ɪn ˈeɪpɹəl nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɛvən, ðə kˈʌmpəni wʌz fˈaʊndᵻd baɪ ˈɛd stˈoːɹi ænd wʌz fˈɜːst lˈɪstᵻd ɔnðə lˈʌndən stˈɑːk ɛkstʃˈeɪndʒ ɪn mˈeɪ ðæt jˈɪɹ.
In April 1997, the company was founded by Ed Story and was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in May that year.