Gaming software company Microgaming is celebrating 20 years of operations in the Isle of Man this month.

The business has grown from just five staff at the start to being more than 180 strong.

And the island team is now made up of industry professionals across a variety of functions.

To accommodate its expanding workforce and further cement its commitment to the island, the company moved to purpose-built offices next to its former headquarters on Circular Road in 2017.

Microgaming chief executive John Coleman said: ’We’ve come a long way since putting down roots here in 2001. ’What began as a handful of people all those years ago has flourished into a diverse, talented and passionate team, and I’m proud of the success and growth we have achieved together.

’I’m also proud of our collective commitment to supporting the island’s community, and that the local community has engaged so actively with the various events we support.’

Since moving to the island in April 2001, the supplier of online gaming content has invested heavily in growing its talented workforce, in state-of-the-art new headquarters, and in the community.

The company said that throughout the last two decades, Microgaming has placed a high importance on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and on giving something back to the island it calls home, contributing more than £3.5 million to local community initiatives, including £875,000 towards healthcare projects.

In 2014, the business launched its overarching CSR programme, Microgaming PlayItForward, which has since supported hundreds of worthy causes and events under the three pillars of People, Place, and Planet.

A spokesman said that Microgaming’s own people drive the PlayItForward scheme, from nominating causes for support each month to getting actively involved, collectively giving more than 3,000 hours in volunteer time.

Longstanding Microgaming-sponsored events have been well supported and attended by the local community over the years, with the Microgaming Lighthouses Challenge and the Microgaming Douglas Soapbox Race attracting hundreds of entries and spectators respectively each year.

Microgaming PlayItForward has also helped to fund living costs for 24 gifted Isle of Man students attending university through its education bursary, with 10 young people currently receiving financial assistance.

Designed to support the company’s environmental objectives, the five-storey office remains the island’s only privately owned premises with an ’excellent’ rating from BREEAM, the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for buildings.

Microgaming also achieved ISO 14001 environmental management system certification in 2020, further formalising its sustainability pledge.