Version 1 has reached an agreement to acquire CreateFuture, creating a larger ai-first consultancy with broader capacity for clients in regulated industries
The technology services firm CreateFuture, originally established in Edinburgh, has reached an agreement to be acquired by Irish consultancy Version 1. The deal unites two companies with complementary strengths: CreateFuture brings specialist experience in tightly regulated sectors such as iGaming, financial services and utilities, while Version 1 contributes scale and an established international footprint.
CreateFuture operates across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London and Sofia and employs around 550 people. Version 1 traces its roots to 1996 and, prior to the transaction, reported several thousand employees and significant annual revenues.
The combined organisation will employ approximately 4,250 people and target annual revenues in excess of €500 million, forming one of Europe’s larger consultancies focused on AI-driven digital transformation.
Leaders from both firms have emphasised that the merger is intended to accelerate delivery of large-scale programmes across complex, regulated environments in both the public and private sectors. Completion of the acquisition remains conditional on customary regulatory clearances, and CreateFuture’s existing leadership team will continue to run day-to-day operations and client engagement following close.
Deal overview
The transaction is being described as a strategic, growth-oriented move rather than a consolidation for cost cutting. Version 1 sees CreateFuture as a practitioner-led, AI-native partner whose technical precision and compliance expertise strengthen its sector coverage. From CreateFuture’s perspective, the alliance offers enhanced capability and geographic reach to serve existing clients and pursue new opportunities. Executives say the combination will deepen delivery capacity while preserving the specialist approach that built CreateFuture’s client relationships. Importantly, the deal size itself was not disclosed publicly, but officials highlighted the operational and talent synergies underpinning the rationale.
What this means for clients and projects
Clients can expect access to broader teams and to a wider set of tools and methodologies. The merged group emphasises deployment of artificial intelligence and data-driven practices at scale, enabling end-to-end transformation programmes that must meet strict regulatory and security requirements. For organisations in sectors such as iGaming and financial services, that translates into greater resilience in project delivery, increased specialist resource availability, and the potential to tap into cross-border expertise. The firms state they will continue to deliver work with the same attention to compliance and technical accuracy that characterises their heritage.
Client continuity and delivery model
Both companies have committed to keeping existing engagements intact and to avoid disruption during the integration. The retained CreateFuture leadership will continue to lead client relationships while drawing on Version 1’s broader portfolio of services and frameworks. This approach aims to preserve the flexible, agile ways of working that customers value, while layering in additional capacity for larger, more complex programmes. The organisations say that a combined emphasis on AI-first strategies will underpin future delivery.
Implications for staff and culture
Employees are expected to gain new career pathways and access to a larger internal market of skills and projects. CreateFuture’s founder noted the company began operations 16 years ago on a belief that great work emerges when talented teams are trusted and empowered; that cultural thread is intended to continue under the new ownership. Version 1 characterised the acquisition as a cultural fit, pointing to CreateFuture’s high-calibre talent and practitioner-led ethos. While leadership continuity has been promised, the companies also highlighted opportunities to expand learning and mobility across a broader organisational footprint.
Talent development and opportunities
The consolidation creates scope for enhanced professional development, wider secondment options, and access to specialist training in areas such as machine learning, data engineering and regulated systems design. Staff based in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London and Sofia could see exposure to larger, multinational programmes and to repeatable delivery models used across Version 1’s markets. The firms stress that preserving local teams and client-facing continuity will be a priority throughout integration.
Strategic outlook
Viewed strategically, the move positions the combined group to compete for larger mandates where both scale and regulatory expertise are essential. Version 1’s acquisition of CreateFuture enhances its private sector reach while reinforcing an AI-first orientation across delivery capabilities. Executives describe the deal as a forward-looking growth step rather than a purely defensive play. With the acquisition subject to regulatory approvals, the next phase will concentrate on integration planning, client communication and mobilising combined teams to win and execute major transformation engagements.
In summary, the transaction pairs CreateFuture’s specialist, practitioner-led skills with Version 1’s scale and market footprint to form a larger player focused on AI-driven digital transformation in highly regulated industries. The promise to keep leadership in place and the commitments to staff and clients aim to smooth the transition while enabling the newly enlarged organisation to pursue more ambitious, cross-border projects.
