The record.
CyberSentry technology powers CyberProtect by Vodafone Business
Ridown portfolio company CyberSentry provides the technology behind Vodafone Business's new channel cyber service, brought to market with Onecom.
CyberSentry · Vodafone UK
Onecom becomes operating partner behind Everton Mobile
Onecom adds deepfake call detection to its Vox voice platform
CyberSentry names ex-hacktivist Jesse Tuttle global brand ambassador
Nic Cronin returns to lead OnecomMatrix as managing director
Nearly four decades of momentum.
Stories on record each year. Select a year to filter the archive.
25 deals on the record.
Acquisitions, investments and exits across the group and its platforms, newest first.
116 stories
Onecom becomes operating partner behind Everton Mobile
Onecom supplies the network, provisioning and back office behind Everton Mobile, a club-branded SIM-only service run by Sport Telecoms.
Mobile NewsFrom £15/monthCyberSentry technology powers CyberProtect by Vodafone Business
Ridown portfolio company CyberSentry provides the technology behind Vodafone Business's new channel cyber service, brought to market with Onecom.
Vodafone UKOnecom adds deepfake call detection to its Vox voice platform
Rebuilt Vox platform warns users in real time when a synthetic voice is on the line.
Comms DealerCyberSentry names ex-hacktivist Jesse Tuttle global brand ambassador
Former FBI most-wanted hacker turned ethical specialist will front CyberProtect and PenX worldwide.
PR Newswire30,000 customersNic Cronin returns to lead OnecomMatrix as managing director
Former Matrix IT boss takes charge of Onecom's 80-strong managed IT and security division.
Comms Dealer
Onecom Partners brings CyberProtect and PenX to resellers
Channel arm launches attack monitoring and penetration testing for resellers to sell on.
TelecompaperOnecom unites Matrix IT and its IT services as OnecomMatrix
New security-led managed IT brand follows February's Matrix IT acquisition.
Comms DealerOnecom and APFN sign wholesale connectivity agreement
Onecom Partners becomes the main route to APFN's Aquila platform for smaller resellers.
Mobile News1,000+ partnersOnecom wins Vodafone Strategic Partner of the Year for a 16th straight year
Onecom took Vodafone's top partner award for a 16th consecutive year, plus innovation and deal-of-the-year honours.
African Wireless Communications16 years
Onestream takes on Cuckoo's broadband customer base
Onestream is taking over Cuckoo's broadband customers, brand and domain, roughly doubling its base.
ISPreview150,000 customers
Co-founder Aaron Brown named Onecom Group CEO
Onecom co-founder Aaron Brown took over as Group CEO on 1 May 2026, with Darren Ridge moving to a non-executive board seat.
Onecom£220m
Onecom launches Halo agentic AI workforce platform
Onecom has launched Halo, an agentic AI platform that lets businesses deploy digital agents across voice, messaging and email.
Comms Dealer
Darren and Maria Ridge back Caudwell Children at Monaco Butterfly Ball
Darren and Maria Ridge backed Caudwell Children at its 10th Butterfly Ball in Monaco, including a €30,000 pledge for a young person.
The Ridge Foundation€30kOnecom secures UK exclusive on Galaxy S26 Enterprise Edition
Samsung deal made Onecom the only UK provider of the new enterprise flagship at launch.
PR Newswire via Bolsamania
Onecom Partners hires two senior channel leaders after Gradwell deal
Two senior hires strengthen the channel arm's mobile, voice and connectivity propositions.
Comms Dealer
Onecom buys south-coast Microsoft partner Matrix IT
Onecom acquired Matrix IT to deepen its Microsoft expertise and managed IT delivery on the south coast.
Comms Dealer14th dealOnecom makes Wave its flagship cloud phone system
Gradwell's in-house cloud phone system becomes Onecom's lead voice product.
Comms Dealer£20m ARR
WeBuyAnyPhone.com launches Kidney Research UK trade-in partnership
WeBuyAnyPhone.com donates £10 to Kidney Research UK for every device traded through a dedicated charity portal.
Portsmouth News (via Wayback Machine)£10/device
Onecom wins Best SME Mobile/IoT Solution at Comms National Awards
Rental-housing IoT project with ResiSure and Vodafone Business takes a national award.
