diff --git a/update-versions.sh b/update-versions.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..d5c4272d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/update-versions.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+if  [ -z "$1" ]
+  then
+    echo 'New version number required eg. 1.9.0-rc1'
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+mvn versions:set -DgenerateBackupPoms=false -DnewVersion=$1
+cd installer
+mvn versions:set -DgenerateBackupPoms=false -DnewVersion=$1
+cd ..