Buckinghamshire-based contech firm Causeway Technologies has acquired competence, safety, and skills passport provider Reference Point.
Causeway says the strategic acquisition – the third since Five Arrows made a large investment in Causeway in 2021 – reinforces its platform strategy to digitise the processes that underpin the construction and maintenance of the built environment.
Through SkillGuard, its mobile workforce-management system, Reference Point is known in the UK for delivering the Network Rail Sentinel system, as well as the Highways Passport scheme.
Reference Point’s solutions are also used globally, including in Australasia.
Alongside SkillGuard, Reference Point provides Gencarda, a cloud digital membership software platform with virtual cards; and CourseSight, a training, eLearning, and course-management solution.
Commenting on the acquisition, Ollie McGovern, chief commercial officer at Causeway, said: “We understand that the skills shortage is one of the largest pressures facing the industry right now, and so with this latest acquisition of Reference Point, Causeway is committed to providing technology solutions that help our customers tackle this head on.”
He added: “The addition of Reference Point will also enable Causeway to further build on the work we are doing to provide awareness and interventions with mental health for construction operatives, where rates of suicide are three times that of other industries.
“We are well placed as a technology provider to help drive real change across the industry, and by incorporating Reference Point’s expertise and technology into our platform, we’re striving to help our customers create safer, healthier work environments for their workforces.”
‘Ambitions and culture aligned’
Beric Davis (pictured, right), chief executive officer of Reference Point, said: “Having previously worked alongside Causeway, we knew that their ambitions and company culture aligned with our own.
“We’re delighted to be part of this rapidly growing, dynamic business where we will continue to deliver world-class solutions that best serve the workforce, their employers, and clients alike.”
Reference Point has more than 35,000 organisations using its systems, supporting more than 3.5m workers.
Customers include Thames Water, Tarmac, Kier, National Highways, and Network Rail.
Main image: Ollie McGovern, chief commercial officer, Causeway
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