Stockton-on-Tees’ Communicate PLC acquires West Yorkshire IT security firm

Communicate PLC, the North East IT and telecoms services company, has completed the acquisition of West Yorkshire’s Landscape Networks Ltd.

Landscape Networks, based in Cleckheaton, is an information security, secure LAN/WAN infrastructure, data protection product and services provider.

This purchase will enhance Communicate PLC’s core telecoms and IT services portfolio.

The acquisition also adds improved IT security solutions to Communicates’ mix of on campus technology services to small to medium size businesses on business parks and buildings across the UK.

Communicate PLC, based in Stockton-on-Tees, has seen rapid growth over the past 12-18 months which gained it the 228th place in the FT1000 fastest growing European company ranking, putting the firm number 42 in the UK and number 2 in the North East as of April 2017.

In addition, the acquisition of Landscape Networks adds a further £2m revenue to the company.

Last year Communicate also acquired York-based Touchdown Offices Limited, in a move to add a SIP telephony and mobile telecoms capability to its portfolio.

Tony Snaith, CEO, Communicate PLC, said: “We are now perfectly poised to enter a period of accelerated growth, with a completely unique IT service proposition tailored perfectly for the on campus businesses whatever their size or stature.

“Our proven model is being rolled out to a further 20 locations in the next few months with a further 300 to follow over the next 12-18 months. Acquiring Landscape has added a really strong security solution to our proposition and fully rounds off our product offering.”

Paul Dick, CEO of Landscape, added: “Being part of the Communicate PLC Group is a major step forward for Landscape, we know we have a unique proposition for on campus security but now we have the ability to scale the rollout of that proposition through the Communicate plc sites. This is a real case of synergy and added value.”

For the foreseeable future, Landscape will continue to trade under its existing brand as a company within the Communicate PLC group. The combined solutions will be offered across all Communicate business parks and new parks as they come on stream.