Specialism: Cyber, network infrastructure, AV, UC&C and peripherals
Key vendors: Avocor, BullWall, Christie, Eaton, Extron, Hornet Security, Netgear AV, Sony, Wacom, WatchGuard, Yealink
Revenue: £56m (-17%)
Headcount: 92
Active reseller/MSP base: Over 2,500
Characterising itself as the UK’s oldest trade-only distributor, AIM-listed Northamber saw revenues leap 10% year on year to £32.1m in the first half of its fiscal 2025 ending 31 December 2024.
This follows a 17% top-line slump in its fiscal 2024 ending 30 June (its fiscal 2025 numbers are due out imminently).
In the last 18 months, the AV, UC&C, cybersecurity, and network infrastructure specialist has been on an M&A rampage, acquiring peers in geographies including Ireland and the Benelux.
Proving that industry grandees are the must-have IT distributor accessory of 2025, Northamber in September moved to appoint Wick Hill Founder Ian Kilpatrick as a non-exec.
“We are really excited by the developments in our cyber offering”
Quickfire Q&A with Executive Chairman Alex Phillips
What’s your top priority over the next 12 months?
Scaling our value-added platforms – particularly AVail+ support and our new cybersecurity marketplace to help our partners.
What’s the most under-rated facet of your business?
The technical capability embedded across our group – from AV design and installation support to cybersecurity technical support. These services are often white-labelled by our partners and have helped our partners win and retain larger, more complex opportunities.
Name a vendor or technology area that’s been a hit for you in 2025
We have seen a lot of great changes in 2025. We are really excited by the developments in our cyber offering, with our new cloud marketplace launch and some great new brands added to complement longstanding key brands like WatchGuard.
Are you expecting to grow in this calendar year?
We continue to invest in our core strategic areas to ensure we are best positioned for our partners to help drive growth.
What distribution news story most grabbed your attention in 2025?
Whilst not a single story, the continued trend of consolidation is hard to ignore.
3 of the 4 largest companies in this report have changed ownership in the last 12 months (or are about to). What does that say about the market?
The continued consolidation of the very largest shows the financial power behind these huge businesses, but also the gap for locally managed and optimised distributors who can provide flexibility.
How do you feel that one company featured in this report took out a full-page New York Times ad in March blasting the term ‘distributor’?
It was certainly memorable and raised the profile overall of “distribution”. We support our partners with services and solutions they can profit from, whether or not that fits someone’s definition of distribution.
On a scale of 1–10, how optimistic are you about the IT distribution market right now?
8. While the macro picture is mixed, we’re seeing solid momentum in AV, UC&C and cybersecurity- particularly where we can support MSPs and integrators with a service wrap. The opportunity is there for those who can deliver it properly.
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