Bede Gaming plots Rank-fuelled expansion

Bede Gaming has revealed it plans to increase its headcount by almost two-thirds after recently securing a major platform supply deal with Rank Group.

The deal, which was announced last month, is expected to double the number of daily transactions Bede handles from three million to six million within 18 months while turnover is also projected to increase from £3.5m in 2014 to £8m this year.

Due to this extra demand, the Newcastle-based supplier is looking to add to its current 120-strong team with the hire of 75 new staff and will relocate from its current headquarters in Gosforth to a larger premises at Great Park.

Bede expects to create 25 roles this year with a further 50 members of staff – largely in software and creative roles – to be recruited in 2016.

Speaking to eGaming Review, Bede chairman Joe Saumarez-Smith said the firm had been “recruiting heavily” on the back of the Rank deal and while some positions would be filled in the company’s other offices in Vauxhall, London and Sofia, Bulgaria, the intention was to keep its core hiring within the North East.

Saumarez-Smith also confirmed the company would be moving offices to provide staff with a good environment to work, with the company aiming to make Bede the “most attractive place to work in technology in the North East”.

Rank announced last month that it is to switch its core platform provider from OpenBet to Bede in a move which also saw the operator retain an option to acquire an equity stake in the supplier.