Managing director David Marsden said: “2006/2007 was a highly successful year for us – the best since the company was formed in 2001. We achieved substantial initial growth by offering high-quality cost-effective telecommunications and then things really took off when we combined telecommunications with IT services over the last couple of years.
“Now we are concentrating on our next platform for growth - the opening of new offices across the country to give us national coverage. Things are looking very healthy: projections based on our forward order book are already showing turnover in the region of £5m for 2008/2009.”
The expansion began in earnest last summer when Applegarth set up a second base in Birmingham from which David Marsden says is building some ‘excellent regional business’ including a recent £200,000 IT and telecommunications contract for leading West Midlands solicitors McGrath and Company.
In December the structure of the company was formalised as the IT and telecommunications sides of the business merged to form a single seamless force capable of meeting increased client demand for joined-up services. The move was cemented in the same month by the appointment of Roger Burgess, formerly joint managing director of the IT division, to the position of technical director with a place on the main board. This was followed by the opening of other offices in Farnborough and Gateshead earlier in the year.
And, by the first quarter of 2009, it plans to add another three offices to its empire - in Bristol, Brighton and Glasgow.
David Marsden said: “We are fast tracking to national coverage because we have had numerous enquiries from multiple outlet companies across the country who are looking for a telecommunications and IT company who can provide a co-ordinated service across all their bases. They want the efficiencies, both operational and financial, of dealing with one point of contact and we intend to deliver.”
Significant contracts delivered by Applegarth in 2007 include the provision of an integrated communications solution for ‘concept’ hotels group Aston Hotels.