Connect Telecom hails £1m-plus acquisition

The acquisition, the company’s sixth this year, takes its total Vodafone connections across the UK and Ireland to almost 60,000.

It also expands the company’s geographical spread and its ability to serve customers right across the UK market with offices now in Aberdeen, Dunstable, Glasgow, Carlisle, Manchester and London, in addition to its Belfast headquarters.

All staff including Assimilated Communications MD Owen Keenan-Lindsey, will transfer to Connect Telecom.

“Already this year Connect Telecom has purchased Aberdeen-based Coltel, Carlisle-based Nortech and the Vodafone mobile base of a communications company in London amongst others, with all reporting dramatic improvements in customer service and retention rates,” said Connect managing director Scott Ritchie, who acquired the business in 2015.

“We also acquired the Vodafone base of a second telecoms company in southern England and this latest acquisition of Assimilated Communications will consolidate that providing us with a more critical mass in the market.

“Connect Telecom has seen 200% growth outside of Northern Ireland with approximately 60% of our business outside the region, our regional offices based in the mainland allow us to deliver an even better service and add further value to our growing customer base.”

As the firm marks its tenth anniversary this year, he said continued growth and success stemmed from its “unrivalled relationship with Vodafone and the ability of our skilled team”.

“We have a very ambitious growth strategy with opportunities for further acquisition in the coming months so we are delighted to have Owen and his team on board to assist with these plans.”

This year has also seen the the firm, which delivers fixed line, mobile, broadband and cloud services for businesses, named 2017 Vodafone One Net Business (ONB) Partner of the Year for the second time.

Owen Keenan-Lindsey, Managing Director at Assimilated Communications which will now be known as Connect Telecom, said: “The coming together of two strong players in the market ultimately enhances the offering to Vodafone business customers.

“With all staff transferring our customers’ key contacts will remain unchanged but they will be able to take advantage of a greater range of Vodafone products and services. This is a positive step and we are very excited about the opportunities that working together will present.”