Proximity invests in operations as growth spurt continues

Comms and networking VAR swells turnover more than a fifth to £12.5m as it invests in ops staff and NOC facility

VAR Proximity Communications is banking on the investments made in staff last year to fuel continued growth in the coming year.

For the 2012 calendar year the company, which includes third-party services arm APSL, saw revenue grow around 23 per cent to about £12.5m. Net profit nigh on doubled to more than £900,000. All the firm's key partners delivered solid growth, with Avaya sales increasing "just under 20 per cent", and turnover from Aerohive and ShoreTel growing in excess of 20 per cent.

About 20 staff were added during the year, with senior appointments including Rob Wiles as head of channel at APSL and former Avaya man James Stevenson as operations director. Chief executive Darren Boyce claimed the firm has invested heavily to ensure its operations clout can keep pace with its sales growth, and saluted Stevenson as "a pillar of strength". Proximity has also recently invested in the opening of its own network operations centre.

In 2011 the VAR moved to streamline its portfolio, but last year another vendor was added in the shape of Extreme Networks. Boyce and sales director Stuart Legg hinted that the firm's technology kitbag could be further added to in certain key areas this year.

"We want to expand our network services offering to be able to deliver more streamlined solutions," said Boyce.

"We will have more focus on security and wireless," added Legg.

Proximity was formed four years ago through the merger of top-level Nortel partners Applinet and Unified Group. The company has cash reserves well in excess of £2m but is in no rush to jump back into the M&A game, although may consider a complementary acquisition in a key area such as network services.

"[Any deal we made] would be an opportunistic," said Legg. "If the right opportunity came up, we would certainly look at it."