IT support client list boosts fledgling firm

Nov 26 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

A FLEDGLING IT firm has boosted its client base with the acquisition of a portion of a North East rival, as it looks to take its annual turnover past the £500,000 mark.

IQ Business Systems, of Blaydon, Gateshead, has bought a 40-strong IT support customer base from Boldon- based Microcomputing Solutions.

The privately-financed deal involves IQ acquiring Microcomputing’s contract for its list of clients, which includes firms in the health and banking sector and local authorities. The move also sees the firm take on one of Microcomputing’s support engineers, bringing its own technical team to seven.

IQ director Ken Taylor said: “Although we were not actively setting out to grow the business through acquisition, when the opportunity arose to acquire a well-established and respected client base of the business we saw it as a very logical step that would achieve many of our growth objectives. We are delighted to welcome our new clients on board and have already started the process of contacting each one to introduce them to an added, complementary range of IT services, while continuing to deliver the high levels of customer care they have enjoyed with Microcomputing Solutions.”

Microcomputing will now focus on developing its training arm, Base2 Training.

Managing director Chris Edmondson said: “A combination of customer demand and a high level of investment has seen Base2 Training flourish over the last year, and we took the decision to push forward by focussing solely on the training market.

“Our two companies share the same customer care values, so we are confident that we leave our valued support clients in the very safe and experienced hands of the IQ team, and we look forward to seeing them go from strength to strength.”