here to find out more.

Vindico joins forces with Tech Wales Advocates to support the nation’s fellow tech leaders. We at Vindico are excited to announce that we’ve become Tech Wales Advocates. Tech Wales Advocates is a grassroots community of tech leaders who have joined forces to support the tech ecosystem in Wales. The non-profit supports founders and entrepreneurs in Wales and provides a platform that helps them connect with investors. So, it ticks all the boxes for Vindico. We at Vindico are champions for change. Change is a huge part of everything we do. From taking a unique #ThinkPurple approach to the projects we deliver to promoting greater equality and opportunities within the tech sector. We’re committed to using our position as Tech Wales Advocates to not just throw the spotlight on these issues, but to be a driving force for change. And we do this through leading by example and shouting about it as loud as we can. The future is bright for Welsh tech. Never have we seen so much innovation and tech talent coming out of Wales. We’re just not very good at telling the world about it. But why? Although the sector may be small in Wales, we at Vindico really believe that our size is a benefit to innovation. “Small wheels turn faster than big ones,” insists Vindico MD, Jo Polson. “They also have a greater ability to stop, pivot, and adapt to change than larger, more cumbersome competitors. “If we can use this fully to our advantage, I see no reason why Wales cannot be the next innovation powerhouse of the UK – and beyond – we just need to get better at shouting about it!” You can find out more about how we at Vindico are driving big change through our smart software and tech solutions by

Ministry of Furniture are digitising their approach to scaling up with the help of SWAPP Ministry of Furniture are experts in creating workplace and educational environments. And as we return to offices and classrooms after the COVID peak – they’re a brand that’s in demand. So much so thar they’re about to move to bigger space to increase their manufacturing capability – and that’s where Vindico and our SWAPP platform comes in. Ministry of Furniture’s new site houses cutting edge tech – from 3D models to augmented reality – and SWAPP will providing the foundation platform they need to access and adopt these latest innovations into their business. SWAPP will bring a new level of efficiency to Ministry of Furniture. It will allow the growing business to efficiently scale up, increase their product portfolio, and automate many manual processes. SWAPP will also help the brand speed up customer service and engagement. This project is a biggie for Vindico and our SWAPP platform. And it started the way all good projects do – with coffee and pastries! The Vindico team were instantly drawn to Ministry of Furniture. Aside from their excellent reputation, impeccable service, and customer care, it’s hard not to notice the big purple branding (talk about synergy!). Using our established SWAPP platform, Vindico will be creating bespoke modules for stock, customer CRM, quoting, and order building. Bringing together data from multiple suppliers, in multiple formats, is a constant challenge in this industry. To solve this, we’ll be creating a data profiling tool that will streamline the process and enable easy addition to the new Ministry of Furniture product database. This means that customers will get the quickest possible access to Ministry of Furniture’s new additions and services. The difference SWAPP will be making is huge. And we really mean huge. Ministry of Furniture has a team who are all working really hard – but time is always an issue. SWAPP’s automation will free the team from time-consuming manual tasks, so they so they can spend more time doing what they really want to be doing – looking after their customers. On top of this, SWAPP will give Ministry of Furniture live oversights and dashboards to each department – so the relevant key drivers are just a glance away. Click here to find out more about how SWAPP is helping teams and businesses of all sizes and structures to digitise and

Vindico has signed up for another season of platinum sponsorship with the Cardiff Devils ice hockey team. Sure, Vindico are tech and innovation experts and problem-solvers, but we’re also massive Cardiff Devils fans, too. In fact, we’re not just a proud sponsor of the Cardiff Devils, we love the team so much that you’ll find our Cardiff HQ at Ice Arena Wales. Speaking of the partnership with the Cardiff Devils, Vindico MD, Jo Polson, says “It was such an easy decision to continue our sponsorship of the Cardiff Devil’s. We’ve even gone one step further this season by becoming the Innovation Partner for Ice Arena Wales – which is a perfect fit for our company and ethos. “It obviously helps being a fan of the Devils as well, but it’s brilliant to have a different offering for clients and friends that isn’t just the traditional rugby and football. We actually have a staff rota in Vindico because the demand for our place in the Devils Corporate Lounge is so high!” You’ll mostly find The Vindico team vying for those coveted match night seats – in between solving all of your tech problems,

