Scottish Borders-based IT and telecoms firm SoConnect has announced a merger with Netopa, a leading IT managed service provider based in Edinburgh.
The move will see the pair's combined number of staff hit 30, with revenue also tipped to rise to nearly £4 million. For SoConnect, it also means the business now has a base in Edinburgh city centre, as well as an established IT managed service offering to boost its existing products and services.
The combined group will retain the SoConnect name, it was confirmed, with CEO Fraser Campbell remaining in the position. Bob Bazley, founder of Netopa, will join the board, as well as take on the role of Chief Operating Officer.
"From day one, our vision has been around providing great value market-leading Internet and communication services with first-class customer support," Campbell commented. "Netopa has built a fantastic reputation among its customer base and the deal is a great strategic fit for SoConnect.
"Bringing Bob and the Netopa team on board strengthens our offering and gives us a footprint in Edinburgh which will be important as we look to grow the team."
Founded in 2011, the SoConnect leverages a network of more than 200 engineers to support the SME market. To date, the firm has accumulated a number of key clients, including Ted Baker, Association of Project Managers, Stobo Castle Health Spa and Victim Support Scotland.
Simplifying and improving the efficiency of IT and comms infrastructure through cloud technology lies at the core of the firm's operations, Fraser explained, adding that it has also increasingly become a "strategic, virtual CTO" for many SMEs that lack their own resources.
"Incorporating best-of-class cloud technology and cybersecurity are integral to business success and competitiveness and we see this trend continuing to grow in the years ahead," said Netopa founder Bob Bazley.
"The merger with SoConnect is really positive news for both our team and our clients and we wouldn't have done the deal otherwise. We're excited about the growth prospects for the business, while continuing to develop the quality and delivery of services that we know matters most to the businesses we deal with."
