A digital transformation firm that developed specialist software for issuing government licences has doubled its headcount amid surging demand for AI-enabled solutions.
Zudu, which created the now spun out ePass platform for the Scottish Government – to deliver the national tobacco and vape register and funeral services register – is on target for double-digit revenue growth to around £3.5 million in 2025.
The Edinburgh-headquartered company – which is aiming for £10 million revenue growth by 2027 – specialises in building scalable software platforms and enabling organisations to unlock value from AI, with demand rising in the UK and overseas.
Zudu’s client list includes Asahi, Weir, the NHS, Havas, Wood, ScotRail, Portman Asset Management, and the Scottish Government. They have also recently appointed Paul Duffy as managing director, after joining from ClearSky Logic.
CEO James Buchan said: “We’re on a mission to redefine digital transformation and support our clients around AI enablement, while being one of the fastest and smartest digital delivery companies around. Importantly, we always talk about staying ‘relentlessly human’ in a digital world. We have some amazing clients, more in the pipeline, and we plan to get to the £10m revenue figure over the next few years. We’re excited to get Paul on board to lead the team, and pleased that Laura and Angus are now in place in the leadership team.”
Buchan also led the Zudu team that developed ePass, licensing software designed for regulators, which secured a Scottish Government contract to deliver the national tobacco & vape register and funeral services register following participation in last year’s CivTech accelerator programme. Buchan has since spun ePass out of Zudu into a standalone limited company.
And on the growth of AI, he added: “AI is no longer a buzzword – it’s becoming the operating system for modern business. The challenge isn’t just adopting AI tools, it’s integrating them meaningfully into organisations. That’s where Zuducomes in, by bridging the gap between innovation and execution, and ensuring our clients can harness AI responsibly, at scale, and in a way that keeps people at the heart of technology.”
Paul Duffy, Zudu’s newly-appointed managing director, added: “Inheriting incredibly talented tech and leadership teams is an absolute privilege. For years now, I’ve been speaking with business leaders all over the UK who are AI curious; there is a shortage of experts in our space, and we feel it’s time to support business growth and AI enablement in a series of sectors. The skills and knowledge the Zudu team has built up through working on hundreds of projects puts us in a strong position to advise, support and engage with our customers.”
