Centerprise aims for double bubble as it looks to overseas growth

Ambitious firm is on the acquisition path with plans to double turnover and smash £100m barrier

Investment is the buzzword at Centerprise as the hybrid VAR/distributor ploughs funds into key areas to hit its £100m turnover target by its financial year 2017.

For the year ended 31 August 2015 the firm's revenue was down five per cent to £60.4m, with operating profits up from £0.7m to £1.9m.

But Jon Atherton, group commercial director at Centerprise, said the firm's founder Rafi Razzak is in full-on investment mode and he is confident they will hit the growth target.

"We are definitely on target to double in size this year and a lot of this is driven by our focus on new technology such as virtual reality, IoT and artificial intelligence. Rafi is investing heavily in these areas, and is also investing a lot in our people - making sure we have the accreditations and everyone has the right technical skills."

Centerprise has also recruited a number of new teams and managers to sharpen its focus on areas such as high-performance computing, and healthcare; and continues to invest in its key Ministry of Defence business.

"We have also invested in a new bid team to look at how we do bids," Atherton said. "And to ensure we are giving clients a clear overview of the solutions we want to offer."

He added that the firm has developed closer relationships with key vendors over the past year and those relationships are bearing fruit.

"One of these key vendors has been Dell, where we have been focusing on its enterprise storage solutions," Atherton said.

Its Centerprise International distribution business, which has traditionally been focused on rugged devices, is also expanding its vendor base and growing its team, with new vendor partners set to be unveiled in January.

Atherton said the firm is not concerned with being labelled a hybrid.

"There are many hybrids out there and as long as no preferred treatment occurs, there is nothing to be ashamed of," he said.

The firm has also realised physical expansion plans, opening new offices in Birmingham and Telford and expanding its plant in Caerphilly by a further 50,000 sq ft, he explained.

But it is not just the UK it has set its sights on.

"We are planning to open an office in Scandinavia in 2017," Atherton said. "And we are also looking to grow through acquisition. We are in talks with a number of potential targets and will be making some announcements in the new year."