Solar Communications has increased its workforce by more than 50% and its turnover by a third with the takeover of Armstrong Communications for an undisclosed sum.
Based at Sheldon, near Chippenham, Solar is a fully-converged voice and data communications reseller employing 45 staff and with a turnover of more than £10m. Manchester-based Armstrong Communications, which started in 1995, has a reputation for excellent customer service, backed by technical expertise and innovation, and brings with it with high-profile customers, including General Motors and Balfour Beatty. Employing 23 staff, its current turnover is £3m. The takeover was able to go ahead with funding from Barclays.
Solar group chief executive Mark Colquhoun said: “Armstrong Communications will join Solar Communications within the Group and together become a powerful national force within the communications industry.
“There are many synergies amongst the two companies. We share a passion for service excellence, technical competency and an ethos that sees our customers and talented staff as highly valued assets.”
He said the Armstrong Communications Manchester office and staff will remain part of the new, expanded operations.
“This is good news for our clients and staff and forms an outstanding proposition for prospective customers,” he added. “Both companies are expert providers of ShoreTel solutions and by combining our respective skill sets for Avaya, Mitel and networking solutions we will be ideally placed to serve the SME and mid-market business community.
“Customer service runs through our veins and now, with a total of 70 staff, including a doubling of field based engineers and customer support staff, the Solar Communications Group will provide a truly national service through offices based in London, Manchester and Chippenham.
“The Solar Communications Group has an exciting growth plan – annual sales have grown from £2m in 2007 to £10m in 2012. In order to maintain this growth we need greater national reach and additional talented people. The acquisition of Armstrong contributes to the achievement of both of these goals.”
Bath-based Barclays relationship director John Squier, who financed the deal, said: “It’s great to see a communications company such as this bucking the economic trend and thriving in the current climate. The future looks bright for this forward thinking and ambitious business as they continue to increase their position within their chosen market.”
