Ramesys looks overseas to expand

BSF specialist aims to bag more contracts next year and is also looking at potential acquisition opportunities

Mark Chambers: BSF is starting to pay dividends

VAR Ramesys is eyeing potential acquisition targets abroad as it ramps up its education business in the UK.

The company, which boasts an order book of £200m in government-funded Building Schools for the Future (BSF) contracts, is gearing up for a fresh wave of tenders.

Mark Chambers, chief executive of Ramesys, said: “We have invested a lot in BSF and it is starting to pay dividends. However, rather than rest on our laurels there will be twice as many contracts up for grabs in the next two years, and I want to continue to take 25-30 per cent share of those.”

Chambers said Ramesys recently used a £9m injection from Lloyds Development Capital to fund its growth. It is also looking to increase its headcount by 60 to 80 by next year.

Alastair Edwards, analyst at Canalys, said: “Education is a growth opportunity for the channel, but it is hard to be recognised as a trusted supplier. Ramesys is well-established in the market.”

Chambers added that Ramesys is looking to grow through acquisition both in the UK and abroad.

“We are interested in looking as far afield as Europe, the Middle and Far East and the US,” he said. “All these regions are making investment in education and will offer us some good opportunities.”