What CCSL does

CCSL, as referenced in the input data, operates as a SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD software reseller, though the substantive operating entity described is Visiativ UK & Ireland, a subsidiary of the French-listed Visiativ Group. The company is positioned as Europe's largest official Platinum-rated SOLIDWORKS reseller, distributing the full Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS portfolio across the UK and Republic of Ireland. Its core technologies include 3D and 2D CAD (SOLIDWORKS, DraftSight), simulation suites (SOLIDWORKS Simulation, Flow Simulation, Plastics Simulation, SIMULIA/Abaqus), product data and lifecycle management (SOLIDWORKS PDM, 3DEXPERIENCE/ENOVIA, Cadasio), technical documentation tools (SOLIDWORKS Composer, Inspection, MBD, Visualize, eDrawings), and manufacturing solutions (SOLIDWORKS CAM, AlphaCAM, SolidCAM, SWOOD, WOODEXPERT). It also offers proprietary Visiativ-branded add-ons (myCADtools, myPDMtools, Visiativ PLM, Visiativ Spare Parts) extending the resale portfolio with own-IP products.

The company operates four revenue streams: SOLIDWORKS software licensing (subscription/recurring), official certified training courses (professional services, delivered online, in-centre, or on-site), technical support subscriptions (recurring, with award-winning UK-based support), and professional CAD services (API configuration, CAD automation, technical documentation, file conversion, rendering). Pricing is primarily quote-based for enterprise customers, with promotional offers including 15% off DraftSight and a free 12-month SOLIDWORKS for Start-Ups scheme. The customer base spans enterprise (e.g., Frangus, in rail/materials handling for 23+ years), mid-market (Bulk Automation, Cornelius Creative), and startups (ARMEXIS, SolarSub, Bevelo Bikes, 3DTankMod, Concept Vacuum, Gradely Engineering, Jam Scones Design), touching verticals including agricultural machinery, automotive/transport, medical/life sciences, electronics, mould/tool/die, and defense/security.

The go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales via phone/email, an online store for SMB/individual buyers, multi-format training delivery, and event-driven demand generation (webinars, seminars, SOLIDWORKS events). The company is headquartered at 1 Pioneer Court, Chivers Way, Histon, Cambridge, CB24 9PT, and operates as part of Visiativ Group's 12-country footprint serving over 25,000 customer businesses worldwide.

Name

CCSL

Legal name

Visiativ UK & Ireland

Website

https://www.ccsl-cad.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CCSL are experts in SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD - Software, Training & Support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. SOLIDWORKS Software Licensing: Resells SOLIDWORKS software licenses including 3D CAD, simulation, data management, and manufacturing tools. Offers subscription-based licensing model with annual renewal options.
2. Training Services: Provides official certified SOLIDWORKS training courses delivered online, in training centres, or on-site. Courses include essentials, advanced part modelling, assembly, surface modelling, sheet metal, weldments, routing, and Composer training.
3. Technical Support & Subscription: Award-winning UK-based technical support team offering subscription services with direct access to experts, remote sessions, and ticket-based support.
4. Professional CAD Services: API configuration and automation, CAD automation, technical documentation, 2D & 3D file conversion, rendering and animation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CCSL (operating as Visiativ UK & Ireland) is a Platinum-rated authorised SOLIDWORKS reseller in the UK and Republic of Ireland. It distributes the full SOLIDWORKS portfolio (3D CAD, simulation, PDM, electrical, manufacturing, technical documentation) alongside complementary solutions such as DraftSight 2D CAD, DriveWorks, SIMULIA, and 3DEXPERIENCE cloud services, plus proprietary Visiativ add-ons (myCADtools, myPDMtools, Visiativ PLM, Visiativ Spare Parts). The business also delivers official certified SOLIDWORKS training (online, classroom, on-site), award-winning technical support, and professional CAD services (API configuration, CAD automation, file conversion, rendering).

