AN American technology company has entered a joint venture partnership with a leading UK data centre operator and cloud computing specialist after identifying Liverpool for its first UK venture.

ConcertCare, which is based in Birmingham, Alabama, has partnered with AIMES, based at Liverpool Innovation Park, and is now set to open an office in Liverpool’s Alder Hey Innovation Centre.

ConcertCare’s CEO, Tanveer Patel, chose Liverpool for its UK headquarters after ties were made during a trade mission to the States led by city Mayor Joe Anderson last year which resulted in a Twinning Agreement between the two cities.

Ms Patel has since visited Liverpool twice – most recently during the International Festival for Business – and has received extensive support from the city region’s inward investment agency, Invest Liverpool.

Today the company, which provides custom software services, Integrated Solutions and its flagship e-Consultation product to the health sector to help practitioners improve efficiency and patient outcomes, announced its partnership with AIMES.

Ms Patel said:

“The inevitable uncertainty which accompanies an overseas expansion was completely removed for us by the support of the Invest Liverpool team who have introduced us to a range of potential partners and customers.

“We are delighted to have entered into the new partnership with AIMES, which is an internationally recognised pioneer and innovator in the data and cloud computing arena.”

Prof. Dennis Kehoe, CEO of AIMES, said:

“We are very excited to be entering into a collaboration with a company which offers expertise and experience complementary to our own.

“We believe there are significant new business, research and development opportunities for our joint venture both here in the UK and overseas, capitalising on our combined strengths in software development, data management and cloud computing services.”

AIMES’ customers include Everton FC, Atlantic Container Line, SPHERE, Liverpool Heart and Chest NHS Foundation Trust and the Federation of Small Businesses.

ConcertCare provides custom software services, Integrated Solutions and its flagship e-Consultation product to the health sector to help practitioners improve efficiency and patient outcomes. It already works with the US’s biggest healthcare provider and, through its Indian office, with India’s third largest healthcare provider.

Ms Patel said:

“Our choice of Liverpool is a direct consequence of the Liverpool delegation’s visit to Alabama last year and of the Twinning Agreement. The Invest Liverpool team and the Mayor’s office presented a compelling rationale as to why we should choose Liverpool as our UK base.

“We’re a rapidly growing business and anticipate doubling our staff numbers year on year. We’re currently running at a headcount of 60 but plan aggressive investment and growth over the next five years. Liverpool can and will play a key role in that.”

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said:

“Reaching out to potential overseas investors is a critical part of our city’s growth strategy and we’re delighted that a high growth and high value business like ConcertCare has chosen Liverpool for its investment and is already forging strong relationships and collaborations with Liverpool-based businesses.”

Ellen Cutler, Director of Invest Liverpool, added:

“Liverpool’s relatively low cost base and its talent pool are key selling points as we target international businesses. We have globally recognised university research excellence in terms of life sciences, world leading innovation and the second fastest growing tech cluster in the UK with a strong talent pipeline.

“We’re delighted to have been able to support ConcertCare and look forward to working with them for many years to come as they expand their Liverpool operations.”