ClearCourse Partnership Acquires Digital Service Provider NetXtra

April 25, 2019

London | 25 April 2019 - ClearCourse Partnership LLP (“ClearCourse” or “the Partnership”), a group of innovative technology companies providing membership software/services and digital capabilities to the membership, events & bookings and sports & leisure sectors, today announces its acquisition of NetXtra (“the company”), a leading provider of intuitive integrated digital services to the membership, charity, not-for-profit and e-commerce sectors. The deal represents ClearCourse’s sixth acquisition and expands the range of digital services that it can provide to membership organisations.

Headquartered in Bury St Edmunds, NetXtra was Co-Founded in 1995 by Simon Hardingham. The Bury St Edmunds based, 25 strong NetXtra team develop and support digital infrastructure services that connect Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems with online engagement solutions. The company works with several leading unions, regulatory and awarding bodies, and membership organisations including the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and Coeliac UK. Since its acquisition of Marketing Interactive UK Ltd in 2016, NetXtra has also delivered integrated e-commerce solutions for businesses across the UK, winning awards for; ‘Best Exploitation of technology’ (ECMOD Direct Commerce Awards 2018), and ‘Best use of digital by sector’ (2018 Digital Impact Awards).

Since its foundation in October 2018, ClearCourse has acquired five other UK-based software and service providers: MillerTech, Silverbear, Clear Direct Debit, APT Solutions and Circdata. This acquisition will provide NetXtra and other ClearCourse companies with the opportunity to offer their highly complementary products and services to each other’s clients, as well as offering NetXtra access to strategic and operational guidance from ClearCourse and a collaborative network of like-minded entrepreneurs.

Joining ClearCourse is an ideal opportunity for us to capitalise on our leading position in order to deliver our services to a wider range of clients.

Simon Hardingham – Managing Director of NetXtra

Gerry Gualtieri, CEO of ClearCourse, commented: “We are delighted to welcome NetXtra to the ClearCourse Partnership. The company has a fantastic reputation among clients and peers alike and the deal represents an excellent opportunity to expand our offering to the Partnership’s existing clients. We are looking forward to working with the NetXtra team to establish it as the go-to provider of digital services across our multiple sectors.”

Simon Hardingham, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NetXtra, added: “Over the past 20 years NetXtra have grown to become a trusted partner and leading provider of digital services to not for profits, charities, unions and, more recently, e-commerce businesses. Joining ClearCourse is an ideal opportunity for us to capitalise on our leading position in order to deliver our services to a wider range of clients. The Partnership’s collaborative approach suits us perfectly and we’re very much looking forward to what the future holds.”

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FinTech Software and Payments veteran Simon Black joins ClearCourse board

December 11, 2024

11 December 2024, London, UK: ClearCourse, a leading provider of industry-specific software and payments for UK SMEs, is pleased to announce the appointment of FinTech, Software and Payments veteran Simon Black as Non-Executive Director. Simon has a track record of leading technology companies through rapid periods of growth and brings a wealth of experience in strategy, branding, M&A and fundraising. Simon has over three decades of experience in Fintech software and Payments. He is the former CEO of PPRO which he transformed from a German start-up into a global leader in alternative payments, via international expansion and multiple successful funding rounds. Prior to PPRO, Simon was CEO of SagePay, where he led the business to 10x revenue growth. Simon currently advises growth-stage companies and private equity investors on driving innovation, market disruption and long-term growth. This appointment comes at an exciting time for ClearCourse, as the company expands its UK market presence while continuing to provide mission-critical products and services to help customers manage and grow their businesses. Throughout 2024, ClearCourse acquired an additional 4 businesses in ThinkSmart, CSY, Gob2b and Harbour Assist as part of its strategy to build a strong presence in key vertical markets characterised by high digital adoption and establishing itself in the fast-growing online and mobile payments space. Christina Hamilton, CEO of ClearCourse, said: “ I am delighted to welcome Simon to the ClearCourse board at a pivotal stage of our growth journey. He shares our ambition of building the business into a major actor in the embedded fintech space. Simon’s impressive track record of scaling payment businesses will be invaluable in supporting ClearCourse grow further in the UK and beyond and we look forward to working closely with him. ” Simon Black, incoming Non-Executive Director, added: “ I am delighted to be joining the board of ClearCourse, an exciting, innovative business with many opportunities as the high demand for embedded payments from SMBs continues unabated. I have known Christina and the Aquiline team for some time, and I have been impressed by ClearCourse’s rapid growth to date. The Group’s winning combination of deep vertical domain expertise and seamless integrated payments is truly market leading. I look forward to supporting ClearCourse’s continued leadership in attractive key sector verticals. ”

Software and Payments Specialist ClearCourse Acquires Marina and Harbour Software Provider Harbour Assist

October 17, 2024

London, 17 October 2024 – ClearCourse, a leading provider of industry-specific software and embedded payment solutions for SMEs and targeted enterprises, announces the acquisition of Harbour Assist. Founded in 2013 and based in Cornwall, Harbour Assist is a leading cloud-based marina management system that integrates customer relations, communications, asset management, invoicing and reporting into a single, easy-to-use software package. Harbour Assist serves a diverse range of marina and harbour clients across the UK, Canada, Fiji, Mexico, New Zealand, US, Australia, and the Middle East. Their clients include independent operators and multi-site organisations, Trust Ports and public sector such as Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour, Lakeland Leisure Estates, Fowey Harbour, Port of Ramsgate. Harbour Assist’s reach extends to some of the world’s most prominent marinas and harbours. Harbour Assist’s industry-specific software focuses on enhancing administrative efficiency, improving customer service, and providing robust tools for managing moorings, berths, billing, and communication with boat owners. With ClearCourse, the platform will gain access to embedded payment tools as well as additional development resources, enhancing its capability to deliver a greater quantity of features at pace. Christina Hamilton, Chief Executive Officer of ClearCourse, said : “We are delighted to welcome Harbour Assist into the ClearCourse Group. As a market leader and disrupter in marine and harbour software, Harbour Assist acquisition underscores our aim for success in 2024. This collaboration will not only enhance the service, and solutions offered to Harbour Assist’s customers but also provide them with access to a broader range of resources and expertise. We eagerly anticipate working with Nick, Graham, and the team to explore new markets, improve operational efficiencies, and deliver an integrated offering to our customers.” Nick Gill and Graham Laidler Co-founders of Harbour Assist said : “It’s very exciting to join the ClearCourse group at this crucial stage in our growth journey. For over a decade, we've earned our reputation by delivering mission-critical software designed and developed by a team of maritime professionals. Leveraging years of practical experience and ongoing customer feedback. Partnering with ClearCourse enables us to expand further and future proof our business by adding a range of innovative and efficient payments solutions, something we are incredibly excited about.” Harbour Assist will be part of the ClearCourse Sports and Leisure division. This announcement follows the recent acquisitions of B2B eCommerce platform GOb2b and retail EPOS solutions provider CSY. With these strategic additions, ClearCourse is poised to leverage enhanced capabilities and resources, driving innovation and delivering superior features to its users. Established in London in 2018, ClearCourse is a leading software and embedded payment specialist. The group’s vertical software solutions provide essential, industry-specific technology to help their customers manage and grow their businesses. Since inception, the company has undergone rapid growth by acquiring over 40 leading software and payments solutions in its core market verticals which are all underpinned by ClearCourse Payments and Services. The terms of the deal are undisclosed.