Building robust technology, products and teams.
Blue Hat Associates is a visionary technology partner for pioneering scale-ups
We know how hard it can be to scale your business.
Blue Hat is a collective of entrepreneurial technology leaders who’ve all lived through the challenges of scaling SaaS businesses.
Working across Finance, Pharma, Healthcare, Media, Advertising and the Public Sector, we help our clients achieve their technology and product goals quicker and more cost-effectively.
We can help your business too.
Combining our strategic leadership with a nearshore talent pool of over 1600 consultants, we provide the flexibility innovation and pace that scale-ups like yours need to grow.
“I engaged Blue Hat to review our technology stack and development practices. They quickly focused on the key pain points and those areas with the biggest potential to impact customer service.”
Matthew Lawrence, Chief Operating Officer, Financial Express
Meet the Blue Hat team.
Our strength is our people. We are owned and run by our Partners. All experts in their sector, who lead from the front and work onsite with our clients and their teams.
Tim Palmer
CEO | Connect on LinkedIn
Tim founded Blue Hat after a number of COO and CTO roles in Banking, Startup and Consulting businesses. His passion is delivering software that realises the business objectives. Tim has worked in complex data systems including building low-latency FX trading and enterprise data warehouses. Tim is a trusted advisor and technology leader who transforms business vision into reality.
Steve Chittenden
Partner | Connect on LinkedIn
Steve started his career working in business management in Transaction Banking. He has spent the last 18 years as Product Owner and Business Analysis across Retail, Commercial and Investment Banking clients working on business and technology transformation for a range of financial institutions such as Barclays Bank, Lloyds Bank, Post Office, Mi-Pay and Deutsche Bank.
Simon Brown
Associate | Connect on LinkedIn
Simon is an accomplished business leader with 30 years’ experience in Media & Advertising. He has experience leading multiple transformations across both UK & International organisations including BBC Studios, Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount Global. His specialism spans market strategy, commercial growth and audience measurement & insights.
Stephanie Hannan
Consultant | Connect on LinkedIn
Stephanie is an Enterprise & Lead Solutions Architect who has also worked extensively in Programme Leadership roles across the public and private sector. She has extensive experience in Central Government, Local Government and Healthcare.
Marcus De’Freitas
Partner | Connect on LinkedIn
Marcus has over 35 years of software industry experience across several industry sectors. He’s worked in the UK Public Sector, including HMRC and Home Office, for 20+ years on some of the largest data-centric applications. He is a Security Cleared TOGAF architect with specialist knowledge in cloud architecture, microservices, SOA architecture, systems analysis, enterprise architecture, software design and implementation.
Edward Quinlan
Partner | Connect on LinkedIn
Edward has over 20 years’ experience working in product and change management implementing complex technology and cloud migration projects. He has an MSc in Applied Positive Psychology & Coaching Psychology with practical experience coaching technology and business leaders helping them navigate complex business challenges and maximise team performance.
Kai Widdeson
Consultant | Connect on LinkedIn
Kai is a full stack developer. Formerly with Barclays Bank, Kai works across many of the Blue Hat projects implementing data driven solutions, AI proof of concepts, and embedded analytics with UK clients.
Adrianne Tully
Finance Director | Connect on LinkedIn
Adrianne is Blue Hat’s Finance Director. Starting her career in audit at Deloitte, she proceeded to United Technologies Corporation, where she held various senior roles, principally involving due diligence, post acquisition integration, shared services and controllership. At Blue Hat she oversees all aspects of financial operations, compliance and risk management.
Robert Gill
Partner | Connect on LinkedIn
Rob started his career in the Pharmaceuticals Industry building systems for supporting drug discovery before transitioning his skills to Financial services. He has over 30 years software Industry experience. As a data architect he designs platforms for the management and delivery of multi-dimensional data. Rob has a passion for data. He is also local councillor and Patient Advocate
Rijk Broekhuis
Partner | Connect on LinkedIn
Rijk has spent over 25 years in Financial Services Industry. His experience spans capital markets regulatory programme delivery, cloud data transformation and governance, payments and core banking transformation, hands-on programme rescue and turnaround. Rijk offers our clients interim CIO and CTO Support where he has helped deliver more effective project outcomes.
Wiktor Kowalczuk
Delivery Manager | Connect on LinkedIn
Wiktor is an experienced programme and project manager with a strong technical background. He has a track record of delivering large programmes and projects, building and retaining highly efficient engineering teams.
Siân Palmer
Marketing & Partnerships | Connect on LinkedIn
Sian is an experienced analyst. Starting her career as an Oracle Consultant , she has over 20 years experience in consultancy services from Oracle, Accenture, PwC and WS Atkins. Prior to Blue Hat Sian was a Product Analyst for SaaS Professional Services Automation leader Kimble Applications (Kantata). She manages Blue Hat’s marketing and partnerships.
What’s in a name?
You may be familiar with the Six Thinking Hats - a system designed by psychologist Edward de Bono.
It defines an approach to problem-solving using a sequence of six coloured hats to encourage groups to think about problems from alternative perspectives.
The Blue Hat has the role of manager who asks questions like “What’s the goal?” and “What are we thinking about?”. They are responsible for looking at the big picture.
We like the ideas that Edward de Bono exhorts; the need to look from many viewpoints. There is no one single right way to do things. Successful outcomes come from collective wisdom.
We combine traditional software development approaches and management techniques including Six Thinking Hats as well as the latest Agile DSDM, Scrum and Kanban approaches to deliver the best outcomes.
What we value.
As a growing boutique consultancy, we are bound together by a shared ethos and common values.
Tech Leadership
Seasoned experts in our respective realms, we bring together our different backgrounds and experiences to lead our clients through the labyrinth of their most pressing technology and product challenges.
Fearless Flexibility
We are agile, anticipating client challenges and pivoting seamlessly in dynamic environments. Adapting to clients changing needs is a business imperative and core to the value we provide.
Collective Wisdom
Our collaborative thinking enables us to tap our collective intelligence, fostering creativity and innovation to tackle the most complex challenges. We prize the unique perspectives each team member brings to the table.
Client Focused
We take the time to deeply understand each client’s business so we can deliver maximum value through tailored solutions that help them achieve their strategic goals and get ahead of market shifts. We listen closely and offer honest guidance based on their unique requirements.
Restless Innovation
We challenge conventional thinking, striving to break new ground and push boundaries to create more valuable solutions for our clients. We pride ourselves on our creative culture that fosters perpetual learning, curiosity, and knowledge building.
The Honest Broker.
We are professional, informative and provocative. Experts in our field, at the leading edge of technology, we communicate with insight, clarity and decisiveness. No hiding behind jargon. No waffle.
Join our growing team.
We’re always looking for great talent to join our growing team.
We offer a fantastic benefits package including your choice of laptop, annual learning and development budget and personal development time.
If you’re interested in working with industry experts on some exciting projects in transformational sectors, please drop us a line.
Let’s talk.
We’d love to hear about your business and discuss how we can help you. Book a free, initial consultation with one of Partners today.