Edinburgh-founded 2i has completed a transformational acquisition of Planit UK, creating the UK’s largest pure-play quality assurance business and delivering one of the most compelling growth stories in Scotland’s tech sector.
The deal, which follows a strategic investment by London-based private equity firm Rockpool, will more than double 2i’s revenues from approximately £20 million to £50 million and grow the combined workforce to around 600 people — a business more than twice the size it was just two years ago.
From George Street to Market Leader
Founded in Edinburgh in 2005, 2i has grown from its Scottish roots into a UK-wide operation over two decades, serving clients across both the public and private sectors. Its public sector credentials in Scotland are strong, with Social Security Scotland, the NHS and the Scottish Government among its client base. But it is the company’s structured, acquisition-led growth strategy — backed by Rockpool’s investment — that has accelerated 2i’s ascent to market leadership.
The Planit UK deal is the latest in a series of strategic moves. 2i previously acquired nFocus Testing as part of the same growth programme, steadily expanding its capability, sector footprint and market reach. The Planit UK acquisition now brings specialist expertise in automation engineering, security testing and AI-powered quality engineering into the combined business.
The Growth in Numbers
The scale of 2i’s expansion is significant:
- Revenue: approximately £20m pre-Rockpool investment → £50mpost-acquisition
- Headcount: combined workforce of approximately 600 people
- Capabilities: Quality Assurance, Software Testing, Strategic Test Consultancy, ERP Testing, AI Assurance, Automation Engineering and Security Testing
- Delivery reach: UK-wide offices including Edinburgh and Glasgow, supported by an India Delivery Centre in Hyderabad
What the Leaders Say
Dave Kelly, CEO of 2i, said: “This is a significant step for 2i and a major milestone in our growth journey. Planit UK brings real strength to our business in specialist expertise, sector reach and complementary capability, creating a stronger platform for the future.
“We have been clear about our ambition to grow, broaden what we offer clients and continue building a market-leading quality assurance business in the UK. This acquisition delivers on that ambition and gives us even greater scope to innovate, scale and support clients through increasingly complex technology change.”
Neil Kennedy, General Manager at Planit UK, added: “This is an exciting next step and chapter for everyone involved with the Planit UK business working in our teams across the UK and Hyderabad. Joining 2i brings together complementary strengths, shared expertise and a common commitment to quality, creating a stronger proposition for our clients and a bigger platform for future growth. We believe the combined business is exceptionally well placed to build on what both organisations do well and deliver quality outcomes and even greater value in the market.”
A Platform Built for Further Growth
The combined business is positioned to capitalise on growing demand for specialist QA services as organisations across the UK navigate increasingly complex technology change — from ERP migrations to AI implementation. The addition of Planit UK’s AI-powered quality engineering capability is particularly significant, placing 2i at the forefront of the emerging AI assurance market.
Alongside its growth ambitions, 2i has also been certified as a Great Place to Work for the third consecutive year — an indicator that its culture and employee experience have kept pace with its rapid commercial expansion.
For the full story on the acquisition and 2i’s Scottish origins, read the Silicon Scotland piece here.
For more information visit www.2itesting.com or contact [email protected].
