Bluebell set to grow with buyouts
Comms consolidator claims strategy of holding onto IP is setting it apart from rivals
Bluebell Telecom is aiming to be the next big SMB comms consolidator with a new buy-and-build chief and a commitment to retain executive talent.
The Newcastle-based firm is backed by YFM Private Equity, Octopus Investments and the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Gamma Telecom founder Paul Banner (pictured) will lead the acquisition charge, having joined last week as non-executive chairman.
Sales for Bluebell's 2010 fiscal year were more than £11m and joint managing director Mick Crosthwaite said he is planning for 70 per cent of future growth to be provided by acquisitions. Bluebell is keen to buy firms in areas such as data, mobile and systems.
"People do not want 15 years of their life hoovered up into Daisy, and have the intellectual capital they have built up kicked out the door within five weeks," said Crosthwaite. "The approach we take has got people's attention."
The firm transacts about 25 per cent of its business through the channel, and joint managing director Michael Smith said Bluebell wants to work with more systems integrators.
"Telecoms is moving into the language of IT pretty rapidly," he explained