Technology company Merac, whose software platform powers the ticketing, retail and guest experience operations of visitor attractions across the UK, is expanding its base at Exeter Science Park – moving into larger offices to accommodate a growing team.
The move reflects a period of growth for the business, which has undergone a major transformation since it was acquired in 2025.
Under the leadership of Managing Director Andy Povey, Merac has evolved from a well-established ticketing business into a fully integrated platform, connecting ticketing, memberships, retail, catering and guest engagement – all within a single system.
Included in its roster of south west clients are Crealy Theme Park and Resort, the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society), Exeter Cathedral, Dart Valley Railway and Trebah Gardens in Falmouth.
Central to Merac’s growth is its in-house software development team, which is responsible for building and evolving the platform’s technology – from the visitor-facing interfaces that guests interact with at the point of purchase, to the back-end systems that process transactions, manage data and connect every part of the guest journey.
With the team growing and further recruitment planned, Merac is investing in the technical capability that will underpin the next generation of its products as it continues its investment in platform development, guest engagement tools, and deeper software integrations.
The company’s new, larger base at Exeter Science Park will house 17 members of staff, giving the team the space it needs to continue developing its platform and serving an expanding client base across the UK’s visitor economy. It intends to recruit two new members to its team this year, with further plans to expand in the future.
Merac, which was established 30 years ago, is a familiar name in the visitor attractions sector, helping theme parks, zoos, heritage sites, museums and leisure venues manage admissions and visitor transactions.
The past year has seen the business develop new products, including self-service F&B kiosks, ticket kiosks, mobile point of sale solutions and Merac Engage, a communications tool that helps venues build stronger relationships with visitors using behavioural data.
Andy said: “The roots of our company are in Exeter, where we were established 30 years ago, so it was important to us to remain in the city. We want to become more embedded in the Exeter community; it’s our home and we’re very proud of it.
“This year, we’ve been focused on one thing: helping attractions deliver smoother, smarter visitor experiences. Visitors don’t experience attractions in departments – they move seamlessly from buying a ticket, to paying for lunch, to picking up something in the gift shop, and the technology that supports those interactions should work the same way.”
Andy added: “We’ve introduced new features, expanded the platform and continued to evolve the way attractions manage ticketing, memberships, food and beverage, guest communications and on-site operations. It’s a fascinating industry to be part of and a really exciting time for the company as we build on the growth of the last 12 months.”
The company will also be harnessing AI to support the development of software and associated systems.
Merac’s expansion is the latest example of a business at Exeter Science Park growing into the next stage of its development. The Park, which is home to 45 businesses and 750 people working across life sciences, climate technology, digital innovation and advanced engineering, has built a reputation as a place where ambitious companies put down roots and grow.
For Merac, whose work focuses on technology, data and the visitor economy, the Park’s collaborative environment, strong connectivity and the central role of tourism in the regional economy make it a natural home.
Jason Buck, Head of Business Development at Exeter Science Park, said: “We’re delighted to support the success and growth of Merac. Providing opportunities for businesses to scale is central to our work here. They are doing genuinely innovative work with software development and the UK’s visitor attractions and we look forward to seeing how their products and services continue to evolve.”