The 4th of December is Small Business Saturday – and Vindico’s official spot on the campaign’s Small Biz 100 calendar. Vindico MD, Jo Polson, is being profiled as part of this year’s Small Business Saturday! We teased back in Summer that we made the line-up, and now we can reveal that our official profile date on the Small Biz 100 calendar is Small Business Saturday itself – the 4th of December. Small Business Saturday celebrates small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and to support businesses in their communities. This year it’s calling on the nation to share a ‘big thank you’ with small firms to recognise their vital role throughout the pandemic. So, as a business who’s spent the last 19 months helping clients to adapt, innovate, and evolve during challenging times, it’s an absolute honour to  be selected as one of the campaign’s prestigious Small Biz 100 line-up, which highlights inspiring, independent businesses from across the country. On Small Business Saturday, customers across the UK go out and support all types of small businesses. Many small businesses also take an active part in the day by hosting events and offering promotions. “Our campaign mission to support and celebrate small businesses has never been more important, as small firms face considerable challenges to get back on their feet, but will be absolutely vital to the UK’s recovery,” says Michelle Ovens, CBE, Director of Small Business Saturday. “The pandemic brought home just how central small businesses are to our communities, so we’re encouraging everyone to get behind them on Small Business Saturday and use it as a way to send a big thank you!” Urging other local small businesses to get involved in Small Business Saturday, Vindico’s MD, Jo Polson, adds: “Small Business Saturday is really easy for small firms to get involved in, and a great way to engage customers. It is completely free and open to all small independents, many of whom collaborate with other local businesses on the campaign. Business owners can download marketing materials via the website and get involved in the conversation online using the hashtag #SmallBizSatUK.” In its ninth year in the UK, last year Small Business Saturday achieved record-breaking success with an estimated £1.1 billion spent with small businesses across the UK on the day, according to estimates from campaign founder and principal supporter American Express. The campaign attracts huge attention, with an impact that last all year. Last year it trended at number one in the UK on Twitter, with the Prime Minister, leader of the opposition and the Mayor of London among those publicly supporting the campaign. Over 90% of local councils also supported the campaign. To get involved in Small Business Saturday 2021, click here.

Vindico attended a swanky afternoon tea in London for Small Business Saturday’s Small Biz 100. We revealed back in the summer that Vindico made this year’s Small Biz 100 line-up. The annual list celebrates the UK’s top 100 small businesses in the run up to Small Business Saturday. Small Business Saturday, which takes place this year on 4th December, celebrates small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and to support businesses in their communities. This year it is calling on the nation to share a ‘big thank you’ with small firms to recognise their vital role throughout the pandemic. As an innovation business, we’ve spent the last 19 months helping clients adapt to change, digitise, and succeed during these unpredictable times. From creating a digital outreach programme for Techniquest to helping the Welsh Rugby Union bring live rugby back to the UK, we’ve been the purple machine supporting our clients throughout. So, this year’s Small Business Saturday theme hits home for us at Vindico. We’re so thankful to be able to play a part in helping businesses adapt, innovate, and evolve – and we’re excited to continue this work in 2022. “It’ been a whirlwind of a year,” says Vindico MD, Jo Polson. “We made it to No 10 Downing Street this summer to present to Boris Johnson at the launch of the Together for Our Planet campaign, and now we’re having afternoon tea at the House of Lords as part the Small Business 100! “If you’d have told me I’d be doing all this a year ago, I’d have laughed. Sure, I’d have taken it, but I still would have laughed! “What a way to start the week after winning Innovation Business of the Year at the Cardiff Business awards on Friday,

