IRIS Software Group acquires Every
External Q&A
Who is Every?
Founded in 2010, Every is the leading provider of compliance and HR management software to schools and Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) in the UK. Over 3,500 schools trust Every’s compliance modules to provide an end-to-end system for ensuring adherence to statutory compliance requirements relating to policies, facilities and equipment, enabling them to reduce risk across the entire school estate. In response to customer demand for trusted software, Every developed an integrated HR solution which launched to market early this year.
Who is IRIS Software Group?
IRIS Software Group is one of the UK’s largest privately held software companies. It exists to take the pain out of processes and let professionals working in schools and businesses focus on the work they love.
More than 12,000 UK schools and academies use IRIS, with four million parents and guardians using IRIS apps to connect with their children’s school; 300 million messages are delivered between schools and parents each year, and more than £15 million worth of transactional payments are processed each month. One in five UK employees is paid via IRIS payroll solutions and globally, IRIS processes six million payslips every month. IRIS’s HR software covers nearly a million employees.
IRIS provides software solutions and services for finance, HR and payroll teams, educational organisations, and accountancy firms that helps them comply with regulations, drive productivity and better engage with key stakeholders. Through simplifying, automating and providing insights on everyday mission-critical tasks for organisations of all shapes and sizes, IRIS ensures customers can look forward with certainty and confidence.
IRIS has over 100,000 global customers with 80% having a tenure of five or more years. 21,000 UK accountancy practices, including 90 of the top 100 firms and hundreds of US CPAs, including 50 of the top 100 firms, use IRIS software. IRIS is the largest third-party online filer with the UK Government. IRIS is placed in the Sunday Times PwC Top Track 250 and the Megabuyte50, and is certified as Great Place to Work and a Great Place to Work for Women ®.
More information about IRIS can be found at www.iris.co.uk.
How much did IRIS pay for Every?
IRIS Software Group does not disclose the terms.
Why did IRIS make this acquisition?
Every is a market leading compliance and HR management solution provider for the education sector. The acquisition will expand the scope of compliance and HR offerings within IRIS Education. Every is closely aligned with the Group’s vision to provide and strengthen mission critical services in schools and MATs.
With a new academic year well underway, schools and MATs have their own unique challenges to consider. Senior leaders need an end-to-end software solution that provides real-time intelligence so they can make quick decisions for the good of the school and MAT and have the bandwidth to focus on what matters most – improving the life chances of students.
HR is more complex in education due to specific pay scales, salary structures and pension filings. Every’s solution provide a single, centralised, real-time digital record for HR and finance teams that saves significant time and resources on reporting and tracking and managing staff absence. The acquisition enables IRIS to bring this much-needed functionality into its IRIS Education suite, as part of its ‘build, buy, partner’ strategy.
How does this fit into the Group acquisition strategy?
The move marks the next stage in IRIS’ mission to rapidly expand its IRIS Education HR software offering, at a time when many schools and MATs need seamless, integrated solutions. This follows the recent acquisition of Dataplan and PayPlus, as part of its long-term ‘build, buy, partner’ strategy.
Will IRIS make any further acquisitions in this area / sector?
Alongside organic growth, IRIS continuously explores opportunities to better serve the needs of organisations across all industries, through new product development and acquisition opportunities.
What does this mean for Every’s customers?
Business as usual. Every has a longstanding team of compliance and HR experts who are dedicated to continue delivering the highest quality service to customers.
Joining IRIS will enable Every to drive forward its solutions and services to the next level. Every’s people are software, compliance and HR experts in the education sector and combined with IRIS’ strong knowledge and expertise in compliance and HR, the acquisition will create an even more attractive proposition for both company’s customers.
What will happen to the existing business and product / service brand name?
The Every brand will be unaltered. The brand is well-recognised and highly regarded across the education sector. The only immediate change will be a “By IRIS” tag in the Every branding.
Will the team remain?
Yes, we are delighted both Ian Bond and Adam Watson will remain to lead the business.
What benefits will the acquisition bring to the market?
Every is highly regarded in the education sector for providing trusted compliance and HR software solutions. Combined with the extensive technology and regulatory knowledge of IRIS, customers of both companies will benefit from access to a best of breed end-to-end software solution schools and trusts need to improve the life chances of students and succeed in today’s constantly changing landscape.
With the demand to continue delivering some level of hybrid working along with changing regulations around pensions and payroll, the combined Group will provide educators with the software solutions that give them the bandwidth and insight required to get it right first time, every time.
What does this mean for employees at Every?
For employees, it’s business as usual. Every has exceptional employees and fantastic growth which will be accelerated by the acquisition.
What’s the product roadmap for Every?
Following the highly successful launch of its HR modules in the first half of this year, Every has an exciting product roadmap for the next 12 months and beyond, which IRIS is committed to supporting the team in delivering.
Does Every compete with other IRIS brands?
Every’s solutions and experience in the education sector enhances and expands IRIS’ offerings. The complementary portfolio provides customers with a greater product choice and additional benefits.