Version 1 has had a rollercoaster of a year so far. In June, the company announced its acquisition of digital services firm, Neueda. The purchase is the 12th for Version 1 to date and will help it become one of the largest expert technology businesses in Northern Ireland.
A few weeks prior to that, the multinational IT services provider revealed it is investing more than £1m in its Belfast operations and creating 180 new jobs.
Expanding wider into Northern Ireland, the organisation is also creating more roles in the North West, with a range of roles already open for applications.
Lorna McAdoo is Director of Operations & Business Development at Version 1 NI. Here, she sums up the past 12 months for her business, with insights into what the future holds for what will potentially be, one of the region’s top tech giants.
“The last year in Version 1 has been quite typical of many tech companies here. When the pandemic struck in early 2020, it created a lot of uncertainty and insecurity. Gone was the traditional working day – travelling to and from the office and working alongside your peers. Over the past year in Version 1, there has been a huge emphasis on ensuring that our customers were okay and supported. The feedback from our customers and staff through our quarterly surveys has been fantastic with some of the highest feedback scores yet.
“In Version 1, we have onboarded over 70 people, and a lot of the focus has been on making sure that new joiners felt at ease and connected to the rest of their team. We have continued to deliver staff engagement events and develop our community initiatives which many of our new people have got involved.
“It has been an incredible year in a very uncertain time but, as we continue on the journey out of the pandemic, we are more certain than ever that the principles that we live and work by will continue to drive the success that we are hungry for.
“My top tips for being a leader in the tech industry are probably that of any leader – listen, support, encourage and take risks. I have worked over 35 years in the Tech industry for some of our best tech companies here in Northern Ireland and more recently in Version 1.
“My leadership style has always been to listen very closely to what my customers are saying – their needs, challenges, and vision. I also listen to my team and help to guide, support and mentor where they need it. Any leader in Tech is only as good as the team around them and, I happen to have a fantastic team here in Version 1.
“Version 1’s growth over the last 10 years in particular has been incredible. The success has been a result of how we balance our efforts to achieve Customer Success, Empowered People, and a Strong Organisation, underpinned by a commitment to our six Core Values. This approach is known as our Strength in Balance, our strategic triangle, which is the foundation for everything we do here. We believe this is what makes Version 1 different. The future success will continue using these principles to underpin everything we do and ensure that our customers get access to the best technology and people so that together we can continue to drive success for our customers.
“Version 1 NI’s growth will continue to drive towards being one of the top IT organisations here in Northern Ireland: The Best Place to Work for our people and an organisation deeply embedded in our communities across Northern Ireland. Our focus going forward will be to engage, employ and work with communities in all areas of Northern Ireland. Having come from Fermanagh to go to University, it is important that in the future, you don't have to live in Belfast to be successful in the Tech Sector. The opportunities should be readily available to everyone no matter where they live. The pandemic has made everyone realise that working from home can be achieved and still feel like you belong to an organisation.”
Remember to check out Version 1’s latest job opportunities on Sync NI’s Jobs board.
This article first appeared in the Summer 2021 edition of the Sync NI magazine. You can download your FREE copy and sign up to receive future digital editions here.
