By Anne Beau-Lyon
When London-based private equity firm Rockpool invested in Edinburgh’s 2i, it backed a clear thesis: that the UK quality assurance market was ripe for consolidation. That thesis is now paying off spectacularly.
2i, the Edinburgh-founded software testing and quality assurance specialist, has completed its acquisition of Planit UK, creating the UK’s largest pure-play quality assurance business. The deal will more than double 2i’s revenues to £50 million and grow the combined workforce to around 600 people — a remarkable transformation for a company that was turning over approximately £20 million when Rockpool came on board.
The Buy-and-Build Blueprint
The Planit UK deal is not a one-off. It follows 2i’s earlier acquisition of nFocus Testing and represents the systematic execution of a deliberate buy-and-build strategy. Rather than growing organically alone, 2i has used Rockpool’s backing to identify and absorb complementary businesses — each adding capability, sector reach and headcount to an expanding platform.
It is a model that Scottish businesses have historically been slow to adopt, often preferring organic growth or accepting acquisition themselves. 2i is writing a different playbook. The Edinburgh firm has gone out and acquired a Reading-based English competitor, reversing the gravitational pull that too often sees Scottish companies absorbed southward.
What the Combined Business Looks Like
Together, 2i and Planit UK form a 600-strong specialist business with capabilities spanning Quality Assurance, Software Testing, Strategic Test Consultancy, ERP Testing, AI Assurance, Automation Engineering and Security Testing. Supported by 2i‘s India Delivery Centre in Hyderabad, the combined group is positioned to serve clients at scale across both the public and private sectors throughout the UK.
Planit UK brings additional firepower in AI-powered quality engineering — a capability that is becoming increasingly critical as organisations across the UK accelerate technology transformation programmes and seek independent assurance that those changes are delivered safely.
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: “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.”
In Case You Missed It:
A Model for Scottish Business
Alongside its commercial growth, 2i has been certified as a Great Place to Work for the third consecutive year — a signal that rapid expansion through acquisition need not come at the cost of culture.
For Scottish businesses watching from the sidelines, 2i’s journey offers a clear lesson: with the right PE partner, a focused acquisition strategy and a strong operational base, Scottish firms can scale fast, compete UK-wide and lead their markets — without leaving Edinburgh to do it.
For more on 2i’s Scottish origins and the full acquisition story, read our Silicon Scotland coverage here. For more information visit www.2itesting.com or contact [email protected].