Onecom
Ridge Foundation donates 20 laptops to Havant Academy art students
The Ridge Foundation replaced outdated Chromebooks for Havant Academy's GCSE art students with 20 new laptops.
The Ridge Foundation
Ridge Foundation opens its first international project in Delhi
The Ridge Foundation and Ridown Technology Group opened a 30-desk technology hub at a Delhi school, the foundation's first project abroad.
The Ridge Foundation£50k
Onecom reaches the Big Goal national charity football final
Staff side beat the holders to reach the final while Onecom donated £5,000.
Comms Dealer£5,000Onecom acquires Gradwell Communications
Onecom bought hosted-voice and SIP provider Gradwell, adding offices in Bath and Leeds and an established customer base.
ISPreview13th deal
Darren Ridge wins two regional business leadership awards
Darren Ridge was named Executive of the Year at the Solent 250 Awards and Businessperson of the Year at the Central South Business Awards.
OnecomMartin Flick steps down as Onecom CEO after four years
Martin Flick left the Onecom CEO role after four years, handing the business back to founders Darren Ridge and Aaron Brown.
Comms Dealer
WeBuyAnyPhone.com sponsors Portsmouth boxer Michael McKinson
Leigh Park connection as the trade-in brand backs a local welterweight with 27 wins.
Mobile NewsOnecom Partners signs Anvil IoT platform deal
Channel partners gain a single platform to price, activate and manage IoT services.
Comms Dealer870 networks
Onecom adds Malwarebytes ThreatDown to its managed security services
ThreatDown suite joins Onecom's managed security line-up.
Comms Dealer
Onecom named Zendesk New Partner of the Year for EMEA
Customer experience work earns a regional partner award from Zendesk.
Comms Dealer
Onecom secures £100m acquisition facility from Ares
Refinancing gives Onecom fresh firepower for acquisitions and organic growth.
Mobile News£100m
Ridown-backed founders launch Echo AI note-taker
Ridown-backed OneHive launched Echo AI, a meeting assistant that delivers transcripts, summaries and action points, after a £2m investment from Ridown.
PR Newswire£2m
Ridge Foundation's support for Havant Academy passes £500,000
A new £50,000 minibus took The Ridge Foundation's total support for Havant Academy, Darren Ridge's old school, to £500,000.
Portsmouth News (via Wayback Machine)£500k
Darren Ridge leads £30,000 charity bike ride for former school
Darren Ridge led a 30-mile sponsored ride that raised more than £30,000 for a sensory unit at his former school.
Mobile News£30kOnecom Partners launches OneHub portal with exclusive Vodafone tariffs
New partner portal and exclusive Vodafone tariffs deepen the channel offer.
Comms Dealer
Ustreme launches a weekly stand-up comedy show
Weekly showcase filmed at Ustreme's Fareham studios with free audience tickets.
ChortleOnestream lets customers reuse their old broadband router
Hampshire ISP decouples service from hardware and urges big brands to follow.
ISPreview21%
Onecom wins Best Enterprise Contact Centre at Comms National Awards
AI-enabled contact centre for Tusker, built with Five9, wins a national award.
Onecom
Ridge Foundation funds The Ridge Centre at Havant Academy
A £30,000 Ridge Foundation donation created The Ridge Centre, a calm learning space at Havant Academy for pupils who struggle in class.
The Ridge Foundation£30k
WeBuyAnyPhone.com powers TopCashback's phone trade-in service
Trade-in deal opens WeBuyAnyPhone.com to TopCashback's 15 million members.
PR Newswire£25
Onecom named Vodafone Strategic Partner of the Year for 14th year
Onecom won Vodafone's Strategic Partner of the Year for a 14th consecutive year, alongside two further partner awards.
Onecom14 yearsOnecom acquires Leicester's Daly Systems
Onecom acquired Leicester-based unified communications and managed IT provider Daly Systems.
LDC12th deal
Onecom extends its partnership with the Irish FA
Long-running deal with Northern Ireland's football association is renewed.
Irish FA
Former Purplebricks CEO Helena Marston joins Onecom as COO
Experienced PE and plc executive joins to drive organic growth and M&A.
IT Europa
WeBuyAnyPhone.com wins national sustainability award
WeBuyAnyPhone.com won the Sustainability and Environment Programme award at the Mobile News Awards.