Product overview

Visiativ UK & Ireland is a Platinum-rated SOLIDWORKS reseller offering a comprehensive portfolio of design, engineering, and manufacturing software solutions. The core offering centers on SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD software complemented by a broad ecosystem of add-on modules and specialized solutions. The portfolio includes: core CAD design tools (SOLIDWORKS Design with Cloud Services, DraftSight 2D CAD, SOLIDWORKS Electrical); simulation solutions (SOLIDWORKS Simulation, Flow Simulation, Plastics Simulation, SIMULIA/Abaqus); product data and lifecycle management (SOLIDWORKS PDM, 3DEXPERIENCE/Enovia Cloud, Cadasio, myCADtools, myPDMtools, Visiativ PLM); technical documentation tools (SOLIDWORKS Composer, Inspection, MBD, Visualize, eDrawings); manufacturing solutions (SOLIDWORKS CAM, AlphaCAM, SolidCAM, WOODEXPERT, SWOOD); and professional services (training courses, API configuration, CAD automation). The company also offers proprietary add-on products (Visiativ PLM, myCADtools, myPDMtools, Visiativ Spare Parts) alongside third-party partner integrations. Training is delivered through official certified courses covering beginner to advanced levels, including SOLIDWORKS Essentials, Drawings, Assembly Modelling, Surface Modelling, Advanced Part Modelling, Sheet Metal, Weldments, Routing & Piping, and Composer Training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• myCADtools: Add-on tools for SOLIDWORKS
• myPDMtools
• Visiativ PLM
• Visiativ Spare Parts

Products and services

• SOLIDWORKS Design with Cloud Services Core 3D CAD design software bundled with cloud services for collaborative product design and engineering workflows. Sold to engineering and manufacturing organisations requiring professional-grade mechanical design tooling.
• DraftSight 2D CAD Professional 2D CAD software for drafting, drawing, and documentation with DWG file compatibility. Sold as a standalone 2D drafting solution with promotional 15% discount pricing.
• SOLIDWORKS for Start-Ups Free 12-month access programme providing eligible start-up companies with SOLIDWORKS software and support to help new engineering ventures get established.
• Visiativ PLM Visiativ's proprietary Product Lifecycle Management solution extending SOLIDWORKS capabilities for enterprise-level PLM needs.
• myCADtools for SOLIDWORKS Visiativ's own utility suite providing additional productivity features and tools for SOLIDWORKS users.
• myPDMtools Visiativ's proprietary add-on utilities for SOLIDWORKS PDM that enhance product data management workflows.
• Visiativ Spare Parts Specialised proprietary solution for managing and publishing spare parts documentation and catalogues.
• Official Certified SOLIDWORKS Training Courses Comprehensive certified training covering SOLIDWORKS Essentials, Drawings, Assembly Modelling, Surface Modelling, Advanced Part Modelling, Sheet Metal, Weldments, Routing & Piping, Refresher, and Composer courses. Delivered online, in training centres, or on-site at customer locations for engineers, designers, and CAD users.
• Professional CAD Services Value-added professional services including API configuration, CAD automation, technical documentation, 2D and 3D file conversion, and rendering and animation. Delivered to engineering and manufacturing customers needing specialised CAD expertise.
• DriveWorks Automation & CPQ Standalone design automation and configure-price-quote (CPQ) solution that automates repetitive SOLIDWORKS design tasks and generates custom products based on rules and parameters.
• SIMULIA (Powered by Abaqus) Advanced simulation platform powered by Abaqus for comprehensive finite element analysis across structural, thermal, and multiphysics domains, integrated with SOLIDWORKS workflows.
• 3DEXPERIENCE Cloud Data Management (ENOVIA) Cloud-based product lifecycle management and data collaboration platform for enterprise-wide product development coordination, connecting SOLIDWORKS users to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
• SOLIDWORKS Subscription Technical Support Award-winning UK-based technical support service offering subscription customers direct access to experts, remote sessions, and ticket-based support for SOLIDWORKS software issues.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7.5 million engineers and designers worldwide use SOLIDWORKS, establishing industry standard for Mechanical Design

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.

