Onomi

Rapid Expansion Plans As Big Data Firm Onomi Comes to the Creative Quarter

The cluster of firms engaged in financial and data technology based in Nottingham has been enhanced with the arrival of new managed software provider Onomi.

City officials have welcomed the exciting news, which further enhances Nottingham’s prestige as the emerging home of digital and creative industries.

The start-up company, who have just set up in the city’s Creative Quarter, specialising in creating technologies to manage ‘big data’, the process of managing high volumes of information and metrics that are now produced by social media, the Internet of Things (IoT) and other channels.

Company founders Andrew Slater and Julian Boneham have worked together for 17 years, previously founding and growing successful venture Quantix to £10m turnover, which was acquired by Interoute for a substantial sum back in 2011.

Onomi allows the pair to bring their market knowledge and expertise to bear on a new service which, says Andrew, will provide: “A refreshed and modernised database managed service model to the market.

“We can provide a unique pay on results model which allows businesses greater control of outcomes, ensuring support for critical database environments. Our services help businesses manage big data and integrate these new, emerging technologies with their existing systems.

The decision to bring the business to Nottingham was helped by its growing reputation in the data sector. Julian credits “an excellent catchment area that will help us attract highly-qualified technical staff and graduates, good transport links and a globally-recognised location for innovative, high-growth businesses.” With drawing their attention to the city.

Another factor for Onomi was the business support service made available through the Invest in Nottingham team. Continues Julian: “The Invest in Nottingham team recognised the growth area and potential of Big Data and IT outsourcing market early on in our discussions.

“They agreed it was essential to gain a first market mover advantage and the grants and funding opportunities we were introduced to by the team will allow us to invest in 2015, in order to secure our advantage by bringing new innovations to market before our competition. This acceleration ultimately with provide increased employment opportunities and maximise our growth potential.”

Basing their company in the city’s Creative Quarter also allowed them to located amongst many like-minded businesses with a high growth potential, which is a focus for Onomi themselves.

The company are looking to expand during 2015, and are currently under an aggressive recruitment drive to find additional talent. They will also invest in developing a new automation capability, whereby customers will be able to control software robots through a unique web application.

Speaking about Onomi, Councillor Nick McDonald, Portfolio Holder for Jobs and Growth commented: “We’re delighted that Onomi chose the Creative Quarter in Nottingham as their location. We’re seeing more of this kind of thing the city - growth businesses keen to escape the soaring costs of operating in the South East and attracted by the incentives on offer here, our high quality infrastructure and the increasing strength of our tech sector. Importantly, attracting businesses like this brings not just jobs, but high quality jobs. In the end that is the key issue for the city."

Julian confirms: “We will be offering fantastic long-term job opportunities in what is arguably one of the most exciting and rapidly growing parts of the economy.”

For Onomi, the future looks very bright, with companies catching on to the infinite possibilities big data can offer them and the nascent ‘Internet of Things’ accelerating around us. They are keen to extend the invitation to other high tech businesses: “Any entrepreneur looking to start a business should have the Creative Quarter in Nottingham on their shortlist. Once they engage with the Invest in Nottingham team, they will find a city that is committed to supporting them to establish and grow their business.”

Go to Onomi's website.