Rigby Group Celebrates 50 Years of Innovation, Global Growth, and Impact

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute 58 seconds

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Quick Read: Rigby Group celebrates its 50th anniversary, reflecting on five decades of growth, innovation, and community impact. The family-owned business has expanded into a global leader across technology, aviation, and real estate while remaining deeply rooted in the West Midlands.

Stratford-Upon-Avon-based Rigby Group, one of Europe's largest private technology investors and a pioneering family-run business, marks its 50th anniversary this year. Founded in 1975 with a £2,000 investment by Sir Peter Rigby, the company has grown from humble beginnings in Liverpool into a global enterprise, employing over 9,000 people across nine countries and generating annual revenue of £3.7 billion.

A Remarkable Journey of Growth

Over five decades, Rigby Group has played a pivotal role at the forefront of technology, real estate, and aviation sectors. Its flagship business, SCC, has grown into Europe’s largest privately-owned IT services provider, serving over 2,500 clients and supporting 5 million users in 50 countries.

Sir Peter's sons, Steve and James Rigby, joined the business in the 1990s and now serve as Co-CEOs, continuing the family’s commitment to innovation and sustainable growth.

Photo: Steve Rigby, Photo Credit: Rigby Group plc

Sir Peter, who was knighted in 2002 for his services to IT and business, reflected on the company's journey:

"From day one, we set out to value our people, innovate for our customers, and give back to the communities we work in. Those principles remain at the heart of everything we do. Being 100% family-owned, we are steadfastly committed to nurturing talent and fostering job opportunities that benefit our communities."

A testament to the company’s strong employee culture, over 2,000 employees have been with Rigby Group for more than a decade, with 1,000 reaching 20 years of service.

Strong West Midlands Roots and Global Impact

The Rigby Group remains deeply connected to the West Midlands, reflecting its commitment to local communities and fostering growth within the UK. The Rigby Foundation, founded by Sir Peter in 1992, has supported numerous charitable causes, particularly in entrepreneurship, youth services, and culture.

Steve Rigby, Co-CEO, emphasised the importance of family leadership and local investment:

"Rigby Group is a shining example of what a home-grown family business can achieve on the global stage with the right vision and talented teams. By cultivating an entrepreneurial environment, more family businesses can thrive and achieve similar success."

Global Achievements and Sponsorships

In a notable milestone, SCC France served as the Official IT Supporter of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, managing IT procurement, supply, and maintenance throughout the event while supporting digital sustainability.

James Rigby, Co-CEO, said:

"Providing IT infrastructure for the Olympics exemplifies our commitment to delivering for our customers. It’s a proud achievement that reflects the dedication of our entire workforce."

Recently, Rigby Group announced a key sponsorship of Tech Nation’s Rising Stars OnetoWin pitch competition, which aims to identify and support emerging UK tech businesses and talent.

Celebrating 50 Years of Success

To mark its golden anniversary, Rigby Group will host a series of events, philanthropic initiatives, and celebrations throughout 2025 to honour its employees, customers, and partners who have contributed to its success.

What's new

DigiSpinWM Pilot Celebrates Milestone as 11 Investor-Ready Innovations Emerge in the West Midlands

The DigiSpinWM pilot programme, a bold initiative designed to accelerate the spin-out of digital and advanced manufacturing innovations in the West Midlands, has marked a key milestone with a showcase event in Birmingham, unveiling 11 investor-ready ventures developed over the past six months.

Transforming Ideas into Investment Opportunities

Backed by Research England and delivered through a partnership between the University of Wolverhampton, Coventry University, and Birmingham City University via the West Midlands Combined Universities, the programme set out to test a collaborative model for commercialising innovation more efficiently and effectively.

In just six months, DigiSpinWM has:

- Assessed over 40 high-potential technologies for commercial viability
- Delivered tailored support to participants on spin-out strategy and intellectual property development
- Nurtured 11 ventures to investment readiness
- Developed a shared framework for technology transfer across participating universities

The recent showcase celebrated these achievements, spotlighting innovations spanning early-stage development to near-market solutions with the potential for significant societal and economic impact.

A Regional Model for Innovation

Ceri Jones, Director of Research & Enterprise at the University of Wolverhampton, reflected on the programme’s success:

The DigiSpinWM pilot has been a transformative journey. Seeing 11 investor-ready ventures emerge from such a collaborative, regional approach shows what’s possible when we unify efforts across institutions. These spinouts will drive real-world change and position the West Midlands at the forefront of digital and advanced manufacturing.

The pilot’s success is also credited to a strong ecosystem of academic mentors, business advisors, and industry reviewers who provided essential support and guidance to participants.

The showcase event featured live pitches from select ventures to an audience of investors, stakeholders, and innovation leaders, marking a key step towards unlocking the funding required to bring these innovations to market.

With the DigiSpinWM model proving its value, the programme signals a new chapter for spin-out activity in the West Midlands—one built on collaboration, shared infrastructure, and investment-ready innovation.

By Anushka Malhotra

8 Jun