Matthew Riley: Daisy Communications

Matthew Riley, 33
Company: Daisy Communications
Web: https://daisygroup.com/

Walking into Daisy’s purpose-built 20,000 sq ft offices for the first time three years ago was Riley’s proudest moment. Now firmly established as a one-stop provider of communications to more than 22,000 small and growing businesses by undercutting BT, this six-year-old Lancs-based business recorded a £23.6m turnover to 2007. Expect that figure to be £39.2m to 2008, £48.7m in 2009 and £100m the year after if all goes to plan. And what’s more he wholly owns the 136-person business, having used bank debt to fund 14 acquisitions. Turning green yet? The serial entrepreneur is not taking his foot off the gas though, and talking of green, the company’s just started e-billing to reduce its carbon footprint. Unsurprisingly, Riley was crowned Ernst & Young’s northern Entrepreneur of the Year.

2012 update:

In their annual report for 2012, the company has well exceeded their original expectations, recording a revenue figure of £348.6m. Riley remains CEO and has also become a trusted lieutenant to Lord Alan Sugar in the last two series of The Apprentice.

2013 update:

The AIM-listed company has continued its steady rate of expansion, beginning 2013 with the acquisition of IT services firm NetCrowd. Forecasting a turnover of £0.5bn by 2014, Daisy is set to use this deal as the springboard of a string of future acquisitions. Watch this space.