PLN

What PLN does

PLN (legally P&L Networks (Northern) Ltd, trading as PLN Managed IT) is a UK-based IT managed services provider founded in 1989 and headquartered at Mallard Court, Crewe, Cheshire. The firm delivers three core service categories — Cloud Services (hosted email, file storage, business continuity), Managed IT (support for computer systems, networks, servers, and workstations), and Communications (VoIP telephony via the Grandstream UCM Series IP PBX) — to small and medium businesses and educational institutions in and around Cheshire. Service delivery is performed exclusively by an in-house team of fully qualified engineers with no outsourcing, supported by 24/7 remote monitoring of servers and networks, business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities (via Storagecraft partnership), and bespoke software development for clients with specialized workflow requirements. The company also performs Exchange and SharePoint Online migrations and offers both hosted and OnPrem VoIP options, with OnPrem installations claimed to deliver ROI in under two years versus the 3–7 year minimum contracts typical of hosted alternatives.

The business operates on a hybrid revenue model combining recurring revenue from annual maintenance contracts (proactive support, healthchecks, backups, ongoing advice), one-time project revenue from server installations, network rollouts, and VoIP deployments, and professional services revenue from on-demand consultancy for maintenance customers. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with both subscription-style maintenance packages and usage-based pay-as-you-go options offered. Go-to-market is direct-to-customer via the company's website, featuring 'Get a Quote' calls-to-action, a customer portal, content marketing through a long-running blog archive dating to 2011, and prominently featured case studies and customer testimonials spanning verticals including ice cream vending, food production, courier services, construction, legal, insurance, port operations, and recruitment. Vendor partnerships include Microsoft (Silver Server Platform), Grandstream, Storagecraft, Kaspersky, Symantec, Fujitsu, Acronis, Apple, 3CX, ESET, Datto, NETGEAR, HP, and Trend Micro. Operational performance is self-reported at 90% of issues resolved within four hours of notification and 98% first-visit fix rate for engineer dispatches.

Name

PLN

Legal name

P&L Networks (Northern) Ltd

Website

https://pln.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PLN (P&L Networks) is a Crewe-based UK IT managed services provider, founded in 1989, delivering cloud, managed IT, and VoIP communications support to small and medium businesses and educational institutions in Cheshire through an in-house engineering team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Managed IT Services

NAICS

Computer Facilities Management Services (541513)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Cloud Managed Services (Operations, Monitoring, Patching) (BPAEACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Managed Workplace Services (DaaS/Workplace-as-a-Service) (BPAEAIAA), Managed Application Platforms (App PaaS & Runtime Services) (HDABAAAD)

Keywords

• Managed IT services
• Cloud computing services
• VoIP telephony solutions
• IT support and maintenance
• Business continuity services

Headquarters

HQ city

Crewe

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Managed IT Services: Recurring revenue from IT support contracts, cloud services, managed IT, and communications. Provides both maintenance contracts and pay-as-you-go options.
2. IT Project Services: One-time revenue from server installations, network projects, VoIP deployments, and migrations.
3. Consultancy Services: On-demand IT consultancy for maintenance customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

PLN delivers managed IT services to small and medium businesses and educational institutions in Cheshire, UK, encompassing Cloud Services (hosted email, file storage, business continuity), Managed IT (computer systems, networks, servers, workstations, telephone systems), and Communications (VoIP telephony and unified communications). The firm operates as a complete outsourced IT department, using in-house qualified engineers without outsourcing, available on annual maintenance contracts or pay-as-you-go terms.