PR Newswire£75m
WeBuyAnyPhone.com launches WeBuyPro for business device recycling
WeBuyAnyPhone.com launched WeBuyPro, an on-site service that collects, grades and securely wipes devices for businesses.
PR NewswireOnecom acquires managed IT provider Excalibur Communications
Onecom acquired Swindon-based managed IT and communications provider Excalibur Communications.
Onecom11th dealOnecom and Vodafone sign their biggest partner agreement
Five-year deal covers airtime, 5G, IoT and digital connectivity.
Mobile News5 yearsUstreme launches a talent hunt for new comedians
Laughter Class offers training and an hour-long Ustreme special to the winner.
Chortle
Onecom wins a place on the G-Cloud framework
Framework approval opens Onecom's cloud and UC services to public sector buyers.
Comms DealerOnecom buys Microsoft partner IMS Technology Services
Onecom acquired Midlands IT services firm IMS Technology Services, adding more than 600 customers.
Onecom600+Onestream signs £40m Vodafone deal to launch full fibre
Deal takes the Hampshire ISP beyond FTTC into gigabit full fibre.
ISPreview£40mUstreme secures Jethro's back catalogue of stand-up specials
Twenty classic stand-up specials join the Ustreme streaming library.
Chortle20 titlesOnecom launches Onecom Partners channel business
Former 9 Group becomes Onecom Partners to serve the UK reseller channel.
Comms DealerOnecom acquires Bristol-based Solution IP
Second deal of 2022 extends Onecom's reach into Bristol.
Mobile News
WeBuyAnyPhone.com donates £10,000 of phones to Ukraine
Long-battery handsets support search, rescue and counselling efforts in Ukraine.
Mobile News£10,000Onecom expands £500m+ Vodafone strategic partnership to its channel
Onecom extended its £500m+ Vodafone strategic partnership to its 450-strong partner channel.
Onecom£500m+Onestream plans 80 jobs after Whiteley office move
Larger Whiteley base supports plans to treble the broadband provider's team.
ISPreview80 jobs
E-Giant hires Justin Woolridge to grow WeBuyAnyPhone.com and PhonesDirect.com
Recycling veteran joins to build a commercial team for the trade-in and refurb brands.
Mobile News
Onecom acquires Gateshead's Russell Telecom
Onecom acquired Gateshead's Russell Telecom, its fourth deal of 2021, adding strength in education.
Mobile NewsOnecom acquires Devon-based IP Office
Third acquisition of 2021 adds health sector expertise and 700+ customers.
LDC700+ customersOnecom acquires 9 Group and its 450 channel partners
Onecom acquired 9 Group, adding thousands of fixed-line and cloud customers and a 450-strong partner channel.
Mobile News450
Onecom extends OneCloud with five-year Vodafone deal
Vodafone SIP and SD-WAN join Onecom's OneCloud aggregation platform.
Mobile News5 yearsOnecom acquires rival Olive Communications to form £140m group
Onecom acquired rival Vodafone dealer Olive Communications, creating a business with more than £140m in combined turnover.
Mobile News£140mOnecom named an inaugural Samsung One Elite partner
Onecom gains the top tier in Samsung's new four-level partner programme.
Mobile News
Onecom acquires Sunderland's Nice Network
Onecom acquired Sunderland unified communications specialist Nice Network to strengthen its North East presence.
Mobile News
Onecom named Vodafone Strategic Partner of the Year for tenth year
A decade at the top of Vodafone's partner awards.
Mobile News10th year
Darren Ridge returns as Onecom CEO
Founder Darren Ridge returned as Onecom chief executive after Ben Dowd left for personal reasons.
Mobile News
Onecom wins two Mobile Industry Awards in 2020
Double win at the Mobile Industry Awards 2020.
TechRadar2 awardsOnecom buys Glamorgan Telecom in first deal since LDC investment
Onecom acquired Cardiff-based fixed-line specialist Glamorgan Telecom Group, its first deal since LDC's 2019 investment.
Mobile News
Brightstar buys majority stake in Ridown's WeFix
Brightstar took a majority stake in WeFix, the 'we come to you' repair brand Ridown bought and rebuilt from 2017.
