Redgate

A Cambridge software company that makes database tools used by developers around the world. Founded in 1999 by two friends, it is privately owned and hires in Cambridge.

About Redgate

Redgate makes tools for people who build and look after databases, the systems that store information for apps and websites. Its software helps developers compare and change databases safely, test them, monitor them and keep them running, for databases such as Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Oracle and MySQL. Its products include Flyway, Monitor, SQL Prompt and SQL Toolbelt.

Redgate was founded on 1 October 1999 in Cambridge, England, by Neil Davidson and Simon Galbraith, according to Wikipedia. The founders' own account says they wanted to do personally fulfilling work together, build software that made a technical contribution to the market, and create a company culture that reflected their values. Their first product was a bug-tracking tool called Aardvark, and the business really took off in 2003 when they rewrote SQL Compare from scratch based on user feedback. The company is named after a street in Florence, Italy. It is privately held and its headquarters is at Cambridge Business Park.

The founders described their philosophy as "ingeniously simple": building software with integrity, listening to customers and treating people well. Wikipedia says Redgate appeared in the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For list from 2007 to 2013.

For young people, Redgate is a good example of a UK software company that grew from two friends in Cambridge. Its careers page lists roles in Cambridge, with a flexible-hybrid working model, and the company has partnered with Cambridge Spark on AI apprenticeships. We did not find a dedicated graduate scheme on the pages we read, so check its listings.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Tools such as Flyway for changing databases safely.', 'title': 'Database DevOps'}
• {'desc': 'Redgate Monitor for keeping databases healthy.', 'title': 'Monitoring'}
• {'desc': 'SQL Prompt, SQL Search and data masking.', 'title': 'Developer tools'}
• {'desc': 'Simple-Talk and SQL Server Central.', 'title': 'Community sites'}

Key facts

• Founded: 1 October 1999 in Cambridge by Neil Davidson and Simon Galbraith
• Headquarters: Cambridge Business Park, Cambridge, England
• Privately held
• Careers: roles in Cambridge; AI apprenticeship partnership with Cambridge Spark (press release)

Website: www.red-gate.com