SSE Audio Group
SSE Audio Group, operating as Solotech UK, is the largest UK audiovisual services supplier, offering equipment rental, sales, systems integration, managed services, crew staffing, and studios to corporate, institutional, and entertainment clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SSE Audio Group does
SSE Audio Group operates as the UK subsidiary of Canadian-headquartered Solotech Group, delivering professional audiovisual services across equipment rental, equipment sales, systems integration, managed services, crew staffing, and studio rental. Founded in 1976 and now rebranded under the Solotech identity, the company describes itself as the largest UK supplier in the audiovisual sector, with three regional offices in Redditch, Heywood, and Park Royal supporting nationwide coverage. Its customer base is segmented across Business Solutions (corporate events, retail, and enterprises), Institutions and Communities (healthcare, government, education, transportation, and houses of worship), and Media and Entertainment (music touring, live venues, broadcast, film, sports venues, and creative studios).
The company's technology platform combines physical audiovisual inventory (audio, video, lighting, and accessories sold through its e-commerce shop at shop.solotech.com) with a software layer that includes the LiveSphere streaming platform for live event broadcasting, the Axess online portal for service management, and Service+ real-time monitoring for installed AV systems. Systems integration spans videoconferencing and collaboration systems, Microsoft Teams Rooms integration, digital signage and video walls, projection, command and control centres, audio systems and acoustics, architectural lighting, broadcast and streaming infrastructure, and rigging. Managed services are delivered through multi-year service plans, repair workshops, and a dedicated Microsoft Teams Rooms helpdesk.
Revenue is generated through usage-based equipment rental, hardware sales via the e-commerce storefront, project-based professional services for systems integration and crew solutions, and recurring managed service contracts. Go-to-market is sales-led with field sales presence through the three UK offices targeting enterprise clients in live event production and systems integration, complemented by direct-to-customer equipment sales through the online shop. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is custom-quoted based on project scope, equipment specification, and contract duration. The company currently employs between 251 and 500 people and operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Solotech Group.
SSE Audio Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SSE Audio Group
- Legal name
- SSE Audio Group
- Website
- https://sseaudio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- SSE Audio Group, operating as Solotech UK, is the largest UK audiovisual services supplier, offering equipment rental, sales, systems integration, managed services, crew staffing, and studios to corporate, institutional, and entertainment clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SSE Audio Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Audiovisual Services
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Sound Recording Studios (512240), Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Backline & Musical Instrument Rentals (Concert/Performance Support) (THAHAEAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Audio-Visual Equipment Rentals (Sound, Projection, Screens) (HSACAFAF), Hybrid/Virtual Meetings Production & AV Services (THACAFAM), Pro Audio Equipment (Mics, Interfaces, Mixers, Studio Monitors) (MPAIAJAB)
Keywords
Where SSE Audio Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
SSE Audio Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Equipment Rental/Hire: Sound, video, and lighting equipment rental for live events, tours, and productions. Core business since 1976.
- Equipment Sales: Sale of audio, video, lighting equipment and accessories through e-commerce shop
- Systems Integration: Design and installation of audiovisual systems for venues, corporate facilities, and institutions
- Managed Services: Ongoing service plans, repair workshops, and maintenance services for AV equipment
- Crew Solutions: Technical crew staffing for live events and productions
- Studios Rental: Professional studio rental for recordings and productions
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quoting for enterprise and project-based services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
SSE Audio Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SSE Audio Group provides professional audiovisual solutions to UK clients, renting out audio, lighting, video and rigging equipment, delivering live event production services, designing and installing permanent AV systems in venues, and operating long-term on-site managed AV services. Customers range from touring artists, broadcasters and corporates to education, theatre, sports, worship and public sector venues.
