This IT networking business faced a commoditised and price driven market and needed to evolve and differentiate its product offering in order to develop and grow. It lacked the finances and the management bandwidth to make its ambitious strategy work.

“I wanted a larger stake in the business. For me a significant shareholding role was essential. It was obvious we were looking for an MBO and there was no need to go elsewhere for funding and advice, we could see straight away that the guys at ISIS just got it.” Mark Burchfield, MD (previously Sales Director) CableCom.

We didn’t just spot the potential in the business – we spotted the potential in backing Mark Burchfield as MD too. So we surrounded the high potential MD with a pool of talent and expertise to develop a winning strategy that resulted in the transformation of the business.

• CableCom services now reach over 200,000 students across the UK, compared to 13,000 on ISIS investment in 2007. 

• The proposition has been transformed from network installation/management into a fully interactive web portal offering a wide range of services to both the accommodation owner and user.

• Expansion outside of the core student accommodation market into key worker and residential markets.

• Major seven-year residential accommodation contract to provide services at prestigious Media City site in the North West.

1998
CableCom established

2002
Mark Burchfield joins as Sales Director

2005
Services reach 6,000 students

2006
CableCom starts exploring funding options. Services reach 10,000 students

2007
ISIS invests backing Mark Burchfield as MD. Services reach 13,000 students. Turnover £4.8m

2008
Paul Kan joins, later appointed as Commercial Director. 22,000 students

2009
Lee Collis joins as FD and Ian Williamson as Chairman. Services reach 26,000 students

2010
Turnover £8.2m

2011
Services reach 200,000 students