Acquisition creates one of UK’s largest providers of software solutions

boxxe, a £440m turnover York-based IT Services and Solutions provider, has acquired Total Computers.

Phil Doye, owner of boxxe, had previously acquired a minority stake in Total Computers in November 2022.

This deal has created one of the UK’s largest providers of software, solutions and services to both the public and private sector.

Clients have been told to expect a broader portfolio of offerings, ranging from the latest hardware solutions to bespoke software applications and a variety of IT services.

Total, which is headquartered in Kettering, also has a significant presence in the UK public sector, which will benefit from additional framework access and public sector specific expertise.

boxxe has grown since Doye acquired the business in 2019. Doye said: “I had known and admired Total for many years but as a shareholder and director for the past 12 months I have seen first-hand the depth of what Aidan and Kevin have built.

“The combination of these two businesses is uniquely complementary and I am hugely excited that this move will enable both companies to better serve our customers and partners.”

Aidan Groom, CEO of Total Computers, said: “Working with Phil over the past 12 months has challenged our ambition for what Total can become.

“We have created something special at Total, but this is the next step in the evolution of our company.

“For both companies it allows us to grow faster and become even more relevant to our customers through a wider range of partner accreditations, deeper technical skills and greater financial strength and scale.”

Kevin Goodall, who has become managing director of Total, said: “The most common feedback I get from our customers is that we want to do more with you, but you don’t have the financial scale or range of partner certifications that Computacenter, CDW or Softcat has.

“To be part of the boxxe group is hugely exciting as it gives us a more complete portfolio and financial scale that enables us to think bigger and be even more ambitious.”

Doye added: “The IT channel has, over the past number of years, seen the largest players get bigger and the small ones either specialise, struggle or get acquired.

“This deal marks a pivotal moment in the journey of boxxe. With the acceleration of digital transformation, the continued growth of public cloud and the proliferation of software companies it’s critical that a partner can deliver across this landscape.”