Product overview
SSE Audio, now part of Solotech Group, operates as a comprehensive audiovisual technology provider offering a platform of products and services. The portfolio consists of three main pillars: (1) Live Productions covering audio, video, touring lighting, crew solutions, the LiveSphere streaming platform, and studios rental; (2) Systems Integration including videoconferencing, Microsoft Teams Rooms, digital signage, projection, command & control centres, audio systems & acoustics, architectural lighting, broadcast and streaming, rigging and infrastructures, and AV consultation; and (3) Managed Services featuring Axess online portal, Service+ real-time monitoring, Microsoft Teams Rooms helpdesk, service plans, and repair workshops. The company also retails a full range of audio, video, lighting, and accessory equipment through its online shop. Established in 1976, SSE Audio forms the largest UK supplier in the audiovisual sector, with offices in Redditch (West Midlands), Heywood (Greater Manchester), and Park Royal (London).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use SSE Audio Group
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SSE Audio Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SSE Audio Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Solotech GroupflagshipSSE Audio was acquired by and now operates as part of the global Solotech Group. Solotech is a global leader in audiovisual technologies with operations spanning UK, Canada, US, and internationally. This partnership provides SSE Audio with international resources and backing while maintaining its UK market leadership position.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SSE Audio Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Adlib Audio: UK-based audio, lighting, and AV rental company with strong presence in live sound, installations, and event production. Highly comparable in scale and service mix to SSE Audio Group.
- PRG (Production Resource Group): One of the world's largest providers of rental production services for live events, entertainment, and broadcast. Directly competes with SSE Audio across audio, video, lighting rental, and crew staffing for touring and live productions.
- Britannia Row Productions: UK-based live audio rental and production company serving music tours, festivals, and corporate events. Direct competitor to SSE Audio in the UK live sound market.
- Clair Global: Global provider of live sound reinforcement, lighting, and video production services for tours, festivals, and corporate events. Comparable to SSE Audio's live production business model.
- Hawthorn (now part of PSAV/Encore): UK-based supplier of technical production for live events, including audio, video, lighting, and rigging. Direct competitor in the UK corporate and live event production market.
Others
- Crestron Electronics: Manufacturer of AV control and collaboration systems. Adjacent to SSE Audio's systems integration practice as a key vendor and ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.
Broad incumbents
- NEP Group: Global outsourced technical production partner for broadcast, sports, and live events. Comparable in scale and turnkey AV production services, though with a stronger broadcast tilt.
- AVI-SPL: Large global provider of AV systems integration, collaboration, and managed services for enterprise and institutional clients. Overlaps with SSE Audio's systems integration and managed services pillars.
- Solotech Group: Global parent company of SSE Audio and one of the largest AV technology providers worldwide. While not a peer in the strict sense, the parent operations in Canada and the US provide a comparable benchmark for AV services scale.
Regional players
- Anbrico (formerly part of White Light Group): UK-based lighting, audio, and AV equipment rental and production company serving theatre, events, and broadcast. Comparable UK-focused peer with overlapping equipment rental and live production services.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SSE Audio Group social profiles
Digital presenceSSE Audio Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SSE Audio Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
SSE Audio Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SSE Audio Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SSE Audio Group
What does SSE Audio Group do?
SSE Audio Group provides professional audiovisual solutions to UK clients, renting out audio, lighting, video and rigging equipment, delivering live event production services, designing and installing permanent AV systems in venues, and operating long-term on-site managed AV services. Customers range from touring artists, broadcasters and corporates to education, theatre, sports, worship and public sector venues.
Is SSE Audio Group a public or private company?
SSE Audio Group is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was SSE Audio Group founded?
SSE Audio Group was founded in 1976. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is SSE Audio Group based?
SSE Audio Group is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does SSE Audio Group make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Equipment Rental/Hire is the primary driver. The others are equipment Sales, systems Integration, managed Services, crew Solutions and studios Rental.
Who are SSE Audio Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Adlib Audio, PRG (Production Resource Group), Britannia Row Productions, Clair Global and Hawthorn (now part of PSAV/Encore). Crestron Electronics is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are NEP Group, AVI-SPL and Solotech Group. Anbrico (formerly part of White Light Group) is listed as a regional player.
Does SSE Audio Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for SSE Audio Group.
What industry is SSE Audio Group in?
SSE Audio Group's product category is Professional Audiovisual Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHAEAL, Backline & Musical Instrument Rentals (Concert/Performance Support), with a secondary code of HSACAFAF, Audio-Visual Equipment Rentals (Sound, Projection, Screens). Its NAICS code is 512 and its SIC code is 7350.