Inside Evolve – Driving Digital Transformation with Data, Automation and AI

Robin Parkinson, Managing Director of Evolve, talks about the company’s journey, its culture and the people behind the business.

Q1. What is Evolve and what problems does it solve?

We are a digital transformation business enabling organisations to unlock value through data, automation, IT support, and modern workplace technology. We support clients in sectors such as energy, facilities management, business services and financial services.

For companies still relying on highly manual processes – spreadsheets, duplicated effort and disconnected systems – we streamline and automate workflows, removing time-consuming manual tasks and allowing teams to focus on higher-value work.

Q2. Tell us your journey from the beginning and how you got into tech.

My journey into technology wasn’t a straight line. Born in Yorkshire, I moved between London and Aberdeen growing up, influenced by a family background in oil and gas.

School wasn’t always a natural fit, but college proved to be a turning point, completing an HND in Communications with a strong interest in graphic design and journalism.

Early design work for a computer business quickly evolved into building machines from scratch and working within technical teams. That hands-on exposure sparked a love of learning and problem-solving – a foundation that would later shape Evolve.

Q3. Did you always plan to run your own business?

Not at all. Running a business was never the original goal. It was more a case of seeing opportunities to do things better than they were being done elsewhere.

After years of relatively autonomous roles, the real challenge began with entrepreneurship – making difficult decisions daily and taking responsibility for outcomes. A leap of faith into contracting with a friend marked the start, driven by resilience and a willingness to take calculated risks.

Q4. What makes the Evolve team and culture stand out?

The team is one of Evolve’s biggest strengths. With people from all over the world, the company is a licensed visa sponsor and has built a truly diverse, enterprise-aware workforce, many with major oil and gas backgrounds.

We operate as a matrix organisation, where leadership is collaborative and vision is driven by both customers and employees. Flexible, hybrid working is central to the culture, with teams based across the UK including Cambridge, Luton and Aberdeen.

Q5. How is Evolve innovating with AI and automation?

Automation has been part of our DNA for years, from process automation using Microsoft tools that replace manual spreadsheet work, to intelligent software “robots” that handle repetitive tasks.

More recently, the focus has shifted to AI agents and advanced chat solutions. This led to the creation of NXXA – a highly focused, private AI assistant designed around specific business needs, such as HR functions. Unlike generic AI tools, NXXA can run securely on a client’s own network, offline if required, even without internet access.

With growing concern around data privacy, our approach offers safe, controlled AI that delivers fast insights, ‘question and answer’ access to company knowledge and powerful summarisation across internal documents. It specifically doesn’t use any large vendor APIs or tokenisation to ensure data privacy.

Q6. What’s next for Evolve – and what advice would you give aspiring leaders?

The future is full of possibility. We aim to become more multinational while remaining flexible in how and where teams work. Many things once thought impossible in tech are now achievable, and the company is growing and adapting alongside its customers’ needs.

For aspiring leaders, the advice is simple: go for it but manage your risk. Technology moves fast, and dreams transform. Most importantly, lead with care and compassion, listen to those around you, and remember that great leadership is never dogmatic – it’s human.