• Dassault Systèmes (SOLIDWORKS)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Platinum-rated reseller of SOLIDWORKS software in UK and Republic of Ireland. Provides commercial, research, and educational licenses. As Europe's largest official Platinum-rated reseller, they offer the full SOLIDWORKS portfolio including 3D CAD, simulation, data management, and manufacturing tools.
• DriveWorkscoreTechnology or IntegrationOffers DriveWorks automation and CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) software as part of the product portfolio. DriveWorks enables design automation and repetitive task automation for SOLIDWORKS users.
• SIMULIA (Abaqus)coreTechnology or IntegrationProvides SIMULIA powered by Abaqus virtual testing solutions integrated with SOLIDWORKS for advanced simulation and analysis capabilities.
• 3DEXPERIENCEcoreTechnology or IntegrationOffers 3DEXPERIENCE cloud services and cloud data management (ENOVIA) for SOLIDWORKS users, enabling collaborative product development and lifecycle management in the cloud.
• DraftSightcoreTechnology or IntegrationResells DraftSight 2D CAD software, offering a separate 2D drafting solution with promotional pricing (15% off).
• SolidCAMsupportingTechnology or IntegrationOffers SolidCAM CAM software as part of the manufacturing solutions portfolio for CNC machining integration with SOLIDWORKS.
• AlphaCAMsupportingTechnology or IntegrationProvides AlphaCAM CAD/CAM software for manufacturing and machining operations integrated with SOLIDWORKS.
• SWOOD (EFICAD)supportingTechnology or IntegrationOffers SWOOD by EFICAD software for wood and cabinet design as part of specialized manufacturing solutions.
• WOODEXPERTsupportingTechnology or IntegrationProvides WOODEXPERT specialized software for wood industry manufacturing and design.
• CadasiosupportingTechnology or IntegrationOffers Cadasio technical documentation solution for creating interactive 3D manuals and documentation from SOLIDWORKS models.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Solid Solutions Group: UK-based SOLIDWORKS Platinum reseller offering very similar software distribution, training, and CAD services portfolio. Direct channel competitor in the same UK & Ireland geography with overlapping customer base in engineering and manufacturing.
• GoEngineer: Largest SOLIDWORKS reseller in North America following its acquisition of Fisher Unitech, offering software distribution, training, and technical support. Operates the same VAR business model with similar proprietary extensions and professional services.
• Computer Aided Technology (CATI): US-based SOLIDWORKS VAR providing software, training, and 3D printing services. Closely comparable reseller model with focus on the Dassault ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Tata Technologies: Global engineering services and digital PLM consultancy serving automotive and aerospace OEMs. Competes in adjacent value-added engineering services and PLM implementation territory rather than pure software resale.
• Cyient: Global engineering, manufacturing, and digital services firm with aerospace, automotive, and industrial customers. Competes for the same engineering customer wallet share through services-led engagement rather than software resale.
• AKKA Technologies (now Akkodis): European engineering consulting and digital services group serving industrial clients including aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing — overlapping customer base but operating on a services-led model rather than software resale.
• PTC: Vendor of competing CAD/PLM platforms (Creo, Onshape) and the Arena PLM suite. Not a direct peer in business model but represents the competitive substitute threat to the SOLIDWORKS installed base Visiativ resells.
• Autodesk: Vendor of competing CAD platforms (AutoCAD, Inventor, Fusion 360) targeting the same engineering customers. A substitute vendor threat rather than a reseller peer, but central to understanding the competitive landscape for SOLIDWORKS in the UK.

Emerging players

• Bricsys (Hexagon): Provider of BricsCAD as a lower-cost DWG-compatible alternative to DraftSight and AutoCAD. Competes in the 2D CAD distribution space that Visiativ addresses through its DraftSight promotional line.

Regional players

• PLM Group: European SOLIDWORKS and 3DEXPERIENCE VAR operating across multiple European countries with similar training and support services. Comparable business model with overlapping vendor relationships but primarily active in continental Europe rather than UK/Ireland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCrj95SS2ibIMvvOx9m78J3g
• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/visiativ-uk

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CCSL