£1.2m funding for expansion of AIMES Grid Services
LIVERPOOL broadband specialist AIMES Grid Services has secured £1.2m of investment to build the first phase of a next-generation data centre.
The cloud computing services provider will develop a 35,000 sq ft 1.5 megawatt facility at its Liverpool Innovation Park based in Edge Lane which will boast an innovative cooling system that will save 3,000 tonnes of CO2 a year, catapulting the city to the forefront of energy efficient digital provision in the UK.
The funding comprises £200,000 from Royal Bank of Scotland-owned NatWest bank, £150,000 from venture capital provider Merseyside Special Investment Fund’s (MSIF) Merseyside Loan and Equity Fund, with the remainder being private investment.
AIMES was set up by Prof Dennis Kehoe in 2005 as a spin out from the University of Liverpool.
It began trading in 2008 and has grown rapidly, securing a range of clients including Park Group Financial Services, Novartis Vaccines, Transactis, Perkins Engines, and The Institute of Child Health and Human Time A/S (Denmark).
Prof Kehoe said: “This investment will enable us to create cutting-edge cloud computing facilities. The improved infrastructure will give significant advantages to customers including improved levels of energy efficiency, cost savings and increased resilience.”
He said work on the facility will start soon and take about 16 weeks to complete.
“MSIF were our preferred investor and we are delighted to have them on board. They provided a great service and the whole deal was co-ordinated extremely well with RBS who have also been terrific partners.”
MSIF investment director Paul Humphray said: “AIMES is a leader in its field and plays an important role in making new technologies accessible to businesses, especially local small firms who may otherwise get left behind. It is also ensuring that Liverpool is recognised across the UK as a centre of excellence for digital provision.”
Nick Evans, NatWest relationship manager, added: “AIMES has a good track record of making investments to improve the service it can offer its clients. This is the second tranche of funding NatWest has provided to the company this year and we look forward to working with them on future projects.”
AIMES is expected to reach a turnover in excess of £1m this year and this is expected to treble over the next two years. The company employs 15 staff and expects to recruit a further eight more within two years.
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