Headcount: 55 (+77%)
Specialism: Cybersecurity and IT network solutions
HQ: Stockton-on-Tees
Founded in 2011, this Rockpool Investments-backed outfit’s roots lie in providing IT and comms to business park owners.
Today, it counts The National Portrait Gallery among its customers and is “one of very few providers that genuinely owns both a private SD-WAN core network and a full SOC-backed security stack under one roof”, CEO Paul Bryce tells us (see below).
Communicate’s average monthly headcount rose from 31 to 55 between calendar 2021 and 2024, its accounts indicate.
It’s worth noting, however, that these numbers will not fully reflect recent M&A activity (recent acquisitions York Data Services and Blaze Networks propelled revenues to £17m).
View the wider Fast-Growth 50 here.
Q&A with Communicate Technology CEO Paul Bryce
How have you been able to increase headcount in a flat market?
Most of the increase has come through M&A – including the acquisition of Fortinet Expert Partner MSSP Blaze Networks. The integration of skilled specialists is a core part of our acquisition strategy. Alongside this, we have added headcount organically to support the continued growth of the business.
What mega trend do you think will most shape the year for your company?
The convergence of secure networking and security operations. We’re already seeing organisations look to bring these capabilities closer together to improve visibility and response. AI will also play an important role, particularly in helping teams make the most of AI-augmented triage to manage the growing volume and complexity of security alerts.
Which competitor or peer do you respect the most, and why?
Our industry has a number of companies carrying out interesting and important work, and healthy competition is part of what drives innovation in cybersecurity. I have respect for any provider pushing the industry forward, particularly those focused on simplifying security for customers and helping organisations stay ahead of an increasingly complex and evolving threat landscape.
What’s a fact or quirk about your company most people won’t know about?
Before founding Communicate Technology, Tony Snaith installed the first ever Cat 5 cable in the UK. Today, we are one of very few providers that genuinely owns both a private SD-WAN core network and a full SOC-backed security stack under one roof.
Does the rise of AI and automation make it less likely you’ll continue to add headcount at the same rate in the coming years?
People can get carried away with AI. We see it as a capability, not the starting point. The first step is always understanding the problem – in some cases, AI helps, and in others, it comes down to the skills of our people. AI is already embedded in how we operate, so it doesn’t change our approach to recruitment.
Name one thing you have planned for the next 12 months
To tell our story better. We are doing some great work bringing together networks and security solutions for well-known customers and, over the next 12 months, we want more people to hear about it so we can help them too.
