PRESS
February 3, 2025
February 6, 2025
The technology, data, and design company Solita has announced the acquisition of UK-based PUBLIC Group International Limited, a digital transformation partner specialised in the public sector. This strategic move marks Solita’s first step into the UK market, expanding its presence to ten countries across Europe. Following the acquisition, the combined company will have a team of over 2,200 professionals dedicated to creating world-leading digital services for positive impact across the public and private sectors.
The technology, data, and design company Solita, and PUBLIC, a digital transformation partner specialising in the public sector announced today that Solita has acquired PUBLIC Group International Limited. Both companies are known for their dedicated, innovative work to drive positive societal impact and digital transformation in the public sector, while Solita also serves a wide range of private sector clients.
PUBLIC will continue to operate as an independent entity within the Solita Group. The current CEO, Alexander de Carvalho will remain an executive and join a new board established to oversee Solita’s strategic goals in the UK. The senior leadership team of PUBLIC and all personnel will remain with the company. Ryan Shea will take over the day-to-day leadership of the business as Managing Director.
PUBLIC currently employs 40+ digital transformation specialists in London. The client list of PUBLIC features tens of government organisations, including the UK Ministry of Defence, the NHS, the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, many local councils as well as supranational organisations such as NATO and the EU. Over the last few years, PUBLIC has also completed projects in Germany, Denmark and the Benelux.
A team of 2,200+ technology, data, and design professionals stepping into the UK market
With PUBLIC, Solita is expanding its geographical reach to the UK for the first time. After joining forces with PUBLIC, Solita will now employ over 2,200 professionals in Europe, with expertise in strategic consulting and business design, software development, data, AI and analytics, managed cloud services, and integration. Solita is owned by almost 700 of its employees and the Apax Digital Fund I, a technology-focused growth equity fund advised by Apax Partners LLP.
Helping societies reinvent themselves
"We're excited to welcome PUBLIC into our international community and join forces to drive impact in the public sector. With our expertise in design, strategy, data and AI, cloud, and software development, we’re eager to create innovative digital services that improve everyday life across the UK and look forward to new opportunities to collaborate across Europe” said Ossi Lindroos, President and CEO, Solita.
“Both PUBLIC and Solita are passionate about driving positive change in the public sector. Our companies are both focused on fostering an exceptionally people-centric company culture and we are driven by a shared mission to shape the future by creating truly impactful digital services for people, businesses, and society. I am delighted to be joining Solita and excited about what this exciting new chapter holds for our existing and future partners” commented Alexander de Carvalho, CEO of PUBLIC.
“We share a mutual excitement for re-envisioning public services, whether it is to improve healthcare, pave the way for a transition to more sustainable energy, ensure smoother transport services, or help societies address the rapid advancements in AI. We are thrilled to join Solita’s international community and collaborate towards our shared purpose” said Ryan Shea, Managing Director, PUBLIC.
The companies have an impressive range of clients in the public sector. Solita, headquartered in Finland, also serves a wide range of public as well as private sector clients, including the Finnish Border Guard, Danish Environmental Protection Agency, Helsinki Regional Transport (HSL), The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (KELA), PensionDanmark, The Danish Road Directorate, and Fintraffic, as well as global enterprises, like ISS, the Colruyt Group, KONE and SSAB. Known for putting people at the heart of its company culture, Solita recently received the award for the Most Human-centric Workplace and ranked third in the Best Workplaces for Women in Tech globally.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Solita, Ossi Lindroos, CEO and President, ossi.lindroos@solita.fi
Solita, Peter Barkman, EVP, International Expansion, peter.barkman@solita.fi
PUBLIC, Alexander de Carvalho, CEO, alexander@public.io
PUBLIC, Ryan Shea, Managing Director, ryan@public.io
As part of PUBLIC’s ongoing work to support innovation training in Defence, PUBLIC team members were invited to visit HMS Queen Elizabeth to deliver a unique innovation training day for members of the ship's company.
Between January and June this year, PUBLIC will deliver ‘Innovation in Defence’: three pan-Defence training programmes funded by the DIU. The training aims to equip trainees with the skills, processes and resources to solve complex problems, and test and scale-up innovative ideas to capability in Defence.
Spearheading PUBLIC’s growth strategy with appointment of Former Google Executive Rona Harvey as COO and Ryan Shea as UK Managing Director, further cementing PUBLIC’s position as a market-leader in the digital transformation of the public sector. Harvey and Shea will report directly to CEO, Daniel Korski.
PUBLIC’s whitepaper urges governments to build a new relationship to technology in order to tackle crises around climate, healthcare resilience, cost of living, and international security.
.jpeg)
Appetite for online safety regulation propels demand for Safety Tech providers, with over 350 providers now operating internationally.
PUBLIC reveals winner and two finalists for the ‘Excellence in Supporting GovTech Innovation’ Award, a brand new initiative launched as part of annual conference, The GovTech Summit.
Netcompany, Mastercard and 60+ speakers - spanning 25+ countries - will convene at the premier GovTech conference at the World Forum November 1 2022.
Today PUBLIC’s latest edition of GovStart onboards its largest cohort of startups from across the GovTech sector to the first free and interactive community & engagement platform helping companies transform the public sector.
Military leaders and startup innovators came together to mark the return of Defence Disrupted - and launch of the AWS Defence Accelerator.
First free and interactive community & engagement platform for 50 selected startups looking to scale across the public sector.
Today, the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and US Navy, has announced that following on from the success of previous years, 43 selected Fellows have hit the ground running with their 12-week immersive education to drive innovation in defence with The Percy Hobart Fellowship.
.jpeg)
PUBLIC cements focus with a new visual identity to reflect growth of services as it continues to bring innovation to the public sector.
LONDON – 22 September 2021 – PUBLIC today launches the ‘Public School of Technology’, with a mission to level up the public sector.
Announcing our partnership with the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the City of The Hague and its Convention Bureau.
.jpeg)
A new report commissioned by BT and developed by PUBLIC “The Future of Digital Government: A blueprint for the future of digital public services in the UK“ has found that 60% of UK citizens are more confident accessing public services online than they were before COVID-19.
New consortium launches to transform data access and support safety tech companies to build tools to identify and remove harmful content online.
PUBLIC launches Prison Leavers Innovation Challenge.
Announcing the six innovative startups selected to participate in our 2020 GovStart programme.
