The deal secures 41 jobs and SVL’s Scottish office, with combined revenues reaching £65m.
Glasgow-based technology firm SVL Business Solutions has been acquired by Manchester-headquartered FourNet. The acquisition secures SVL’s 41-strong workforce and its Scottish office. The deal brings the combined UK workforce to more than 230 people, serving over 450 customers, with annual revenues of around £65m.
Founded as Sinclair Voicenet in 1967, SVL provides contact centre technology and services to organisations across financial services, utilities, public safety, and other sectors. The firm has traditionally specialised in interaction recording, analytics, and workforce management, broadening its services over the past five years to include wider customer experience technology and artificial intelligence. SVL’s customers will continue to work with the same people while gaining access to FourNet’s wider expertise in customer experience, AI, and cybersecurity.
FourNet stated that the acquisition would strengthen its customer experience and artificial intelligence capabilities, while also expanding its presence in Scotland, where it is recruiting for new roles. The company provides communications, customer experience, and cybersecurity services to more than 30 UK government departments, businesses, and emergency service control rooms. The acquisition will also strengthen FourNet’s position in financial services, a sector where both businesses support organisations operating under demanding security and regulatory requirements.
The two businesses have collaborated for nearly a decade, including supporting shared customers in public safety services, and work with several of the same technology partners, including NiCE. David Kindness, chief executive of SVL Business Solutions, said: “SVL has a history stretching back to 1967, and the UK-wide business we have built from Glasgow reflects the expertise of our people and the trust our customers place in them. Choosing the right partner for the next stage was about protecting those strengths and giving our people and customers more opportunities. Joining FourNet gives us the support of a larger business, access to additional capabilities and a strong platform for SVL’s continued growth.”
In Case You Missed It:
Richard Pennington, co-founder and chief executive of FourNet, commented on the acquisition, stating: “While its heritage is Scottish, SVL has built a respected UK-wide business with talented people, longstanding customer relationships and specialist expertise developed over almost six decades. That is what attracted us to SVL. Its strengths in recording, analytics and workforce management complement our own, and its wider work in customer experience and AI makes this a natural next step for both businesses.” He added that together, the companies can provide customers with more support as they introduce AI into everyday services.
The acquisition is FourNet’s fifth since 2020. The business has been backed by Palatine Private Equity since 2021. James Painter, partner at Palatine, said: “SVL represents a highly strategic acquisition for FourNet given the complementary customer base and technology partnerships. It brings specialist expertise which strengthens FourNet’s customer experience transformation proposition into mission-critical sectors.”
