Made Tech vs Version 1: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Made Tech (4.1/5) edges ahead of Version 1 (3.9/5) overall. Made Tech is the better choice for UK central and local government buyers. Version 1 is the stronger option for oracle and Microsoft estates, public-sector managed services. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Made Tech vs Version 1: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Made Tech | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 | 1996 |
| HQ | London, United Kingdom | Dublin, Ireland (UK offices including Birmingham) |
| Team size | 400–500 | 3,000+ |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Public-sector-only focus with a growing contracted backlog | Managed services for Oracle, Microsoft and AWS estates with Indian and Spanish delivery |
| Pricing model | Framework call-offs, time and materials, fixed price | Managed service, time and materials, fixed price |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Ruby, Python, Java | Oracle, Microsoft Azure, AWS |
| Industries served | Public sector, Local government, Healthcare | Public sector, Financial services, Healthcare, Utilities |
Made Tech vs Version 1: overview
Made Tech
Made Tech was founded in London in 2008 and listed on AIM in 2021. FY25 revenue (to May 2025) rose 20% to £46.4m with a contracted backlog of £92.2m, and the company reported around 430 employees after a period of hiring. Almost all of its work is for UK central and local government, health and other regulated bodies. Contractor use rose to 19% of the workforce in FY25, and management has said it plans to bring that back toward 10%.
Version 1
Version 1 was founded in Dublin in 1996 and has been majority-owned by Swiss investor Partners Group since July 2022, in a deal reported at around €800m. It had more than 3,200 staff by 2023 and opened a Birmingham hub with 500 planned jobs, plus UK acquisitions such as Automation Logic. Much of its UK work is Oracle, Microsoft and AWS managed services for public-sector bodies. Delivery comes from Ireland, the UK, Spain and India.
Services and capabilities: Made Tech vs Version 1
| Capability | Made Tech | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Custom software development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Cloud & DevOps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Data & AI | ✓ | ✓ |
| Legacy modernisation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded & IoT | ✗ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✗ | ✗ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✓ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Made Tech vs Version 1
| Framework / platform | Made Tech | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | N/A | ✓ |
| Java | ✓ | ✓ |
| Python | ✓ | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Made Tech vs Version 1
| Criterion | Made Tech | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Time and materials | Managed service, Fixed project, Time and materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Made Tech vs Version 1
| Dimension | Made Tech | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Public sector, Local government, Healthcare | Public sector, Financial services, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | A council wants legacy case-management systems replaced., A government department needs a discovery and alpha phase for a new service. | A public body needs Oracle E-Business Suite support and migration., A utility wants Azure managed services. |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Managed service |
Made Tech vs Version 1: pros and cons
| Made Tech | |
|---|---|
| + | Deep familiarity with GDS service standards and government frameworks |
| + | Public reporting makes financial health easy to check |
| + | A growing backlog points to sustained repeat business from government |
| - | Little private-sector experience, so commercial buyers have better options |
| - | No offshore delivery, so rates are UK onshore rates |
| - | Contractor reliance roughly doubled in FY25 |
| Version 1 | |
|---|---|
| + | Strong in Oracle and Microsoft environments common in UK public bodies |
| + | Indian and Spanish delivery lower costs on managed services |
| + | Private-equity backing has funded UK expansion |
| - | Majority-owned by Partners Group since 2022, so an eventual sale or exit is likely |
| - | Product-style bespoke development is less central than managed services |
Who should choose Made Tech?
A typical fit: a council wants legacy case-management systems replaced.
Public-sector-only focus with a growing contracted backlog. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Public sector, Local government, Healthcare.
Who should choose Version 1?
A typical fit: a public body needs Oracle E-Business Suite support and migration.
Managed services for Oracle, Microsoft and AWS estates with Indian and Spanish delivery. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Public sector, Financial services, Healthcare, Utilities.
Decision matrix: Made Tech vs Version 1
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Made Tech |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Made Tech (Not published) vs Version 1 (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Version 1 |
| You want engineers added to your own in-house team | Neither lists team extension; ask about dedicated teams |
| Your product includes hardware, firmware or connected devices | Neither; consider an embedded specialist |
Use case fit: Made Tech vs Version 1
| Use case | Made Tech fit | Version 1 fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A council wants legacy case-management systems replaced. | Strong | Limited | Made Tech |
| A government department needs a discovery and alpha phase for a new service. | Strong | Limited | Made Tech |
| A public body needs Oracle E-Business Suite support and migration. | Limited | Strong | Version 1 |
| A utility wants Azure managed services. | Limited | Strong | Version 1 |
| You need hardware, firmware or IoT work in the same contract | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| You want a fixed-price first phase before a longer engagement | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
Verdict: Made Tech vs Version 1
Made Tech (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Development Outsourcing projects. Public-sector-only focus with a growing contracted backlog.
Version 1 (3.9/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a utility wants Azure managed services. If your situation matches that, Version 1 is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Made Tech vs Version 1 FAQ
Is Made Tech better than Version 1?
Made Tech (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Made Tech's strongest advantage: deep familiarity with GDS service standards and government frameworks. Version 1's strongest advantage: strong in Oracle and Microsoft environments common in UK public bodies.
How do Made Tech and Version 1 differ in pricing?
Made Tech uses framework call-offs, time and materials, fixed price pricing. Version 1 uses managed service, time and materials, fixed price pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Made Tech or Version 1?
Made Tech is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Made Tech and Version 1?
Made Tech's primary differentiator is: public-sector-only focus with a growing contracted backlog. Version 1's primary differentiator is: managed services for Oracle, Microsoft and AWS estates with Indian and Spanish delivery. They also differ in team size (400–500 vs 3,000+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Public sector, Local government vs Public sector, Financial services).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.