By Kristy Dorsey
Glasgow IT firm Boston Networks is consolidating its operations under a new brand, North, as the group aims to double revenues to £100 million within the next three years.
The move follows a string of contract wins by the organisation, which includes Pinacl and Pinacl GDA of Wales, 2020 Vision Systems of Birmingham, and London-based PEL Services. All will now trade under the North name.
Between them, North’s constituent businesses have secured more than £30m in new orders since the Covid-19 emergency began. Boston Networks chief executive Scott McEwan, who becomes group executive director of North, said the pandemic has fuelled demand for networking, safety and technology security.
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“In recent years we’ve gone from strength to strength, and through bringing each of the group’s companies together we have a unique offering and expertise within the business to tackle the challenges of our customers across the UK and globally,” he said.
“Covid-19 has put network infrastructure and the safety and security of people, buildings and assets at the top of the agenda for both private sector companies and the public sector as they require robust and secure systems at the heart of their organisations during the pandemic and in the future.”
Majority-owned by Aliter Capital, which invested in the business at the beginning of 2018, Boston Networks acquired PEL Services in April of that year, followed by 2020 Vision in December. Pinacl came into the fold in March 2019.
READ MORE: Founder departs IT group Boston Networks as investment fund acquires stake
“Since then we have harmonised everything within the business, so this is the final piece of the jigsaw, if you will,” Mr McEwan said.
North employs 250 people, a figure that Mr McEwan said could rise by 10 per cent in the coming year as the group expands both organically and through further acquisitions. There will be a particular focus on building operations in Birmingham.
Recent project wins include a £4m, four-year contract with Hammersmith & Fulham Council to relocate its security command and control facility while also future-proofing its CCTV infrastructure. Several further government and public sector projects, which are confidential under non-disclosure agreements, have added a further £18m to the order book.
North also runs the £6m IoT Scotland network, which supports innovative business projects with hundreds of long-range wireless gateways located throughout the country.
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