Headcount: 45 (+200%)
Specialism: Cybersecurity
HQ: Leeds
This organically grown Check Point, Google, Armis, Pentera, Qualys and Crowdstrike partner’s headcount now tops 70 following one of its biggest growth years in 2023, CEO Paul Starr told us.
It ranks 16th in Oxygen Fast-Growth 50 on the basis that it trebled average monthly headcount to 45 between its fiscal 2019 and 2022.
Founded in 2016, the privately held firm is in the midst of transforming from a traditional VAR to a “modern, consultative MSSP”.
Q&A with CEO Paul Starr
What lies behind SEP2’s lightning headcount growth?
SEP2 are ‘Tech Driven, People Powered’ which really does encapsulate our mission as a cyber security service provider. Our people are at the heart of everything we set out to achieve. All the team are encouraged to be the best and are given the tools and support to do so, while the leadership teams across the business are empowered as leaders and granted autonomy. That makes SEP2 a great place to work and has made us an attractive employer. Providing that human connection in a data-driven industry has been the spark to which I would attribute SEP2’s amazing growth. We also scale with customer demand; yes, you must consider efficiencies, but the reality is that customers want what our success is built on and that is expertise, if we stop delivering that we are no longer SEP2.
What do you see as your biggest growth opportunity for the next 12 months?
People. SEP2 always are looking to grow our People Power through both development and recruitment, not just over the next 12 months but on a daily basis! We recognise the skill and diversity gap in our industry and one of our key missions is to is to lead the way in addressing this challenge. Initiatives such as the SEP2 Cyber School and the Women in SEP2 groups are just two examples of employee-driven initiatives that expand our team’s diversity and inclusivity both internally and externally.
On the business side, we have been on a journey away from a traditional Valued Added reseller to a modern consultative managed security services provider. This will continue to be a key focus for this year as we make the best of procurement routes such as marketplaces, and work towards a more consumption-based model across our portfolio
2024 would be a successful year if…
SEP2 has a very ambitious plan for 2024 that spans all departments. At the heart of what SEP2 deliver is our knowledge and expertise to our customers on a 24×7 global basis, so they don’t need to worry about getting that dreaded call.
Our goal is to increase our NPS and eNPS. This objective serves as a testament to our commitment to our customers and partners, ensuring they get the best services. Simultaneously, it reflects our dedication to fostering a happy and engaged team, reinforcing SEP2’s identity as a truly People-Powered organisation.
What’s a strange or interesting fact about SEP2 most people won’t know?
Sweet treats are a staple of life at SEP2. Many will have seen our preference for a certain brand of brownies to celebrate our company birthday, but it’s much deeper than that! Most of our internal project code-names revolve around chocolate or other sweet treats. This concept helps us to come to projects and meetings without any preconceived ideas or expectations. So don’t get confused if I invite you to a Project Revels meeting, which is a personal favourite of mine.
