Ciphr
Ciphr is a UK-based SaaS provider of integrated HR, payroll, benefits, learning management and recruitment software serving 1,400+ mid-market organisations (200-2,000 employees), backed by ECI Partners, with operations spanning HR/payroll, eLearning content and outsourced bureau services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersReading, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Ciphr does
Ciphr is a UK-headquartered, privately held SaaS provider of integrated HR, payroll, benefits, learning management and recruitment software, targeting mid-market organisations with 200-2,000 employees. The company reports serving 1,400+ UK organisations, managing 2m+ employees annually and processing £2bn+ in payroll through its platform. Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Reading, Ciphr is backed by growth-equity sponsor ECI Partners and operates as Ciphr Limited (Companies House registration 04616229) within a broader group that includes wholly-owned subsidiaries Payroll Business Solutions, Digits, Marshalls (now Ciphr eLearning), Shape Payroll (acquired June 2024) and Payroll Business Solutions, alongside a strategic minority stake in AI coaching platform MyTeamBuilder.
Ciphr's product architecture is a single integrated cloud suite spanning Central HR, Cloud Payroll, Employee Benefits, a Learning Management System and Recruitment, unified by a shared data model and 'Ciphr AI Assistant' that operates across the full suite. The platform supports purpose-built AI capabilities including anomaly detection on payroll, predictive burnout and flight-risk analytics on structured HR data, and autonomous multi-step actions such as holiday request handling and payslip adjustment. It is delivered on Microsoft Azure (Microsoft Partner) and exposes an API plus pre-built integrations with Microsoft Active Directory, Adobe Acrobat Sign and DocuSign. The company holds ISO 27001, ISO 9001 and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications and is an approved Crown Commercial Service supplier, enabling UK public-sector procurement.
Commercially, Ciphr operates a sales-led GTM with 'Request a demo' and 'Download brochure' CTAs targeting HR decision-makers, supplemented by SEO-driven content, webinars, guides and email nurture. Revenue is generated via subscription SaaS pricing (priced on modules, headcount and support tier, typically annual contracts), outsourced managed payroll/bureau services, and eLearning content (off-the-shelf and bespoke). The company pursues vertical specialisation (care homes, charities, financial firms, law firms, manufacturers, media, professional services, schools) and has expanded via recurring acquisition since 2019, with the most recent add-ons being Shape Payroll (June 2024), Avantus Employee Benefits (November 2024) and the MyTeamBuilder stake (December 2025). Named customers span Amnesty International, Volkswagen UK, Bensons for Beds, the Natural History Museum, Lebara, CitySprint, Crisis, the University of Oxford, Lloyds of London, the University of Edinburgh, King's College London and Linklaters.
Ciphr firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ciphr
- Legal name
- Ciphr Limited
- Website
- https://ciphr.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Ciphr is a UK-based SaaS provider of integrated HR, payroll, benefits, learning management and recruitment software serving 1,400+ mid-market organisations (200-2,000 employees), backed by ECI Partners, with operations spanning HR/payroll, eLearning content and outsourced bureau services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ciphr industry classification
Industry- Product category
- HRIS Software (HR, Payroll, Benefits and Learning Management)
- NAICS
- Payroll Services (541214)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Human Capital Management (HCM) & Payroll Platforms (HDAEAEAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Global Payroll & Multi-Country Payroll Coordination (EOR/PEO Interface) (BPAAAHAE)
Keywords
Where Ciphr is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Reading
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ciphr business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- SaaS Subscription (HR, Payroll, Benefits, LMS): Software-as-a-Service subscription model providing HR, payroll, recruitment, benefits, and learning management solutions. Pricing based on organisation size, features, and number of users.
- eLearning Content: Off-the-shelf and bespoke eLearning courses delivered through Marshalls (Ciphr eLearning subsidiary).
- Outsourced Payroll/Bureau Services: Fully managed payroll services handled by UK-based experts, including pensions payroll administration.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Custom enterprise pricing based on organisation size and required modules |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Ciphr product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ciphr provides an integrated cloud-based HR, payroll, benefits, and learning management software suite for UK mid-market organisations (200-2,000 employees). The platform unifies Central HR, Cloud Payroll, Recruitment, LMS, Employee Benefits, and Analytics, powered by the Ciphr AI Assistant that connects all data across the suite. The company complements its SaaS with outsourced payroll bureau services, pensions payroll, eLearning content, and DEI consultancy.
