The division’s sales grew by nearly 80 per cent between 2015 and 2016, with trading for the first six months of 2018 up by around 25 per cent compared to the same period in 2017.
While the company reports that significant growth was achieved for both radio sales and hire, the stand-out area has been its managed services business which saw year-on-year organic sales growth of nearly 175 per cent between 2016 and 2017, as clients increasingly took advantage of the flexibility and cashflow benefits offered by fixed-fee managed service contracts.
“We’ve seen a major shift in the market with managed services proving an increasingly popular option, much as hosted solutions have in the telecoms sector,” commented Pennine’s managing director, Andrew Roberts.
“Not everyone wants or is in a position to commit to capital investment for two-way radio projects. Managed services provide an excellent alternative, with clients able to benefit from knowing exactly what their operating expenditure will be over the term of their contract.”
He added that the company’s two-way division has also benefited from two acquisitions: last year’s purchase of Bristol-based Co-Channel and this April’s addition of MTelecom. The Co-Channel operation, which acts as a regional technical and sales support hub, is currently delivering managed services at EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point C site. It also counts Bristol Airport among its major clients.
Originally founded as a two-way radio specialist in 1976, Pennine offers independent consultancy services and provides access to a broad portfolio of two-way radio systems and accessories, including Hytera and Motorola equipment. Its national client base spans from SMEs through to public sector, NHS, education, facilities management companies and the nuclear industry.
