Celebrating 50 Years of Rigby Group.
In 2025, Rigby Group is marking 50 years of growth – from a £2,000 start-up to a global powerhouse.
Founded by Sir Peter Rigby in 1975, the family-owned business is Europe’s largest private technology investor and now operates across nine countries, employing over 8,000 people and driving innovation in technology, philanthropy, and sustainable business practices.
With an annual turnover of £3.8bn, Rigby Group spans technology and real estate. Its flagship company, SCC, is Europe’s largest privately-owned IT services provider, supporting 5 million users in 50 countries.
Timeline of Achievements & Growth
1975-2025
1975
Sir Peter Rigby founder and Chairman
1975
Rigby Group founded by Sir Peter Rigby
1978
Revenues approach £1m
1983
Sir Peter launches Midland Computer Company (later SCC)
1985
1985
- Rigby Group revenue hits £9m
- Sir Peter launches SCC
- Rigby Group exceeds 100 employees
James House, SCC HQ
1988
Rigby Group acquires James House Birmingham, which remains SCC’s headquarters today
Steve and James Rigby join the business in early 1990's
1990
- Rigby Group opens offices in London, Edinburgh and Bristol
- Steve and James Rigby join the business
1992
The Rigby Foundation is established by Sir Peter and Pat Rigby to support Lifelong learning, health, and education causes
1994
Rigby Group exceeds 500 employees and £100m of revenue
1995
1997
- Sir Peter Rigby becomes Chair of Millennium Point, a landmark public building in the West Midlands
- Rigby Group wins The Sunday Times’ Business Enterprise Award
1999
Rigby Group exceeds 2,000 employees
2000
- SCC becomes international with investment in Dutch business
- SCC secures largest deal to date: £500m over 5 years with CSC
- Sir Peter appointed Deputy Lieutenant of West Midlands
Mallory Court, the first of five hotels
2001
First hotel acquired Mallory Court starts Eden Hotel Collection
Sir Peter receives his knighthood at Buckingham Palace
2002
- Sir Peter is knighted for his contribution to IT and business
- SCC sales reach £500m
- Rigby Group’s overseas sales exceed £1bn
2005
2006
Rigby & Rigby, a property development, management company, and design agency is launched
2010
SCC exceeds 5,000 employees Coventry Airport acquired and Regional & City Airports Group is formed
2013
- SCC launches operations in Romania
- Rigby Group wins PWC family business of the year
2015
Bournemouth Airport: the Group's largest M&A transaction to date
2017
Rigby Group’s Regional and City Airport Group invests in Bournemouth Airport and Business Park, the Group’s largest M&A transaction
Sir Peter receives France's highest order of merit the Légion d'honneur
2021
- Rigby Group’s sales reach £3bn
- James and Steve Rigby become joint CEOs of Rigby Group, Sir Peter becomes Chairman
- Sir Peter Rigby becomes the first UK businessman to be awarded the Legion of Honour, France’s highest national order of merit
2022
The third generation, Nick Rigby, joins the family business
2023
- Matt Rigby joins the business
- Liverpool University appoints Sir Peter as Honorary President, Enterprise
2024
- Sir Peter Rigby launches the Sir Peter Rigby Charitable Trust
- SCC is official sponsor and IT service provider to Paris Olympics and Paralymic Games
2025
2025
- Rigby Group celebrates 50 years
- Rigby Group is a top 10 UK wholly owned family businesses, and one of the top 500 worldwide
Rigby Group at 50.
To mark the occasion, we have produced a booklet to commemorate our first fifty years, and vision for the future, "A Great British Business".
"From day one, we set out to value our people, innovate for our customers, and give back to the communities we work in. As we celebrate this landmark year, those principles remain at the heart of everything we do.”
Sir Peter Rigby, Founder and Chair
"It's not just about us. It's about those thousands of people that have lived and breathed our shared values both now, and throughout the last 50 years. And I have every confidence the group can continue to prosper over the next 50 too.”
Co-CEO, James Rigby
“You’ve got to have ideas. You’ve got to have passion. And you’ve got to run harder than the next person.”
Co-CEO, Steve Rigby
It's all about the people
Fifty years ago, Rigby Group started with our founder, Sir Peter Rigby, in a modest office in Birmingham in 1975. By the mid-1990s, 500 colleagues had joined and today more than 8,000 colleagues make up Rigby Group, from the UK to Europe and Vietnam.
People have always remained front and centre, which is perhaps why an incredible 2,000 current colleagues have chosen to stay and contribute to the business for a decade or more.
Hear some of their stories here.
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