Product overview
Ciphr offers an all-in-one HR, payroll, and benefits software suite for UK organisations. The integrated platform comprises six connected solutions: Central HR (cloud HR software with AI), Cloud Payroll (award-winning payroll), Integrated HR and Payroll, Employee Benefits Platform, Learning Management System (LMS), and Recruitment Software. These are unified by Ciphr's AI assistant that sits across the full suite, enabling autonomous actions like flight risk detection, payroll anomaly flagging, and holiday request handling. The suite connects to Analytics dashboards providing insights from absence, holiday, organisation, and DEI data. Additional offerings include outsourced payroll/bureau services, Ciphr eLearning (powered by acquired brand Marshalls), DEI consultancy, MyTeamBuilder AI coaching platform, HR Case Management, and Pensions Payroll Solutions. The company has expanded through acquisitions including Shape Payroll (2024) and Marshalls (2023).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ciphr eLearning: eLearning content and courses, formerly known as Marshall e-Learning or Marshalls
- MyTeamBuilder
Products and services
- Ciphr HR (Central HR) Cloud-based HR software with purpose-built AI functionality, employee records management, absence and holiday management, performance and talent management, and employee self-service. Designed for UK organisations with 200-2,000 employees.
- Cloud Payroll Award-winning cloud payroll software with UK-based expert support, real-time calculations, built-in UK compliance, flexible reporting, and direct HMRC integration. CIPP Software Product of the Year 2025.
- Integrated HR and Payroll Connected HR and payroll systems that eliminate costly errors at the HR/payroll interface. Real-time sync between HR and payroll with full audit trail, ensuring complete confidence in people and pay data.
- Employee Benefits Platform Flexible employee benefits platform that pairs with Ciphr HR and payroll for better rewards with less effort, featuring live take-home pay impact calculations and benefits engagement tools.
- Learning Management System (LMS) Cloud learning management system designed to build capability beyond compliance, featuring gamification, visual learning, learning journeys, and integration with HR development plans and payroll incentives.
- Recruitment Software Recruitment software that supports hiring from vacancy to offer, built to work seamlessly with Ciphr HR. Features include posting to multiple job boards, application management, candidate screening, and GDPR-friendly dashboards.
- Ciphr AI Assistant Purpose-built AI functionality across the full Ciphr suite with visibility into all connected HR, payroll, recruitment, learning, and benefits data. Handles queries about flight risk, payroll anomalies, and holiday requests, and automates multi-step HR tasks.
- Analytics People analytics dashboards built on connected data with AI-powered insights. Features out-of-the-box dashboards for absence, holiday, organisation, and DEI metrics with customisable filters.
- Outsourced Payroll / Bureau Services Fully managed payroll services handled by UK-based experts. Includes HMRC recognition, RTI-enabled processing, dedicated implementation team, and customer success manager.
- Ciphr eLearning (powered by Marshalls) eLearning content library covering diversity and inclusion, unconscious bias, GDPR, health and safety, and compliance topics, delivered to over two million learners globally.
- DEI Consultancy Diversity, equality and inclusion consultancy including facilitated training, audit and analysis, and consulting services for UK organisations.
- MyTeamBuilder AI coaching platform for employee growth, team cohesion, and management insights. Ciphr acquired a strategic stake in this UK-based AI startup in December 2025.
- Pensions Payroll Solutions Cloud-based pension payroll processing with HMRC-recognised, Microsoft-tested, and RTI-enabled services. ISO 9001 and 27001 certified, highly scalable for high-volume pensions payroll.
Quantifiable outcome
- Processed £2bn+ payroll annually across 1,000+ UK organisations
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Ciphr
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Ciphr technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability7 records
Feature4 records
Ciphr partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- MyTeamBuildercoreCiphr acquired a strategic stake in MyTeamBuilder, a UK-based AI coaching startup. The investment aims to develop AI technology that supports employee growth, team cohesion, and management insights. This partnership enhances Ciphr's AI capabilities within its HR software suite.
- MicrosoftcoreMicrosoft Partner certification indicates integration capabilities with Microsoft products and services. Ciphr uses Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure and integrates with Microsoft ecosystem.
