Softcat looks to purrrfect growth

Microsoft LAR eyes networking and security space and prepares to boost graduate intake

Peter Kelly: We are owning market share in an economy that is stagnant

Softcat owner Peter Kelly is keen to bolster his firm’s security and networking prowess as he looks to growth.

The VAR, which employs 250 staff and this year won the Sunday Times best small company to work in accolade, grew 25 per cent last year.

“We are owning market share in an economy that is stagnant and declining,” he said. “It is far better to budget low and overachieve. For example we budgeted last year for 10 per cent growth, but achieved 25 per cent.”

Happy staff are the key to Softcat’s success, Kelly claimed.

“If the staff are happy then they will offer fantastic service to our customers,” he said.

Kelly added he intends to grow his employee roll by a further 100 over the coming year, with the majority of new recruits being graduates trained within the business.

“Our graduate recruitment scheme is in full swing this time of year, we have taken on 15 in June, 20 in July, and 20 are starting in September,” he added.

“Because the majority of our staff were taken on the same way and have been through the sausage machine, they always have time to spend with the newcomers to show them the ropes.”

Kelly said he was keen to expand Softcat’s networking and security footprint, but was wary of doing so through pure acquisition.

“I get companies sent through to me that want me to buy them, but I prefer organic growth to acquisition – start your own division and have guys with the right aptitude in that market. But that is not to say there won’t be [acquisition] opportunities arising over the next couple of years,” he said.

The firm announced today that two of its young managers have been promoted to run its new office in Moorgate, which opens in October. Regional sales manager Richard Wyn Griffith and team leader Danielle Binnee will run the office as a partnership.