Global search for software experts knows no bounds 

A MERSEYSIDE IT company plans to open offices in China and Africa as it continues its global expansion.

Tissea, based at Liverpool Science Park, already employs software developers in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh and also boasts a sales office in Bordeaux.

It is keen to expand its overseas operations further so it can take advantage of lower labour costs for talented software developers.

But the company is also planning to recruit more staff in Liverpool as it expands its maintenance and support work.

Tissea is in talks with the Moroccan government about expanding its operations there.

It has also taken a lease on an office in Beijing – and is also planning to open an office in the African country of Niger to take advantage of its software talent.

Tissea was founded 18 months ago by Julien Pierre.

Director Stuart McCrae said: “We’ve rented a place in Beijing for 10 years that can house about 40 developers. We’re looking to offer 24-hour development and support.

“We’re linked to Morocco with Skype (internet phone) and we’ve got cameras there. It may be in North Africa but it’s just like being in the same office.”

The idea of the Niger office came from one of Tissea’s employees, a native of the country.

Mr McCrae said: “He asked if he could go over there and open up an office as a subsidiary of the Moroccan business. Now we’re looking to go out there and set up that office. There’s a lot of highly-educated people in Niger.” The company employs its own staff overseas rather than outsourcing to contractors there.

But it says it may now expand its Moroccan operation and offer it to other companies for them to outsource their operations.

Mr McCrae said Tissea was in other conversations with the Moroccan government and may open more offices in other cities. The company is developing a pilot computer support and maintenance division to compete with BT’s support packages.

Mr McCrae said: We hope to create more jobs here in Liverpool and will need to form alliances with other local computer support companies."

Article online: click here to view

Copy of the article in PDF: click here to open