55. Six Degrees

Revenue: £76.6m

London-based MSP Six Degrees is positioning itself as a go-to partner for mid-market organisations in the UK, as it continues a multi-year transformation to refocus on core services while expanding into new areas of technology. Backed by private equity firm Charlesbank Capital Partners since 2015, the firm is aiming for 12–14 per cent organic growth, while remaining open to acquisitions that could enhance its scale, capabilities or customer base.

Six Degrees generated £75.7m in revenue for the year ending 31 March 2024, down 3.9 per cent year-on-year, due to factors including customer churn and a one-off revenue adjustment. However, EBITDAE more than doubled to £3.1m, reflecting efforts to improve operating efficiency and cost management. Gross margin also rose to 52.6 per cent, up from 50.1 per cent the previous year.

The company’s transformation efforts are being led by CEO Vince DeLuca, who joined in June 2024 and brings experience in scaling IT services businesses. In a recent interview, DeLuca told CRN the mid-market offers the ideal combination of scale, sophistication, and partner collaboration, with the business choosing not to focus on either very small or very large enterprise clients. The company’s customer base spans sectors including public sector, finance, manufacturing, retail and legal, and is entirely UK-based.

Six Degrees is built around five strategic technology pillars: connectivity and communications, cybersecurity, cloud, modern workplace, and AI. Its cyber practice grew out of its acquisition of CNS Group in 2018 and underpins much of its services today. In cloud, the firm supports both private and public environments and has strong ties to Microsoft, including Azure and Sentinel. The company also holds Azure Expert MSP status and is a member of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA).

AI is a growing area of investment. Internally, Six Degrees is using AI to enhance insight, automation and efficiency. Externally, it is working on foundational data strategies to prepare customers for adopting AI technologies. DeLuca says the goal is to build robust infrastructure rather than chase "shiny" point solutions.

On the partner side, Six Degrees works with vendors including Fortinet, Illumio and Microsoft, and has distribution relationships with the likes of Arrow and, more recently, Northamber. The latter has helped extend Six Degrees’ market reach through co-selling and co-planning initiatives, according to DeLuca, who sees distribution as a core enabler for growth.

The business employs nearly 400 people and continues to develop its services organically, while remaining alert to potential inorganic growth opportunities. While some competitors in the mid-market specialise in verticals or operate on a smaller scale, Six Degrees aims to differentiate by staying close to its customers and focusing on delivering tangible business value.