ClearCourse acquires market leading CRM and technology consultancy Hart Square

January 15, 2020

London | 15 January 2020 - ClearCourse ( or “the Group”), a group of innovative technology companies providing digital services, work-flow solutions, and payments capabilities to the membership, events & bookings, sports & lifestyle and healthcare sectors, today announces its acquisition of Hart Square (“the Company”). Hart Square provides specialist Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and digital consultancy services for charities, not-for-profits (NFP) and professional membership organisations across the UK. The acquisition aligns closely with many of ClearCourse’s existing businesses who have clients in these sectors and reinforces the Group’s commitment to the space.


Since its foundation in 2009, Hart Square has become a market leading technology consultancy to the NFP sector. Its clients include professional membership bodies, trade associations, charities, voluntary organisations, healthcare and education bodies. Hart Square educates and provides independent advice to its clients on the positive impact CRM and other technologies can have on their businesses. It aims to enhance its client’s engagement with their members, supporters and stakeholders, whilst also increasing donations and other revenue streams. Hart Square’s services comprise of CRM system integration, impartial vendor selection, strategic planning, full technology audits, business process reviews, digital transformation strategies, web and finance integration, project management and end-user training programmes. To complement its expansive offering, Hart Square hosts some of the CRM industry’s most well-attended events, including TechSmart, and publishes a monthly newsletter with a dedicated industry readership of over 10,000 subscribers.


With ClearCourse’s support, Hart Square plans to enhance its services and extend the support it provides NFPs, building upon its educational work to inform the sector of the range of digital services that are available. Hart Square will also expand its thought leadership efforts, launching two new digital newsletters, and extend its conference programme outside of London. Hart Square’s leadership team will continue to run the Company, and will remain responsible for the events, consulting business and vendor selection process.


We understand that Hart Square’s value to its clients lies in its impartial advice and the management team and ClearCourse are committed to ensuring this continues.


Gerry Gualtieri – CEO of ClearCourse


Gerry Gualtieri, CEO of ClearCourse, said: “We’re excited to welcome Hart Square to ClearCourse. It has an excellent reputation as a market leading consultancy and is wholeheartedly trusted by its clients. By acquiring Hart Square, we see an opportunity to solidify our commitment to the NFP sector and to draw on the team’s expertise to ensure we remain at its forefront. We understand that Hart Square’s value to its clients lies in its impartial advice and the management team and ClearCourse are committed to ensuring this continues. We look forward to working with Glenda and her team going forward.”


Glenda Parker, CEO of Hart Square, commented: “Over the last 10 years, we have worked hard to earn our place as a trusted voice to our clients by embedding ourselves within the NFP sector. Our transparency has always been paramount to our client relationships, and we will continue to uphold this philosophy as we execute on our expansion plans. Joining ClearCourse will allow us to implement numerous growth initiatives that will improve and increase our offering to the sector. Following the deal it will be business as usual for our team and we look forward to offering our clients some exciting new services, as well as providing them with an enhanced level of support as we enter this new phase of our journey.”

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.”