Member Article

Six-figure investment to see Lancashire communications firm create 10 new jobs

A North West IT and telecoms business is set to create ten new jobs after securing a six-figure investment.

Denwa UK, of Barrowford, Lancashire, has seen rapid expansion, doubling profits and increasing its customer base by a third in the year to May 2013.

The investment, from Lancashire County Council’s Rosebud Fund, will help the company achieve its target of tripling profits in the current financial year.

Established in 2006 by current managing director Rob Scott, Denwa - which employs 20 people - offers broadband, cloud telephony and a range of cloud-based IT products in addition to the traditional telecoms service. It serves a client base throughout the UK consisting mainly of SMEs.

A former Business of the Year in both the Red Rose Awards and Lancashire’s Be Inspired Business Awards, Denwa has established its own training academy to equip local people with the right skills and generate a supply of home-grown talent.

Rob Scott said the company wanted to build on this success. He said: “The roll-out of broadband to rural areas is creating new opportunities for Denwa, as is the growth in cloud computing.

“We call it ‘freedom architecture’ because of the flexibility it offers.

“One in three SMEs is currently using cloud-based products but the market is growing by 30 per cent a year and we want to be part of that. In the longer term however we will also consider growth by acquisitions.

“Denwa’s expansion will in turn create opportunities for local people. We are particularly proud of our academy for the way in which it teaches people a trade, and allows them to develop new career horizons.”

Paul Taberner, of Enterprise Ventures, which manages the Rosebud Fund on behalf of Lancashire County Council, said: “Denwa is a forward-looking business in the digital communications sector, which is a priority sector for economic development in Lancashire. The company received a small Rosebud loan in 2010 to help with its development. This latest Rosebud investment will provide additional working capital to fund its expansion.”

County Councillor Niki Penney, Chair of LCDL, said: “We’re pleased to support Denwa for the second time, especially as this six-figure investment will directly lead to new jobs in Lancashire.

“Rosebud aims to help companies with finance and advice to help with their growth ambitions. The team at Denwa achieved strong growth last year and we hope that Rosebud’s support will help them to flourish even further in the future.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Graham Vincent .