Mobile News73 vans
Onestream hires ex-Mobile Phones Direct COO James Carr as CEO
Onestream appointed former Mobile Phones Direct COO James Carr as CEO to lead national expansion.
Mobile News20k+Onecom launches 100-plus hiring drive after LDC funding
Headcount to rise by 30 per cent as Onecom targets 5G and fibre growth.
Mobile News30%
Onecom appoints Christian Craggs to lead M&A and strategy
New strategy chief to drive Onecom's acquisition programme after LDC investment.
Mobile News
WeFix and Samsung repair service passes 95% coverage
Manufacturer-accredited doorstep repairs reach almost every UK postcode.
Mobile News95%
Aaron Brown steps back from Onecom, remains shareholder
Aaron Brown stepped back from Onecom after LDC's investment, staying on as a shareholder and moving to WeFix.
Mobile NewsLDC and Ares back Onecom with £100m funding package
LDC and credit funds managed by Ares provided a £100m package to fund Onecom's organic and acquisitive growth.
ISPreview£100mOnecom named Vodafone Total Communications Partner for fifth year
Fifth straight win of Vodafone's Total Communications Partner title.
Comms Dealer5th yearOnecom signs Vodafone's largest-ever partner deal
Onecom signed Vodafone UK's largest-ever partner agreement, targeting more than £100m a year in revenue.
City A.M.£600mOnecom named Best Unified Comms Dealer for a second time
Second Mobile Industry Awards win in the unified comms category.
OnecomOnecom secures £30m HSBC facility
Onecom secured a five-year, £30m HSBC facility to invest in systems, customer experience and regional teams.
Mobile News£30mOnecom honoured for fundraising by Countess Mountbatten Hospice
Year-long staff fundraising for the Southampton hospice wins a corporate award.
Comms Dealer£6,492
Onecom reports £71m turnover and £15.6m profit for 2017
EU roaming changes cut around £2.6m from expected profits.
Mobile News£71m
Onecom named Portsmouth FC's official telecoms partner
Onecom signed a five-year deal as Portsmouth Football Club's Official Telecoms Partner.
OnecomOnecom hires ex-O2 sales chief Ben Dowd as CEO
Onecom appointed former O2 group sales director Ben Dowd as CEO, with Darren Ridge stepping up to group CEO.
Mobile NewsOnecom becomes an Apple Authorised Reseller
Accreditation set to add £3.6m a year to Onecom's Apple sales.
Mobile News£3.6mOnestream launches as a new residential ISP
Hampshire-based Onestream entered the UK consumer broadband market with standard and fibre packages.
ISPreview
Onecom signs IoT partnership with Sony
Onecom to sell Sony's indoor tracking solutions exclusively.
Mobile News
Darren Ridge ranked 29th in the Mobile Power 50
Onecom's founder makes the annual list of UK mobile's most influential people.
TechRadarNo. 29Darren Ridge cycles 300 miles for veterans' charity
Darren Ridge rode the 300-mile Trafalgar Way from Falmouth to London, raising almost £15,000 for veterans' charity Care after Combat.
Onecom300 mi
MusicPlanet Live adds CellPoint Mobile payments
Payment partnership supports the live-music hub's ticketing and transactions.
Newswire
Onecom takes on True Telecom's 3,000 customers
Customer base deal ends uncertainty for True Telecom's business users.
Mobile News3,000
Evolve AV makes the Ageas Bowl a fully connected stadium
Giant LED replay screens and stadium Wi-Fi for Hampshire's cricket ground.
BusinessCloud120 sq mDarren Ridge returns to his old school to inspire pupils
Darren Ridge returned to Havant Academy 40 years after leaving to launch a technology ideas competition for pupils.
Comms Dealer
Ridge and Brown invest in WeFix mobile repair service
Darren Ridge and Aaron Brown made a six-figure investment in Oliver Murphy's repair business, relaunched as WeFix.
PCROnecom signs IoT deal with Vodafone worth up to £10m
Five-year deal to build and manage IoT services for UK businesses.
Mobile News£10m
Vodafone names Onecom Total Communications Partner of the Year
Onecom takes Vodafone's top partner award at the Manchester ceremony.
Mobile News
Onecom staff raise funds for Mind as Onecom Foundation launches
15th birthday fun run is the first event for the new Onecom Foundation.
