From Rural Farmhouse To National Tech Contender
ITS Technology Group started out in a converted farmhouse in the country, which is a humble beginning that isn’t common among fast-growing tech companies. The company started in 2018 and worked to improve fiber infrastructure across Britain at a time when national coverage was limited. Leadership saw an early chance in a connectivity market that wasn’t getting enough attention and was ready to grow for a long time.
The company is now 1 of the fastest-growing private tech companies in northwest England, showing how a clear plan can turn small beginnings into big things. Annual sales of almost £35 million show how big the business has grown in less than 8 years. More and more people in the industry are pointing to ITS as proof that demand for enterprise-grade digital infrastructure is growing quickly.
CEO Daren Baythorpe Identified Market Opportunity Early
Daren Baythorpe, the CEO, knew that the UK was behind other countries when fiber coverage was still less than 1% nationwide. He decided that putting money into wholesale connectivity could lead to big growth because businesses wanted networks that were faster and more reliable. This information led to a plan that focused on supplying resellers instead of connecting customers directly.
The wholesale model helped ITS grow quickly by using distribution channels that corporate clients already trusted. The company sped up adoption by working with middlemen instead of building a lot of retail stores. During the early stages of growth, this level of efficiency was very important.
Source: Prolific North/Website
Wholesale Connectivity Strategy Fueled Rapid Expansion
Instead of trying to win individual contracts, ITS focused on giving service providers high-capacity fiber infrastructure. This method brought in steady streams of income and made the company a key part of business connectivity. Demand skyrocketed as businesses put more and more emphasis on being digitally resilient and ready for the cloud.
Over time, the company formed partnerships with bigger resellers, which helped it reach more people and do more business. Analysts often say that wholesale platforms are very scalable in telecommunications ecosystems. ITS made good use of that structural advantage.
Recommended Article: UK Launches First ERC-3643 Security Token on CATEX
Sunday Times Recognition Underscores Growth Momentum
The company recently made it onto The Sunday Times 100 Tech list, which solidified its status as 1 of the fastest-growing private tech companies in the UK. Ranking 4th in the northwest shows that business is still going strong in a competitive area. This kind of recognition can boost investor confidence and draw in skilled workers.
Awards often mean that a business is mature, which means that its leaders have been able to balance fast growth with careful execution. For new tech companies, getting outside validation can help them build credibility over time. It looks like ITS is entering that phase.
Major Infrastructure Projects Strengthen National Presence
ITS now supports connections between important business centers like Manchester Airport and the Salford Quays shopping area. The company helped build the LCR Connect network in Liverpool, which connects famous places like the Cavern Club and the Hill Dickinson Everton Stadium. These projects show that more people are getting involved in infrastructure that is easy to see.
The company also helped make sure that the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool had good internet access. Baythorpe called the event a defining moment that showed operational capability on a large scale. When trying to get future contracts, large deployments are often used as proof points.
Headquarters Move And Acquisition Mark Turning Points
In 2022, the company moved to a bigger headquarters in Daresbury, which was a sign that it was becoming a more mature business. More office space helped the workforce grow and made it easier for engineering and business teams to work together. The physical infrastructure of an organization often changes along with it.
That same year, ITS bought Next Gen Access to improve its knowledge and expand its services into the London markets. Strategic acquisitions can speed up growth by bringing in specialized skills faster than hiring people on your own. The move greatly increased the range of locations.
Grounded Culture Drives Sustainable Long-Term Vision
Baythorpe stresses the importance of keeping a grounded culture based on employee engagement and a shared purpose, even as the company grows quickly. Leadership put a lot of money into team collaboration to make sure that employees felt like they were part of the company’s growth journey. Cultural cohesion is what usually sets long-lasting companies apart from short-lived, fast-growing businesses.
ITS wants to grow across the country while staying true to its northwest roots. Executives say that careful planning, not unplanned growth, is what leads to long-term success. If things keep going the way they are now, the company could become a major player in Britain’s digital infrastructure.
