Red Gate - A Dynamic Company Newsletter
Red Gate Software is something of a phenomenon, even in the Cambridge high-tech community. And now there's a new twist to their already-interesting office space.
Red Gate's Cambridge HQ
The company, which creates software tools for SQL database management and for .NET-based application development, has for each of the last four years been listed by the Sunday Times as one of the "100 Best Small Companies To Work For". It takes a very active role in local business, networking and social events. And, most impressively, it has been actively recruiting throughout the recession. The Red Gate offices have something of a 'Google feel' about them; an extensive canteen provides a good, free lunch, and foosball and table-tennis tables form part of the working environment. Amongst the more recent additions are information screens managed by Camvine's CODA system.
Ruth manages both the busy reception and the CODA display
In the reception area, visitors can see information about the company, live local traffic and weather data, and corporate news updates. 'Everybody who visits talks about what's on the screen', says Ruth Lamch, who is one of the receptionists and also one of the managers of the system. Employees who want to contribute content to the displays just email it to Ruth and she adds it to the playlist with a simple drag-and-drop in her web browser.
Display live and compelling information
Travel information for visitors & Development processes illustrated
Downstairs, next to the canteen, another display is targeted more at the Red Gate community itself. 'I wanted to create a kind of dynamic company newsletter', says Gareth Marlow, Head of Information Systems, and he has certainly achieved that, with information about recruitment drives, photos from company activities, live feeds from Twitter and league tables of various performance metrics being displayed.
CODA is easy to use
Many of the live data feeds were scripted by Dave Mellors, one of the company's information systems engineers, who says he enjoyed the process of working with CODA and Camvine. 'It was all very easy. Camvine's support team was fantastic - very quick, very knowledgeable and any issues were sorted out promptly'
Camvine's CEO, Quentin Stafford-Fraser, is delighted with the relationship. 'So many companies have a very limited view of digital signage', he says, 'which amounts to little more than the repetitive looping of Powerpoint slides. But the team at Red Gate has really started to explore what digital signage means in the internet age. Having a screen by the canteen which shows everyone what is being said on Twitter about the company is a great example!'
And the CODA screens seem to be well-received within Red Gate. 'They're great!', says Neil Davidson, the CEO. 'We're using them to share a lot of really useful information around the company.'
People on Twitter say nice things about Red GateAbout Red Gate
Red Gate Software Ltd is a fast-growing software technology company specializing in database development tools for developers, SysAdmins and DBAs working with Microsoft technologies. The company develops ingeniously simple tools that radically simplify the business of working with Microsoft technologies. Red Gate Software counts Microsoft, HP, Sage, Bank of America, AT&T, The US Treasury, and over 95,000 other leading organizations among its customers. Over 500,000 Microsoft technology professionals currently use Red Gate products. The privately owned company was set up in 1999, and was ranked 16th fastest growing technology company in the UK by the Sunday Times Microsoft Tech Track 100 Awards for 2006. The company is based in Cambridge, UK and currently employs more than 150 people. For more information, please visit www.red-gate.com.
About Camvine
Cambridge Visual Networks Ltd (generally abbreviated to Camvine) creates new ways of deploying and interacting with visual information. It is a highly agile privately-owned company based in Cambridge, UK. The team has an excellent track record in the creation of innovative products and has been involved in the founding of several other successful high-technology companies. Camvine creates powerful but environmentally-friendly visual communication systems which embrace the opportunities of the internet age. Camvine's website can be found at camvine.com.
