Values
Honesty
Respect
Welfare
Fun
Professionalism
Loyalty
Opportunity
Positivity
Our story
We've come a long way since Matt decided that boats could do with better WiFi in 2003...
Now, we're making positive changes to the NHS by providing a better patient experience for everyone, while providing public WiFi services that go way beyond strong connectivity.
2003
Founded by Matt O’Donovan following his boating adventures.
2004
We secured MDL Marinas as our first customer, becoming the largest Marina WiFi provider.
2005
We worked with our first big healthcare customer, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to provide better WiFi solutions.
2010
We deployed our first cloud-based WiFi platform, full NMS (Network monitoring system) and 24/7 helpdesk.
2012
Our platform handled over 100,000 sessions per day.
2014
We moved into our HQ in Exeter, doubling our staff numbers .
2015
We created SPARK® Analytics.
2016
We rebranded to reflect our growth and innovation, with our custom bolt defining us as a unique brand, not just another WiFi company.
2018
We developed WiFi sensors for specialist customers.
2019
We acquired Tele247.
2020
We joined Volaris and 650 SaaS businesses.
2021
We acquired Hospedia. They supplied 50,000 bedside units across 100 NHS Hospitals, providing entertainment at a cost to patients. We then joined forces and provided WiFi and a BYOD solution with entertainment and engagement resources, free of charge to the patients.
2023
The birth of SPARK TSL marked the integration of WiFi SPARK and Hospedia into a single entity for healthcare business.
2024
SPARK TSL acquired Sentean and launched SPARK Fusion® in the UK.
Today
We are striving to accomplish our mission of free WiFi and entertainment for all patients in the NHS and working with more charities and app providers to make this possible. Will you join us?
The Volaris Group
In 2020, we were acquired by the Volaris Group, part of Canada's largest IT company, Constellation Software Inc.
Volaris acquires, strengthens and grows vertically focused software companies, offering them a safe and permanent home and positioning companies like ours for long-term, sustainable growth. Currently, Volaris companies span the globe and provide specialised, mission-critical solutions to over 30 unique vertical markets.
We’re excited to join the Volaris Group as it empowers us with additional resources and opportunities to strengthen and expand our offering and market presence. This means there’s an opportunity for an even better future together with our customers, with stronger products and services at our disposal.
Jane Stephenson
CEO
SPARK TSL welcomed Jane as their new CEO in October 2024. With a background in healthcare innovation and leadership, she is passionate about driving SPARK’s mission to improve patient outcomes through cutting-edge technology. Jane's journey has included developing transformative strategies in both private and public sectors, with a focus on delivering real-world impact in digital healthcare. When not at work, she enjoys cycling and exploring the outdoors, as well as spending time with her husband, their three grown children, and very lively cat, who keeps her on her toes.
Pierre Ponsin
Chief Technology & Products Officer
Pierre has over 24 years of industry experience, specialising in Development, Quality Assurance and Governance with ITIL and ISTQB qualifications. He oversees all technical aspects of the company. This includes software development, security, data management, network and infrastructure management. Pierre is responsible for the strategic direction that the Technology and Product departments take to ensure SPARK TSL achieve performance targets, improve our current products, and create new ones.
Willem-Jan Te Riele
Director of Business Development
Willem-Jan has over 30 years of experience in IT-Services, driving global companies as both an entrepreneur and part of enterprise companies. He is specialised – and developed a company around it - in digital (health) solutions in the last 8 years, as the Cofounder and CEO of Sentean Group. Sentean, who has been acquired by SPARK TSL / Volaris in April 2024, is the market-leader in the Netherlands for Patient Engagement Solutions, based on a platform called Fusion. WJ is leading the Dutch Entity as a General Manager and is responsible for Business Development for a wide region, including the partner / reseller channels from The Netherlands, down to South Africa.
Howard Hooks
CFO
Howard is a Fellow Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and has lead finance roles in manufacturing and listed technology companies. He manages and controls the financial health of the SPARK TSL business. Howard leads a team that collectively ensures the organisation has the financial resources needed to achieve its goals.
Kirstie Cameron
Commercial Director
Kirstie is the Commercial Director at SPARK TSL where she has worked for over a decade. With a solid background in commercial contracts, procurement, and logistics, Kirstie is responsible for all contractual matters at the company. Kirstie will be working closely with Sales Director, David, to refine our sales processes and systems to ensure we have the right tools for customer and prospect management. In her spare time, Kirstie is a keen amateur astronomer.
Louis Ravensfield
Operations Director
Louis has over 20 years of experience in IT and is genuinely passionate about delivering the ultimate Customer Experience. He has a background in Service Management and is responsible for the 24/7/365 Service Desk, Support, Network Operations, and Project Management functions at SPARK TSL. Louis prides himself on leading a team whose goal is to deliver Customer excellence at every opportunity.
David Hawkins
Sales Director
Dave joined SPARK TSL in September 2024 as Sales Director and brings a wealth of experience in driving strategic growth. He will lead the Sales Team with a focus on supporting our NHS customers, ensuring they maximise the value of their WiFi and patient engagement solutions. Dave is dedicated to building strong partnerships, understanding client needs, and delivering tailored solutions that enhance outcomes for patients and staff.
Rebecca O’Donovan
Marketing Director
Rebecca is the Marketing Director at SPARK TSL, where she focuses on creating marketing strategies that help showcase the value of the company's innovative solutions. With a passion for connecting with customers and understanding their needs, Rebecca works to ensure that SPARK TSL's products truly make a difference. She is dedicated to driving meaningful results through thoughtful lead generation and clear communication, always striving to support the team and the vision of the business. Her approach to marketing is grounded in collaboration, making sure every campaign aligns with both customer needs and company goals.
Tony Loomes
Account Manager
Tony is the Healthcare Account Manager at SPARK TSL, where he works closely with our NHS customers and partners to maximise the value of their technology investments. Tony is dedicated to helping large organisations, such as healthcare, leverage SPARK Fusion® to drive digital transformation and improve the end-user experience. In his spare time, him and his family like to venture to the coast, explore, and have fun days out.
Hayley Haymes
Account Manager
Company Culture
We describe our company culture with the following descriptors:
- Excellence of service
- Consistency and accuracy
- Knowledge sharing
- Commitment
- Adaptability
- Supporting and communicating
- Continuous improvement
Sounds like you? Visit our careers site to see our latest vacancies.
