Rocketmakers celebrates a decade of “disruptive creativity”

By Nick Batten on 9 November, 2017

Bath-based software engineers, Rocketmakers, recently celebrated its tenth anniversary at a tech-extravaganza for 150 guests at the Circo Bar on George Street in Bath.

To mark ten years of software design the Rocketmakers team invited friends, family and customers to try out some “cutting-edge” toys and design kit including a space-themed virtual reality game.

The event also provided a chance for Rocketmakers to reflect on its achievements over the last decade. Accomplishments highlighted during the evening included, helping TeamGB athletes improve performance and recover from injuries for the 2016 Rio Olympics; supporting partners, Pure Planet, to provide UK customers with access to clean, low-cost gas and electricity; enabling Team Bath Racing with augmented reality tools to help design their race cars, and nurturing travel provider, Travel Local, from start-up to “highflying disruptive success story.”

Rocketmakers began when two Somerset-based former Microsoft employees, Richard Godfrey and Paul Cross, joined forces with Glaswegian Keith Walker, who had worked as a developer for Scottish Enterprise and Transport for London (TfL).

Richard, who is now chief executive officer of Rocketmakers, explained, “Keith and I made an immediate connection. We both have a passion for working with the very latest software ideas and experimenting with new technology. We decided to found a company that focuses on this shared desire. Instead of inventing one product and then spending years selling it, we wanted to constantly be exploring and creating new things.”

According to Rocketmakers, the team’s eagerness to experiment has also driven an interest in working with “disruptive newcomers,” acting almost as an incubator for over a dozen start-ups.

Richard continued, “If anyone comes to us with a great idea, we get excited – if we think we can turn that idea into a reality we will help them take the concept from the drawing board to an established business.”

The firm has also been active in promoting programming and design skills in the southwest region, particularly in Bath and Bristol. Rocketmakers hosts regular “meetups” to encourage local coding talent and sponsors Bath’s leading creative co-working hub, The Guild.

Richard added, “Bath is a fantastic city and has a vibrant tech scene. We want to do our part to ensure that it continues and grows. And, if I’m honest, we are constantly on the lookout for talented developers, so it’s also in our interest to help cultivate local coding talent.”

Pictured above: Rocketmakers founders Richard Godfrey (left) and Keith Walker (right)