A Northampton-based provider of specialist education IT services is set to create five new jobs after landing a £90,000 boost from Enterprise Loans East Midlands (ELEM), through a Small Business Loan from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF). Overnet Data, founded in 2008, offers an integrated single information platform called Edulink One that can be accessed via a web browser or app by all users including staff members, students and parents.
There are currently 250,000 users of Overnet Data’s platform across schools and colleges in England and Wales. Alongside new recruitment, the funding will enable the business to continue developing its software and bolster its support system.
Anthony Wright, founder of Overnet Data, said:
“I could see that schools across the country were having to manage numerous systems and platforms when it came to day-to-day admin. I therefore set up Overnet Data to create a streamlined and more effective way of working. The service can be used by staff members, parents and students in a way that is easy to access and, importantly, at an affordable price.
“Thanks to the funding and support we’ve received from Enterprise Loans we’re now in a place where we can expand further and double the size of our team.”
Overnet Data has refined its system over the years. Starting as a platform named Moodle, Wright then spent four years developing the software to create Edulink One – the system in place today. This was brought onto the market at the beginning of 2017.