Sheffield technology consultancy The Curve has secured investment from entrepreneur Glyn Heath to support a programme of acquisitions, targeting businesses specialising in managed IT services, cybersecurity, and data.
The investment will help the consultancy develop a broader technology services group serving medium-sized organisations. The amount invested has not been disclosed, although Heath has described his financial commitment as substantial.
The Curve has established a new holding company to accommodate its acquisition strategy. Its existing software engineering and digital transformation business will remain the consultancy division as complementary companies are added to the group.
Founded in 2019 by brothers Paul and James Ridgway, The Curve develops software and technology systems for organisations with complex operational requirements. Its work covers application development, system architecture, integration, and the modernisation of existing business technology.
The company reports having worked with more than 100 organisations in sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, and professional services. These projects involve developing and improving business-critical systems rather than supplying general-purpose software products.
Its acquisition strategy is focused on the mid-market, where companies frequently face technology requirements similar to those of larger enterprises but have less capacity to maintain extensive internal technical teams.
Growing organisations may need specialist software development alongside cybersecurity, infrastructure management, cloud services, and data capabilities. Purchasing these services from several separate providers can create additional management requirements and complicate responsibility for projects spanning different systems.
The Curve intends to broaden the capabilities available to those customers by bringing specialist businesses into the same ownership group. Its existing consultancy would continue developing software and delivering transformation projects, supported by acquired companies offering complementary services.
Heath brings experience of establishing and developing technology businesses. He founded technology services company Centiq in 1998 and exited the business in 2017, subsequently supporting other companies pursuing expansion.
He has acted as an adviser to The Curve since 2023, providing an established relationship with its management before becoming an investor. His role will continue alongside the company’s existing advisory structure.
The Curve’s advisory board is chaired by Paul Howell and includes Melise Jones, John Ryan, and Bethan Vincent, as well as Heath. The company has assembled that group to support its commercial development and acquisition plans.
Alongside the investment, the consultancy is increasing its business development activities in northern England. It opened an office in Leeds in 2025 and has strengthened its sales and marketing operations in Manchester while retaining its Sheffield headquarters.
The expansion provides access to businesses across Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, and surrounding markets. It also places the company closer to potential acquisition targets and specialist technology workforces within those regions.
Acquiring established providers would introduce different operational requirements from growing a consultancy organically. Each business may have its own customer contracts, technical accreditations, staff, and service delivery arrangements, requiring decisions about how those activities will be coordinated.
The creation of a holding company provides a structure for common ownership while allowing specialist operating businesses to retain the expertise and commercial relationships on which their value depends.
The Curve has not identified completed acquisitions or announced a timetable for individual transactions. Its latest development is the securing of growth investment and the establishment of a structure intended to support expansion into adjacent technology services.
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