Mobile News£2,000+
Onecom becomes official communications partner of the Irish FA
Deal covers Windsor Park upgrades and a new Onecom Business League.
The Irish News
Onecom named Best Unified Comms Dealer at Mobile Industry Awards
Founders collect a national award for bringing mobile, fixed and internet together.
Onecom
Onecom listed among London Stock Exchange's 1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain
LSE report recognises Onecom's revenue climb from £50m to £75m.
Mobile News£75mMusicPlanet Live opens to bands and venues ahead of launch
Free live-music social hub aims to revitalise the grassroots scene.
Hold Tight
Onecom opens Belfast office with £5m investment
First Northern Ireland base takes Onecom to 12 UK offices.
Mobile News£5mOnecom achieves Samsung Premium Partner status
Highest Samsung tier recognises product expertise across Onecom's 450 staff.
Mobile NewsOnecom signs £3.2m CityFibre deal to connect Midlands businesses
Second CityFibre deal in a month extends Onecom's gigabit business offer.
Mobile News£3.2m
Onecom buys rival Vodafone dealer Evolve
Onecom bought rival Vodafone dealer Evolve, adding £20m in turnover and taking its base above 300,000 connections.
Mobile News300,000+Onecom signs record £500m five-year Vodafone contract
Onecom signed a record contract to deliver up to £500m of Vodafone revenue over five years.
Mobile News£500mOnecom targets £100m turnover after rapid growth
Onecom set a £100m turnover target for 2016 after growing from £32m in 2013 to a projected £70m.
Mobile News£70mWeBuyAnyPhone.com launches with £2.5m backing
The trade-in brand's debut, with ambitions to take on the UK recycling market.
Mobile News£2.5mOnecom becomes main sponsor of Portsmouth FC
Onecom became a main sponsor of Portsmouth FC, taking the Milton Stand at Fratton Park and becoming the club's mobile supplier.
Mobile NewsOnecom doubles its Whiteley HQ to 12,000 sq ft
Onecom opened OneCom House beside its Solent Business Park base, doubling its Whiteley headquarters to 12,000 sq ft.
Mobile News12k sq ftOnecom acquires The Communications Centre
Onecom acquired Gloucestershire Vodafone Gold Partner The Communications Centre, taking its base past 200,000 connections.
Mobile News200k+Onecom acquires B2B rival OneStream
Onecom acquired Great Yarmouth-based B2B dealer OneStream, adding 13,000 connections.
Mobile News13kOnecom makes first acquisition with Black Sheep Communications
Three months after forming, Onecom bought Brighton lead-generation firm Black Sheep Communications.
Mobile NewsPremier Telecom and Business Phones Direct merge to create Onecom
Darren Ridge merged Premier Telecom and Business Phones Direct to form Onecom, with Aaron Brown as COO.
Mobile News£40mPremier Telecom holds 64th place in Sunday Times Tech Track 100
Premier Telecom held 64th place in the Sunday Times Tech Track 100 after 52% annual sales growth.
Mobile NewsNo. 64Premier Telecom named Vodafone Platinum Partner of the Year
Darren Ridge's Premier Telecom was named Vodafone's 2012 Platinum Partner of the Year.
Mobile NewsNo stories match. Try another filter.
Everything you need to write about Ridown.
Ridown Group is a private investment group headquartered in Whiteley, Hampshire. Founded by entrepreneurs Darren Ridge and Aaron Brown, it buys, builds and grows businesses across communications, technology and AI, consumer, media and property, with group revenues of around £350m including Onecom, the UK's largest independent business communications provider.
Group at a glance
c.£350m group revenues · 1,100+ people across the UK and India · 17 brands · 25+ acquisitions on the Onecom platform · Est. 1987 · HQ Whiteley, Hampshire.
The founders
Darren Ridge, co-founder and non-executive director of Onecom. Aaron Brown, co-founder and Group CEO of Onecom. Full biographies and approved quotes.
Founder storiesLogos & imagery
The Ridown logo for dark and light backgrounds, portfolio logos and approved photography, available on request from the press office.
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Writing about Ridown?
For interviews with Darren Ridge or Aaron Brown, comment on the group or portfolio, or brand assets, contact the press office.
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