A UK-based software testing specialist has moved to expand its footprint and capability through another acquisition, positioning itself as what it describes as the country’s largest “pure-play” quality assurance business, a notable milestone in a market where scale and specialisation are increasingly converging.
In this context, “pure-play” refers to companies focused exclusively on quality assurance and software testing services, rather than broader IT consultancies or system integrators where testing is just one part of a wider portfolio.
For banks and financial services firms, that distinction is becoming more important as testing shifts from a supporting function to a core control mechanism across AI systems, regulatory compliance and large-scale transformation programmes.
The announcement comes as 2i confirmed it has acquired Planit UK, in a move designed to scale its testing capabilities, expand sector reach and deepen its technical offering.
Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed but the company stressed that “this is an important step in our growth strategy and a significant milestone for the business.”
By bringing Planit UK into 2i, “we are strengthening our capability, expanding our reach into new sectors and creating the UK’s largest pure-play quality assurance business,” the firm added.
Acquisition strategy gathers pace
The Planit UK deal is the latest in a series of moves that underline 2i’s aggressive expansion strategy following fresh investment and a clear push to consolidate the UK’s fragmented testing market.
In 2024, the Edinburgh-based firm secured what it described as “an eight-figure funding” round, backing ambitions to scale both organically and through acquisitions.
“These funds allow us to accelerate growth as we aim to increase our revenue to more than £50m in the coming years,” said Dave Kelly, CEO of 2i.
At the time, Kelly had made clear that acquisitions would play a central role in that strategy, noting he would “identify acquisition opportunities to support our aim of becoming the premier quality engineering company in the UK.”
That strategy quickly materialised. In early 2025, 2i acquired nFocus, one of the UK’s longest-established software testing consultancies, in what was described as “a bold step to solidify its position in the UK’s software testing landscape.”
“nFocus aligns perfectly with our vision, culture, and commitment to delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients. Their team of quality engineers and their leadership bring invaluable expertise and innovative capabilities to 2i, enhancing our ability to expand our influence in the market,” Kelly said at the time.
The deal reflected a broader ambition to scale specialist QA capability while maintaining a focused testing identity, a model that is now being extended further with the Planit UK acquisition.
Building scale
With Planit UK now part of the group, 2i is positioning itself as a scaled specialist provider spanning multiple domains of quality assurance, including emerging areas such as AI assurance.
“Together, 2i and Planit UK form a stronger specialist business with broader capability and deeper expertise across quality assurance, software testing, strategic test consultancy, ERP testing and AI assurance,” the company said.
The firm also pointed to its delivery model as a key enabler of that scale. “The acquisition also strengthens our ability to deliver for clients across the UK, supported by our India Delivery Centre in Hyderabad.”
For financial services institutions, where testing increasingly underpins regulatory reporting, operational resilience and AI validation, access to both scale and deep specialisation is becoming a critical requirement.
That dynamic has also been highlighted by investors backing the firm’s growth. Rockpool Investments, which supported the earlier funding round, said it had been “impressed by their proactive investment in talented people and automation products.”
It added that “this business is highly innovative and takes a strategic partner approach to working with its clients. Increased digital change poses a huge risk to organisations as system failures can lead to significant financial and reputational issues for companies and their senior executives.”
Talent, skills shortages and long-term integration
The earlier nFocus acquisition also underscored another pressure point in the QA market: access to skilled testing talent.
Ryan James, managing director at nFocus, described that deal as “a pivotal moment” that “brings together two of the UK’s most successful testing organisations in a natural and organic way.”
He pointed to rapid growth in demand for testing services, noting that “over the past three years, we’ve seen significant growth, including doubling our permanent headcount and adding over 40 new clients.”
James also highlighted the structural skills gap facing the industry, particularly as AI and automation reshape testing requirements.
“Our growth is directly due to the rapid changes in technology. New software systems featuring machine learning and automation are highlighting exactly why our testing and quality assurance services are needed.”
“The changes in technology have led to a national skills shortage,” he said, adding that “digital transformation teams are struggling to keep up with the skills needed to continually test and quality assure the latest tech. That’s why they are turning to us to help them find the right people with the right skills.”
Leadership
Against that backdrop, the Planit UK acquisition is being framed as both a milestone and a platform for further expansion.
Dave Kelly called the deal “a significant step” for 2i and “a major milestone in our growth journey. Planit UK brings real strength to our business in specialist expertise, sector reach and complementary capability and creates a stronger platform for the future.”
He clarifed that “we have been clear about our ambition to grow, broaden what we offer clients and continue building a market-leading quality assurance business in the UK.”
Kelly went on to stress that “this acquisition delivers on that ambition and gives us even greater scope to innovate, scale and support clients through increasingly complex technology change.”
Looking ahead, the company signalled that further growth, both organic and through acquisitions, remains firmly on the agenda.
“We’re excited about what comes next and about the opportunity to build an even stronger business for our clients, colleagues and partners,” Kelly concluded.
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