Newcastle-based digital product consultancy hedgehog lab has acquired the Scottish innovation support firm Label Sessions. The agreement for the Edinburgh-based company is intended to create a combined operation that unites hedgehog lab’s expertise in AI delivery and product design with the methodology and network of more than 500 experts from Label Sessions.
All positions across both businesses will be maintained as part of the agreement. The two companies have collaborated for several years and stated that their new offering will assist organisations in sectors such as finance, travel, retail and technology to move ideas from concept to pilot and onto scalable, AI-enabled products.
In addition to its headquarters in Newcastle, hedgehog lab also has operations in London and Leeds.
In 2023, the business obtained funding from investment group BGF and acquired the York-based app developer Netsells. The consultancy has experienced considerable growth since that time and has set a target to reach a turnover of £50m in the coming years. A representative noted that the move provides an opportunity for team development as the firm continues to expand. The companies stated that they possess a strong cultural fit and are aiming to achieve shared goals while offering a unique proposition to the market.
Label Sessions was established in 2023 by Nick Sherrard and Maxine Mackie. The business expanded to include operations across Europe, North America and Africa, supporting brands such as Google, Mastercard and Lululemon.
Nick Sherrard, managing director of Label Sessions, said: “We want to be the ultimate sidekicks to leaders who want to make change happen. We’ve already shown that there’s a different way to do strategy in the biggest brands, now we want to bring more big ideas to the market faster. By coming together with hedgehog we create something unique. Clients will get access to global expertise on-demand, side-by-side with world-class development teams proven to get products before it’s too late. That’s a combination we can disrupt the market and, from our team’s perspective, have fun doing it.”
Malcolm Seagrave, managing director at hedgehog lab, said: “This acquisition is a gamechanger for our business and clients who will now gain access to a global network of more than 500 innovation experts, changemakers and senior leaders who operate at board and C-suite level. This enables us to offer innovation, global insights and strategic thinking alongside hedgehog lab’s delivery and build capability.”
Image source: hedgehog lab
