Services boom fuels NSC Global order-book growth

But money owed by clients racks up during up-and-down FY10 for integrator

Cisco Gold partner NSC Global's order book is in rude health after growing its services revenue more than a quarter in its last fiscal year.

But exchange rate headaches stymied the London firm's profitability and money owed by trade debtors nigh on trebled during a mixed year. Sales for the year to 30 June 2010 were more or less flat at £52.1m, while operating stood at £2m, a decline of 31 per cent on last year.

The directors' report for the year indicates that services revenue grew 27 per cent, which helped NSC's order book grow from £12m to £26m at year end. But money owed by trade debtors rose 171 per cent over the course of FY10.

"This is not going to get any easier as everyone wants to hold on to cash as long as possible," added the directors' report.

NSC Global is targeting 20 per cent top-line growth in FY11 and an operational profit increase of 50 per cent.

"These are ambitious targets, but we may be able to exceed them, if we can find the right acquisition targets, which we are always looking for," explained the report.