Richard Whittaker and Paul Mitchell of Orcuma-outside the Software Centre.
Sunderland software firm bag brace of website wins
A Wearside software developer scored at the double, securing new contracts with two very different clients.
Award-winning Orcuma Ltd, based at Sunderland Software Centre, produced bespoke websites for a community football club and a County Durham tourism and events venue.
The sites for Whickham Fellside Youth Football club and former Catholic seminary, Ushaw College, are two of the four-year-old company’s first forays into website production and both clients are delighted with the results.
Ushaw College, in County Durham, is boosting its online profile to promote the venue as a tourist attraction, advertise concerts and events and encourage more visitors. Founded in 1808, the college is now in the ownership of a charitable trust that is keen to raise its profile and showcase the stunning architecture and grounds.
Ushaw College estate manage, Peter Seed, said: “Orcuma has been tremendous for us. They are professional, imaginative and prompt. Their attitude is “can do” and they’ve given us a website which creates just the right impression for Ushaw and within weeks of it being set up we were getting hundreds of hits.”
The college has had 7,500 visitors in the last 12-months. “Many of the people coming to our grounds have found out about us and our concert programme from the website, which is fantastic,” added Peter.
“It has quickly become our main tool of communication and we’re delighted with it.”
Whickham Fellside Youth FC approached Orcuma to completely redesign their old, rarely-used website. Orcuma designed a new user interface and created a site to actively promote the great work of the club in the community.
Club chairman, Bill Baty, said: “We wanted a website suited to the needs of a growing community club. We worked with Orcuma on the design, layout and content. It is fantastic to have a new site that covers all aspects of the Club and, just as importantly, will allow growth in the future.
“Orcuma also offered social media support and links to our governing bodies and leagues into the site. The service was professional, meetings were extremely useful and the end result reflects the expertise they bring to the work they do. I would recommend them to anyone and we will certainly continue to use them in the future.”
Orcuma was formed in 2011 by directors Paul Mitchell and Richard Whittaker. The firm supplies their own cloud based FIRsT case management software to public and private sector clients. It has expanded services to cover website design and cyber security.
Paul said: “It is great to celebrate our fourth birthday in business with these contract wins, both of which will have real benefit to the communities they serve.
“We are passionate supporters of local and regional businesses, so it is incredibly satisfying when our in-house software and website development skills can have a positive impact in the North East.”
Councillor Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “Sunderland is establishing itself as a real hotbed of technology talent and Orcuma is part of that stable of exciting young talent.
“It’s always good to see a company reach key milestones and what better way to celebrate a birthday than with a couple of good contract wins.”
Sunderland Software Centre is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit www.gov.uk/browse/business/funding-debt/european-regional-development-funding.
For more information about Sunderland as a place for software businesses, visit www.makeitsunderland.com, email info@makeitsunderland.com or call +44 (0) 191 305 1194.
You can visit the two new websites at:
www.ushaw.org
www.whickhamfellsideyfc.co.uk