Vindico has been crowned Innovation Business of the Year at this year’s Cardiff Business Awards. That’s right, we won the award! After being shortlisted for the second year in a row, Friday saw us take home the Innovation Business of the Year award at this year’s Cardiff Business Awards. As a business at the forefront of tech and innovation in the UK, Vindico has gained a lot of national publicity in the past year – but to be recognised for our achievements in our motherland means a lot to us. It gives amazing recognition to the partnerships, projects, and client collaborations we’ve been part of – and we hope it will help us raise the profile of the exciting work we have in the pipeline, too. The past 12 months has seen us implement some of our most game-changing innovations to date – working with clients ranging from the WRU and Cardiff Rugby to Worcester Warriors and Transport for Wales. Click here to see our recent #ThinkPurple projects. The awards night at Cardiff City Hall was packed to the brim with talent. It was also an extra special one for us as we got to bring along some of our best business pals to celebrate with us. Once again, we want to thank all of our wonderful team, collaborators, clients, and peers for their incredible support. We also want to extend a massive thank you to the team behind the Cardiff Business Awards for not just recognising our accomplishments, but for delivering such a superb awards process from start to finish.   Here’s to

Vindico’s Director of R&D, Professor Paul Lewis, gives us the rundown of COP26 – and what’s next for carbon emissions and air pollution. COP26 was heavily focused on carbon emissions and the drive to net zero (also referred to as carbon neutrality). We heard a lot about the impact of carbon emissions on our planet, the environment, our businesses, and our sustainability. But carbon emissions can also directly relate to air quality – and ultimately our health and well-being, too. We sat down with air quality expert Professor Paul Lewis to find out more. Why is COP26 so important for air quality? Air pollution experts have shown a lot of interest in COP26. The reason why is because the main sources of carbon emissions are very often the biggest contributors to air pollution. This is especially true for fine particulates, often referred to as PM2.5, and Nitrogen Dioxide – two of which cause the greatest impacts on our health. What about coal burning? Coal burning was on the agenda for the first time at COP26.  Although this was a step forward, right at the last minute, there was the lack of a commitment to ‘phase-out’ coal use worldwide. Instead, 196 countries agreed to ‘phase-down’ coal. On the positive side, we’ll see a reduction in coal-fired power stations. But we won’t see the complete removal of coal in countries such as India. How does this impact air quality in the UK? Although the UK has been proactive in restricting coal-burning, a lack of a total commitment from other countries raises concerns over air pollution from our neighbours. Germany still has around 30 coal-fired power stations that won’t be phased out until 2038, while Poland still operates around 50. So, although the UK has only a few coal-burning power stations left, our concern is the fine particulates blowing over from the power stations actively operating in Northern European countries like Germany and Poland. Believe it or not, this can significantly impact our health and wellbeing. In  fact, our own modelling in Think Air has shown how PM2.5 can blow in from these countries, directly causing higher levels of air pollution in areas of Wales. What’s the deal with methane? Methane is a major source of ground-level ozone, which can be a real issue for people with asthma and other respiratory diseases. To tackle this, US President Joe Biden has launched the Global Methane Pledge at COP26, which is asking countries to cut their methane emissions by 30% by 2030. How will we help developing countries? Air quality is a global issue, so it was positive to see the Glasgow Climate Pact commit to doubling adaptation finance for poorer countries. For the first time, both the US and China agreed to contribute to this fund – so this is a major step forward. It means more support to reduce air pollution in those areas, and a request for countries to submit even more ambitious climate pledges at COP27 next year. Lastly, what about electric cars? COP26 also pledged an agreement to encourage both countries and major car manufacturers to aim for zero-emissions vehicles by 2035. This applies to new sales of both cars and vans in leading markets. The UK has signed this agreement, but other major countries, including the US, Germany, and China haven’t – at least not yet. To find out more about the impact of air pollution on your business, industry, and community – and for live updates – visit our sister