ACS Office Solutions gunning for growth in 2010
Northampton-based VAR back in expansion mode after admitting it was buffeted by downturn
Jon Thorpe: We were battered by the recession and really found out who our partners were
ACS Office Solutions managing director Jon Thorpe has said he has the ‘right people on the bus’ as the firm gears up for aggressive growth.
The Northampton-based VAR, which underwent a staffing structure reshuffle during the recession, claimed it is on track for 10 per cent growth in 2010 and has just celebrated its strongest-ever six-month trading period.
Thorpe singled out Computer 2000’s management team for its support during the tough times.
“We were battered by the recession and really found out who our partners were,” he said. “The year 2008/09 was our worst trading year for 14 years. But there were firms that wanted to stand shoulder to shoulder with us at a time when the likes of Euler were slashing credit lines by 60 per cent, and C2000 was one of those.”
With the recession behind it, Thorpe said the firm is on a recruitment drive, has expanded its presence in Milton Keynes and is winning more business in London. He also refused to rule out future acquisitions.
The financial crisis also prompted the VAR to slim down its business divisions from five to three – focusing on IT solutions, cloud computing and its office furniture business, added Thorpe.
“It is all about having the right people on the bus and we definitely have that now,” he said. “We are attacking three verticals aggressively – education, legal and government – and are winning the business.”
Andy Gass, managing director of C2000, praised ACS for its transparency.
“We worked really closely with ACS and found a way of working with Euler and ensuring all three parties knew where they stood.
“I would hold ACS up as one of the best success stories of the past year. We had the right dialogue with them and the right amount of openness.”