Product overview

PLN (P&L Networks) is a complete IT Support organization for Cheshire, UK, established in 1989, providing managed IT services through three core service categories: Cloud Services, Managed IT, and Communications. The company operates an in-house team of fully qualified engineers without outsourcing. Cloud Services includes hosted solutions, managed IT covers infrastructure support, and Communications provides VoIP telephony systems. Their technology partnerships include Microsoft, Grandstream, and other vendors. The company offers supplementary services including business continuity, disaster recovery, backup solutions, and bespoke software development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cloud Services Cloud-based IT services including hosted email, file storage, and business continuity solutions accessible remotely for SMEs and educational institutions.
• Managed IT Comprehensive IT support covering computer systems, networks, servers, workstations, and telephone systems, available through annual maintenance contracts or pay-as-you-go, with options ranging from individual computer products to a fully outsourced IT department.
• Communications VoIP telephony solutions, telephone systems, and unified communications services including hosted and on-premise PBX options using Grandstream UCM Series IP PBX devices with license-free operation and support for up to 800 users.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of issues resolved within 4 hours of notification
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft Solutions Partner (Silver Server Platform) certification. Provides cloud services, Office 365 migrations, and Microsoft-based infrastructure solutions.
• GrandstreamcoreTechnology or IntegrationProfessional certification for Grandstream Unified Communication Manager IP PBX range. Grandstream devices are 'all in the box' solutions with license-free operation, integrated firewall, NAT router, and extensive telephony features supporting up to 800 users.
• StoragecraftcoreTechnology or IntegrationBusiness continuity and disaster recovery partnership. Storagecraft solutions restore servers and workstations in minutes rather than hours or days, providing seamless continuity through mirrored systems.
• VinFastmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLN partnered with VinFast (alongside Gentari) to establish regional high-speed EV charging corridors in Southeast Asia, part of the transformation of traditional fuel stations into multi-modal power hubs.
• GentarimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLN partnered with Gentari (alongside VinFast) to establish regional high-speed EV charging corridors in Southeast Asia.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Direct peers

• ramsac: ramsac is a UK-based managed IT services provider focused on SMEs, offering managed support, cloud, and cyber security across the South East. It is directly comparable to PLN as a regional UK MSP delivering outsourced IT, cloud, and communications to similar small/medium business customers.
• Netstar UK: Netstar is a UK IT support and managed services company for small and medium businesses, providing remote monitoring, cloud, and on-site engineering. It directly competes with PLN for the same Cheshire/London SMB customer profile with similar recurring support contracts.
• The PC Support Group: The PC Support Group is a UK managed IT services provider focused on SMEs in the North of England, offering cloud, support, VoIP, and cyber security. It is a direct regional competitor to PLN, sharing the same North-West/SMB customer focus and in-house engineering delivery model.
• Cantium Business Services: Cantium provides IT managed services, cloud, and connectivity to UK schools, academies, and public sector organisations. It is comparable to PLN specifically on the education vertical, where PLN also delivers managed IT to Cheshire schools and colleges.
• Littlefish: Littlefish is a UK managed IT services and cyber security provider serving mid-market and SMB customers with 24/7 support, cloud, and infrastructure management. It is directly comparable to PLN in delivering outsourced IT department services to UK SMEs via an in-house engineering model.
• Blue Chip Data Systems: Blue Chip Data Systems is a UK managed IT services provider offering IT support, cloud, and Microsoft 365 services to small and medium businesses. It directly competes with PLN in the UK SMB managed services segment with similar Microsoft-centric delivery.

Others

• ConnectWise: ConnectWise is a leading PSA/RMM software platform for managed service providers globally, including UK MSPs. It is comparable as an enabling technology layer that PLN and similar SMB-focused MSPs rely on to deliver managed services and remote monitoring.
• Kaseya: Kaseya provides IT management and remote monitoring software (RMM) used by managed service providers worldwide, including UK MSPs like PLN. It is an enabling platform/vendor to PLN rather than a competitor, but is central to the broader SMB MSP ecosystem PLN operates in.

Broad incumbents

• Six Degrees Group: Six Degrees is a UK-wide cloud, managed services, and connectivity provider serving mid-market and enterprise customers. It overlaps with PLN across managed IT and cloud services but operates at significantly greater scale and national geographic reach.
• Babble (Cloud9/Connect): Babble is a UK unified communications and cloud services provider serving SMB and mid-market customers with hosted VoIP, contact centre, and managed cloud. It is comparable to PLN's communications/VoIP pillar, but offers a broader portfolio at national scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/plnetworks
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NetworkMaintenance
• Facebookfacebook.com/PL-Networks-141483245933578
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/p&l-networks/about

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PLN