One shop on the Solent
Darren Ridge co-founds KJC with Joe Case: one of the first mobile phone retailers on the British high street, opening in Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire, years ahead of the household names.
Our story
Since oneshop.
Who we are
Ridown is a forward-thinking, proactive private investment company. We partner with businesses to unlock investment and help them reach their potential, through organic growth and strategic acquisition. Our founders have done it themselves, more than once.
Timeline
1987
KJC
Sixty branches and a Vodafone first
KJC grows to around 60 branches across the South of England, becoming the largest chain of its kind in the region and Vodafone's first strategic partner.
The first exit
KJC is sold to PNC Telecom for a reported £30m in cash and shares. The first of many exits.
Starting again
Darren founds Premier Telecom, the business that would become Onecom. By 2012 it is Vodafone's Platinum Partner of the Year.
Ridown is incorporated
Ridown Group Limited is incorporated, and becomes the home for the founders' investments across property, technology and consumer brands.
Into property
Ridown becomes primary investor in premium housebuilder Hartly Homes, which goes on to complete £50m of schemes.
Tech Track 100
Premier Telecom is ranked 64th in the Sunday Times Tech Track 100 and named Vodafone Platinum Partner of the Year.
Two founders, one company
Premier Telecom and Aaron Brown's Business Phones Direct merge to create Onecom, a £40m-turnover business. The acquisition programme begins in the same year.
A record Vodafone contract
Onecom signs a record £500m five-year contract with Vodafone as turnover climbs from £32m towards £70m.
Backing a van in Essex
Darren and Aaron invest in WeFix, a single-van phone repair start-up, and grow it to a 110-vehicle fleet as Samsung UK's exclusive repair partner.
Onestream goes residential
Onestream launches as a home broadband provider, built to take on the biggest names in UK connectivity.
£100m and £600m
Onecom signs the largest partner deal in Vodafone's history, worth up to £600m, and secures a £100m funding package from LDC and Ares.
Exit to a global group
Brightstar, part of SoftBank, buys a majority stake in WeFix. Darren returns as Onecom CEO and the bolt-on programme accelerates.
Merging with the rival
Onecom combines with its closest competitor, Olive Communications, to form a £140m-turnover group, then adds 9 Group and its 450 channel partners.
The Ridge Foundation
Darren's charity is registered to support young people from challenging backgrounds, starting at his old school in Leigh Park.
AI, and giving back
Ridown-backed founders launch Echo with a £2m seed round. The Ridge Foundation's support for Havant Academy passes £500,000 and its first international project opens in Delhi.
A founder at the helm
Aaron Brown is named Group CEO of Onecom, now a business of around £220m revenue and 900+ people, as it wins Vodafone Strategic Partner of the Year for a 16th straight year.
The Ridown way
Six principles. Every business.
The same operating culture runs through every company we back, from a 900-person communications group to an AI start-up.
01
Think Kaizen
Small improvements, every day, compound into long-term success.
02
Be Respectful
A positive, respectful culture is the foundation everything else is built on.
03
Build Relationships
Strong, trusted, enduring relationships with teams, partners and customers.
04
Make It Happen
Ownership and accountability. We do what we say.
05
Work Smart
Focus on the work that moves the needle.
06
Be Amazing
Think big, rise to the challenge, never give up.
WorkLife
Great businesses are built by looked-after people.
WorkLife is our employee advantage programme, built into colleagues' lives in and out of work to support their mental and physical development.
1
Pillar 01
Pillar 01Active
Physical and mental wellbeing for every colleague.
2
Pillar 02
Pillar 02Academy
Personal and professional development, in and out of work.
3
Pillar 03
Pillar 03Foundation
A cause chosen by group-wide vote, backed by team fundraising all year.
4
Pillar 04
Pillar 04Rewards
Recognition through discounts, social events and additional leave.
Giving back
The Ridge Foundation
Founded by Darren Ridge to help children and young people from challenging backgrounds reach their potential, starting at Havant Academy in Leigh Park, the school he attended.