- Crown Commercial ServicecoreCrown Commercial Service approved supplier status enables Ciphr to provide HR and payroll services to UK public sector organisations through government procurement frameworks.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ciphr competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- IRIS Software Group: UK-based HR, payroll, and accountancy software provider serving mid-market and SMB. Direct competitor to Ciphr in UK HR/payroll SaaS, with Karen Williams (Ciphr's new CRO) joining from IRIS, indicating direct talent and product overlap.
- Cintra HR: UK-focused HR and payroll software provider serving mid-market and enterprise. Direct competitor in HR/payroll SaaS with overlapping integrated suite functionality and UK compliance specialization.
- MHR Global: UK-headquartered HR and payroll software provider with integrated workforce management. Competes closely with Ciphr in the UK mid-market segment with similar HCM, payroll, and people analytics capabilities.
- Sage HR: Sage's HR and payroll offering for UK small and mid-market organizations. Competes in the same segment with strong UK brand recognition and broader accounting ecosystem integration.
Emerging players
- HiBob: Modern mid-market HRIS platform with strong employee experience focus. While originally UK/Israel-based, HiBob targets similar company sizes with modern UI/UX, competing for digital-forward HR buyers.
- Personio: European HRIS platform for SMB and mid-market. Targets similar customer sizes with all-in-one HR, payroll, and recruiting, with growing UK presence positioning it as a direct competitor to Ciphr.
Broad incumbents
- Ceridian (Dayforce): Global HCM platform with payroll and workforce management. Targets similar mid-market and enterprise segments with continuous-payroll architecture and AI features, posing competitive risk to Ciphr's integrated AI narrative.
- ADP: Global payroll and HR services giant with UK presence through ADP UK and acquired platforms. Competes across full market segments with outsourced payroll capabilities that overlap with Ciphr's bureau services.
- Workday: Global enterprise HCM and financial management platform. While primarily serving larger enterprises, Workday is expanding mid-market and threatens Ciphr's upper-end 2,000-employee customers with greater scalability and brand.
Others
- Zoho People: Broader business software suite with HR module included. Competes on price in the lower-end of Ciphr's market with weaker UK payroll specialization but broader ecosystem appeal.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ciphr social profiles
Digital presenceCiphr compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Ciphr financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ciphr leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Ciphr subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Ciphr funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ciphr M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A5 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ciphr
What does Ciphr do?
Ciphr provides an integrated cloud-based HR, payroll, benefits, and learning management software suite for UK mid-market organisations (200-2,000 employees). The platform unifies Central HR, Cloud Payroll, Recruitment, LMS, Employee Benefits, and Analytics, powered by the Ciphr AI Assistant that connects all data across the suite. The company complements its SaaS with outsourced payroll bureau services, pensions payroll, eLearning content, and DEI consultancy.
Is Ciphr a public or private company?
Ciphr is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Ciphr founded?
Ciphr was founded in 1982. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Ciphr based?
Ciphr is headquartered in Reading, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Ciphr make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. SaaS Subscription (HR, Payroll, Benefits, LMS) is the primary driver. The others are eLearning Content and outsourced Payroll/Bureau Services.
Who are Ciphr's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are IRIS Software Group, Cintra HR, MHR Global and Sage HR. Emerging players are HiBob and Personio. Broad incumbents are Ceridian (Dayforce), ADP and Workday. Zoho People is listed as an others.
Does Ciphr have an API?
Yes. Ciphr offers an API that enables connectivity across different HR and business systems. The API allows organisations to bring together their different systems (HR system, learning management system, payroll software, expenses system, online recruitment system) so employee data is automatically updated across all locations when an employee joins, leaves, or changes occur. The API supports integrations with other HR and business systems to eliminate duplicate data entry and ensure compliance. Developer documentation is at www.ciphr.com/hubfs/Feature%20illustrations/Feature%20Illustrations%20SVG/illu_front-and-centre.png.
What industry is Ciphr in?
Ciphr's product category is HRIS Software (HR, Payroll, Benefits and Learning Management). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAEAEAJ, Human Capital Management (HCM) & Payroll Platforms, with a secondary code of BPAAAHAE, Global Payroll & Multi-Country Payroll Coordination (EOR/PEO Interface). Its NAICS code is 541214 and its SIC code is 7372.