Leading business communications specialist Onecom has announced it has acquired telecoms provider Evolve in a multi-million-pound deal – and will be creating new jobs in Wales.
The deal, finalised on Friday (July 29), is expected to bring Onecom an additional £7m of earnings before tax and deductions (EBITDA) in the first 12 months.
Onecom will take over Evolve’s operations in London, Cambridge and Shoeburyness, along with The Word, which is owned by Evolve and will become Onecom’s first office in Wales.
One of Onecom’s first commitments will be to significantly invest in the Welsh operation, launching a recruitment drive to double the headcount there.
Onecom and Evolve are two of Vodafone UK’s largest business to business partners within the Vodafone Partner Programme. Evolve, with an annual turnover of around £20m a year, is Vodafone UK’s third-largest partner, while Onecom, which currently turns over £60m a year, is the largest. Vodafone has no equity interest in either company.
The strategic acquisition, one of the most significant in Onecom’s history, consolidates the company’s position as the UK’s leading independent business-to-business communications provider. It also enables further investment in its total communications drive, which sees mobile, fixed line, data and IT services offered to businesses as one integrated, cost-effective package.
All Evolve and The Word offices will adopt Onecom branding and customer service systems as soon as is practical.
It is anticipated that as well as the recruitment drive in Wales, the deal will also create a significant number of new positions at Onecom’s offices throughout the UK.
Darren Ridge, Onecom CEO, (pictured), said: “As someone with Welsh heritage – I am a quarter Welsh thanks to my grandmother – I am particularly proud to be able to introduce Onecom to Wales for the first time and to be able to make a significant investment in our Cardiff operation.
“This is a very significant acquisition for Onecom as we continue to grow in our position as the UK’s leading independent business communications provider.
“Evolve’s customer-focused approach, expertise in unified communications and commitment to providing innovative solutions for businesses of all sizes perfectly reflect Onecom’s own strategy and values. Evolve is an extremely successful operation that will continue to blossom and grow under the Onecom brand.”
Nick Birtwistle, Director of Partnerships and Alliances at Vodafone UK, said: “This deal between two key Vodafone UK partners is exciting news for our channel and our customers.
“Both Onecom and Evolve have been a part of the Vodafone Partner Programme since its inception, and have led the field in expanding their capabilities to meet our customers’ ever- changing needs.
“This move will see them grow even further in strength, continuing to lead the Total Communications revolution.”
The acquisition comes during a busy year for Onecom, which recently invested £1m in a new distribution centre in Hampshire as part of its commitment to providing efficient, speedy service to its customers.
Earlier this month, the company won a top Vodafone UK partner award when it was named as Vodafone UK’s Total Communications Partner 2016. It also launched a recruitment drive to create more than 30 jobs in its centre in Telford, Shropshire, over the next six months.
Alongside its Whiteley headquarters and the new offices acquired through the Evolve acquisition, Onecom has centres in London, Southampton, Plymouth, Leeds, Telford, Norwich and Brighton.To find out more, see www.onecom.co.uk
Featured Image: Darren Ridge.
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