Based in Camberley, Project Five provides outsourced IT services to small and medium size local businesses across Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire.
This acquisition follows that of Highlander Computing Solutions in January 2023, and builds on FluidOne’s strategy to invest in regional IT MSPs to create a branch network for expertly delivered localised services for its SME customers.
The investment in Project Five has created a £30m revenue business IT Centre of Excellence (CoE) for FluidOne, with 930 customers, 134 employees and 4 branch offices led from Highlander’s Sheffield headquarters.
Project Five will continue to benefit from the support of the founder, Steve Coburn, as he becomes consultant to the board. Rob Reed-Roberts, commercial director and Brad Cordell, technical director, will continue leading the Project Five teams, reporting to Steve Brown as managing director of the FluidOne Business IT CoE
Russell Horton, CEO, FluidOne (pictured above, right), said, “I am pleased to announce the acquisition of Project Five. When reviewing the business, I was impressed with the excellent service they deliver and the strength of relationships that the team build with their clients.
“They are a great fit to our strategy, and I look forward to working with Steve Coburn and the team to grow the Camberley business.”
Steve Coburn, founder and managing director, Project Five (pictured above, left), added, “This is an exciting chapter in the Project Five journey; when we first started having discussions with Russell, it was clear that our companies shared a common culture and values and a commitment to delivering great service.
“The FluidOne portfolio will broaden the service offering to our existing customers and the acquisition offers fantastic career opportunities to the Project Five team.”
Post-acquisition, FluidOne’s CEO, Russell Horton, is to become Chairman of Project Five, with FluidOne directors Brendan Lynch, Chris Rogers and Roy Hastings also becoming board directors.