Prime Networks MD and founder: ‘We’ll go anywhere in the UK’

Following its recent acquisition of Solution Support, Mark Simons discusses more expansion plans

Managed services provider Prime Networks is advancing on its goal to be a truly national MSP following its recent takeover of Solution Support.

Formed in London in 2013 out of a merger between Prime Networks and the IT division of Modern Communications, Prime has acquired offices across the country through acquisitions, such as MSP G3 and OTT in 2021, as well as TNSC in 2022.

This latest deal marks its sixth since the dawn of Prime, whose managing director and founder Mark Simons sat down with CRN to dish the details of the buyout.

“The first deal that we did was in 2017, but we self-funded.

“It was a little deal, but it enabled us to prove a point.

“Can we buy a business? Can we integrate it? Can we deliver on the numbers? Can we cross sell and upsell? And thankfully, that went well.

“Weve since raised a bit of debt package with Clydesdale Bank in 2019 and they've supported us in five transactions so far.”

The addition of Tamworth-based Solution Support brings Prime closer to its ambition to build a truly national MSP catering specifically to SMEs by expanding its operations to a new territory – Birmingham - growing the reseller’s regional presence.

“It also ties up quite nicely with some existing customers from a geographical point of view, and that really is the main driver,” according to Simons.

The MD and founder says he is excited about the “good bunch of professionals” the Solution Support deal brings to the business, driving its headcount up to more than 60 people.

One out of 12,500

Birmingham is a buzzing area for tech and IT, as it counts more than 12,500 businesses involved in the sector. But why did Prime settle on Solution Support specifically?

What struck Simons was Solution Support’s customer profile of SME businesses.

He also stressed the importance of people.

“We're looking for a meeting of cultures that is going to blend well, as well as the customer profile,” Simons told CRN.

He praised the two decade-long history of Solution Support, acknowledging how the firm is “very, very good at what they do.”

“But what they've seen is a bit of a flat line in their revenue over the last five to seven years, which is the third element of what we’re looking for: culture, customer profile, and how can we add value to those customers?

“If all three of those match up, then we're away.”

Acquisition, expansion, addition

Acquisitions don’t just bring in new customers; they unlock new parts of the map, as well as characters who can transform a company from a regular player into an MVP.

This is why making additions to the team is so important to Simons.

Although admitting it’s a bit early to tell who's going to land where, he confirms that “with every acquisition we've done, there will always be people that will become team leaders and managers.”

“With the newly acquired staff now being part of a much larger organisation, we can offer career progression, training, and development plans,” he adds.

Solution Support’s Tamworth location adds a new area to Prime’s UK roster. But the MSP isn’t done expanding its UK footprint.

“After this acquisition, we’re looking at bolting all around existing locations, as well as expanding somewhere between the Midlands and London.

“But if the opportunity is right, we’ll go anywhere in the UK.”

However, the MSP’s feet will remain firmly planted on UK ground for now, Simons reveals.

“We’re a British business, and we intend to stay that way.”