The Co-op Group, a British consumer cooperative with a wide range of businesses from retail to funeral services, is expanding its outsourcing agreement with Zühlke UK to cope with the growing demand for software engineering support.
With an internal team of just over 100 engineers, the Co-op’s demand for support has skyrocketed by 30% this year alone, highlighting the need for additional capacity in software engineering. To address this challenge, the company is tapping into the engineering resources of Zühlke UK through an outsourcing deal worth £8m over three years.
Zühlke UK, a leading provider of software development services, will add 25 engineers based near shore in their delivery centers located in Portugal, Serbia, and Bulgaria. This will provide The Co-op with the additional capacity it needs to develop in-house technology, support legacy systems, commodity off-the-shelf platforms, and enterprise systems.
The Co-op Group employs around 600 IT staff in total to support its various businesses, including retail, financial services, legal, and funeral services. The engineering team is responsible for developing in-house technology and supporting critical systems that are essential for the smooth operation of the business.
The Co-op is currently going through a growth period, which has put additional pressure on its already stretched engineering team. At the same time, the recruitment market in the UK is highly competitive, making it challenging to attract and retain skilled engineers. According to the Co-op’s director of engineering, Mike Wardley, the outsourcing agreement with Zühlke will add “more strings to our bow in terms of sourcing options.”
Despite the outsourcing agreement, the Co-op remains committed to investing in local talent. “It is important that we invest in our own people to ensure we retain them,” added Wardley. “Increasing access to resources through outsourcing will not reduce our commitment to local talent.”
The Co-op’s decision to expand its outsourcing agreement with Zühlke UK highlights the growing need for businesses to be able to scale their engineering resources quickly. With pressures such as competitive recruitment markets, new technological developments, and increased demand for software engineering support, outsourcing agreements like this one can help companies remain agile and competitive.
However, outsourcing agreements also require careful management to ensure that they deliver the intended benefits while maintaining quality and security standards. To minimize risk, businesses must work closely with outsourcing partners to identify areas of responsibility, establish clear communication channels, and develop mutually beneficial collaboration practices.
In conclusion, the Co-op Group’s outsourcing agreement with Zühlke UK is a testament to the growing demand for software engineering support and the need for businesses to scale their resources quickly. While outsourcing agreements can provide valuable benefits, they must be managed carefully to ensure that they deliver the intended results. As the Co-op Group continues to grow and evolve, its ability to efficiently manage its engineering resources will be a key factor in its success.