ClearCourse acquires hospitality gift voucher management system Giftpro

December 9, 2019

London | 09 December 2019 - ClearCourse Partnership LLP (“ClearCourse” or “the Partnership”), a group of innovative technology companies providing software, services and digital capabilities to the membership, events & bookings and sports & lifestyle sectors, today announces its acquisition of Giftpro (“the Company”), a software platform that allows hotels, restaurants, spas and other venues to sell and manage gift vouchers and event tickets.


Giftpro was established in 2014 to help hospitality businesses unlock the power of their brands and increase direct sales by selling their experiences as gifts online. The Company’s creative solution allows businesses to sell fully personalised gift vouchers online through its customisable platform, integrating all requisite inputs for the e-commerce transaction to take place. Giftpro provides an end-to-end service, creating the online store and providing merchandising, promotional tools, payment processing and fulfilment capabilities. Its clients comprise of innovative and ambitious hospitality brands, such as, The Ivy Collection, The Pig, Jason Atherton, Searcys and Harbour Hotels, all of which collaborate closely with Giftpro to deliver a seamless digital experience to their customers. The close relationships that Giftpro has developed with its clients have allowed the Company to evolve into the market leader it is today.


The Giftpro acquisition strongly aligns with ClearCourse’s focus on the facilitation of electronic payments through its innovative software platforms. As part of ClearCourse, Giftpro will have the opportunity to further expand its offering to customers with a broader range of payment types, including recurring payments, instalments and other innovations for purchasing higher-value gift vouchers online. The deal also gives rise to cross-selling opportunities for ClearCourse Group companies with direct consumer offerings, including sports clubs, spas, and health centres, which are increasingly selling gift vouchers to customers and will benefit from Giftpro’s e-commerce solution. Giftpro’s entire team, including management, will continue to run the business and deliver for its impressive suite of hospitality brands. 


Together with ClearCourse, we will be able to continue to make e-commerce less complicated for our clients.


Will Howard – Managing Director of Giftpro


Gerry Gualtieri, CEO of ClearCourse, commented: “Giftpro is a creative and fast-growing business with a strong focus on providing excellent customer service. There is a great opportunity for Giftpro to synergise with our Group companies that have direct consumer offerings, allowing them to provide a more integrated and holistic offering to customers than they are able to do on their own. We look forward to working closely with the Giftpro team as they continue to develop and grow their business.”


Will Howard, Managing Director of Giftpro, said: “Giftpro was established in a bid to re-invent e-commerce for the hospitality industry and to build sustainable products that are human centred and results driven. Since then, we’ve been lucky enough to work with some of the world’s most renowned hospitality brands who share our passion for progress and innovation. Together with ClearCourse, we will be able to continue to make e-commerce less complicated for our clients and create value within the Group through the power of shared technology.”


Richard Hull, Co-founder and Creative Director of Giftpro, commented: “Since launching five years ago, we are proud to have built an outstanding team who are results-orientated and committed to continuing to help our clients grow. As a business we are constantly looking for ways to improve our services, and our relationship with ClearCourse will help our clients achieve better results through implementing new and creative ways for them to generate revenue online.”

A member of staff at a farm shop smiles as she operates an EPOS terminal

Software and Payments Specialist ClearCourse Acquires Cloud-Based Retail Software Provider, Davidson Richards

July 29, 2025
LONDON 29 July 2025: ClearCourse, the provider of industry-specific software and embedded payment solutions for SMEs, announces the acquisition of Davidson Richards, a leading retail management and EPOS (electronic point of sale) systems provider. Davidson Richards provides cloud-based management and EPOS systems tailored to the retail industry. Founded in 1977 and based in Derby, Davidson Richards launched its flagship product, OpSuite, in 2012 after recognising the need to address gaps left by off-the-shelf products. Today, OpSuite enables retailers to centralise and streamline operations by integrating with core systems such as accounting software, eCommerce platforms, mobile and loyalty applications, and warehousing. Trusted by many leading garden centres – a sector where OpSuite has established a strong reputation – its extensive functionality also makes it suitable for a broad range of sectors, including grocery, fashion, and furniture. Joining the ClearCourse group will enable Davidson Richards to expand their offerings, providing customers with in-house payment and eCommerce solutions. By offering these in partnership with other specialist ClearCourse companies, Davidson Richards will be able to focus on building new client relationships and to profile the benefits of OpSuite to new retail market segments. Led by a long-serving expert team including ex-retailers, Davidson Richards offers its clients consultancy, training, bespoke development and dedicated in-house support. Their customer centric approach means that many of the Davidson Richards team are directly involved in technical or support delivery for clients to provide greater value to its clients. ClearCourse aims to become the engine powering small and medium businesses across the UK by putting big tech solutions in the hands of founders and their growing businesses. Davidson Richards offers a clear opportunity for ClearCourse to deepen its presence in the retail sector, and its long-standing, loyal customer base and experienced team closely align with ClearCourse’s culture and values. Christina Hamilton, CEO of ClearCourse said: “We are delighted to welcome Davidson Richards into the ClearCourse group as part of our Retail & Hospitality Software vertical. OpSuite is a market leading product that is well positioned to expand its innovative offering into new sectors. We are excited about the natural integration this partnership enables, as OpSuite will be able to offer in-house payment and other commerce enabling solutions through the wider ClearCourse group products.” Keith Bateman, Sales Director at Davidson Richards said: “This acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for our business and customers. Joining the ClearCourse group will enable us to enhance the service we offer our customers, particularly through the introduction of an in-house Electronic Funds Transfer solution. ClearCourse is the ideal partner to help us to grow the business through an increased investment into marketing and to reach more customers.”

ClearCourse welcomes new Chief Financial Officer, Sacha Bielawski

June 25, 2025
LONDON, 25 June 2025 : ClearCourse, a provider of industry-specific software and embedded payment solutions for SMEs and targeted enterprises, today announced the appointment of Sacha Bielawski as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Sacha will lead ClearCourse’s financial strategy, working with senior leaders to accelerate organic growth, drive profitable sales, and deliver the company’s goal of being a leading engine powering small and mid-sized businesses across the UK. Before joining ClearCourse, Sacha spent nearly nine years as Chief Financial Officer at Coople, a leading digital staffing agency, where he led corporate expansion initiatives and oversaw the Group’s financial strategy. He has also held senior roles within private equity and investment firms, where he focused on identifying and scaling high-potential businesses through strategic M&A, financial restructuring and investment projects across Europe and the US. Sacha builds on the achievements of Mark Grafton who will be leaving the company later this month. “We’re delighted to welcome Sacha Bielawski as ClearCourse’s new CFO at this exciting time in the company’s continued evolution” said Christina Hamilton, CEO. “His extensive expertise in scaling businesses, leading growth acceleration programmes and driving innovation and efficiency will be instrumental in delivering our next phase of growth.” “I am delighted to join ClearCourse at such a pivotal time in its journey,” Sacha Bielawski said . “I believe the company is well-positioned to capitalise on the convergence of software and payments, an accelerating trend that presents compelling organic growth opportunities over the coming years. “As ClearCourse continues to acquire software companies in high growth verticals, I look forward to leveraging my entrepreneurial experience to engage with business owners considering a partnership with ClearCourse and to support them post-acquisition to grow further within our platform. “ClearCourse is a business with significant potential, and I am excited to contribute to its next chapter of growth and long-term value creation.”