Flex IT

What Flex IT does

Flex IT (legally Flex Managed Services Limited) is a managed service provider headquartered in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, United Kingdom, offering outsourced IT support to small and mid-sized businesses across Shropshire and surrounding counties. The firm traces its origin to 1998 as the internal IT department of Dyke Yaxley, a Shropshire accountancy practice, and was spun out as a separate entity in May 2013 before rebranding as Flex IT in 2014. It operates with approximately ten team members, including Director Adrian Key (with the company for over 30 years) and Director Matt Childerhouse, supported by senior systems engineers, helpdesk engineers, and apprentices.

The company's core product is a bundled managed IT services package that combines helpdesk support, proactive systems monitoring, backup and recovery, hardware and software procurement, cybersecurity, internet connectivity, and VoIP telephony — positioned as a single-source alternative to an in-house IT department. The technology stack is built entirely on third-party platforms: Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Azure for productivity and cloud, Hyper-V virtualization on Dell PowerEdge servers, CrowdStrike Falcon Complete MDR for managed detection and response, WatchGuard firewalls and AuthPoint MFA, Proofpoint for email security, 8x8 for VoIP, Ubiquiti UniFi for Wi-Fi, Redstor for backup, and NinjaOne for remote monitoring. Specialist add-ons include Cyber Essentials certification, Microsoft Azure migration, and 8x8-powered VoIP with flexible month-to-month subscriptions.

Flex IT generates revenue through recurring managed services subscriptions supplemented by hardware and software pass-through sales and project-based professional services. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; cloud services use a pay-as-you-go model and VoIP is offered on month-to-month terms. The go-to-market is direct, relationship-led field sales targeting SMEs across multiple verticals — professional services, legal, financial services and insurance, hospitality and leisure, manufacturing, software providers, and sports associations. Marketing is content-led via blog, case studies, and earned media, with named customers including Lion & Pheasant Hotel, The Boathouse Inn, an independent contact lens provider, the League Managers' Association, and the Professional Cricketers' Association.

Name

Flex IT

Legal name

Flex Managed Services Limited

Website

https://flexit.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Flex IT is a Shrewsbury-based managed service provider offering outsourced IT support, cybersecurity, cloud, and hardware procurement to SMEs across Shropshire and surrounding counties, operating since 1998 with approximately ten staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Shrewsbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Managed IT Services: Recurring managed services contracts providing ongoing IT support, monitoring, and maintenance. Services include proactive systems monitoring, system backup and recovery, cybersecurity solutions, and helpdesk support. Positioned as cost-effective alternative to in-house IT departments.
2. Hardware and Software Sales: Procurement and supply of hardware (Dell servers, laptops, workstations, WatchGuard firewalls, Ubiquiti access points, VoIP phones) and software (CrowdStrike, Microsoft 365, Proofpoint, 8x8 VoIP, Redstor backup). Revenue from product sales alongside service delivery.
3. Cyber Essentials Certification: Guided support and assessment services to achieve Cyber Essentials certification. Offers both assessment-only and guided support packages.
4. Security Services: Reactive incident response and proactive security protection services including rapid remediation, threat containment, and ongoing security monitoring.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Flex IT is a regional managed service provider that delivers outsourced IT department services to SMEs and mid-market organizations across Shropshire. Its core offering bundles IT support, hardware and software procurement, proactive systems monitoring, backup and recovery, cybersecurity, internet connectivity, and VoIP telephony into recurring managed service packages. Specialist add-on services include Microsoft 365 deployment, Microsoft Azure cloud migration, Cyber Essentials certification, and incident-response security services.

Product overview

Flex IT is a managed service provider (MSP) offering a suite of IT services positioned as a single-source alternative to an in-house IT department. The core offering is Managed IT Services, which bundles IT support, hardware/software procurement, cybersecurity, proactive monitoring, backup and recovery, internet connectivity, and VOIP into monthly packages. This core is supplemented by specialist add-on services: Cybersecurity Services (incident response and CrowdStrike-powered managed detection), Cyber Essentials Certification (government-backed security accreditation), Cloud Services / Azure Migration (server migration to Microsoft Azure), VOIP (8x8-powered internet telephony), Internet Connectivity (broadband management), Software and Hardware Supply (Dell, WatchGuard, Ubiquiti, HP, and other brand procurement), and Remote Support (secure remote access portal). Microsoft 365 is a central pillar, serving as both a standalone productivity suite and a platform enabling the other services (Teams, OneDrive, Intune, eDiscovery, SharePoint). The portfolio is structured around managed services as the umbrella, with named specialist modules that Flex IT sells, configures, and supports.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Managed IT Services Comprehensive outsourced IT department service bundling IT support, hardware and software procurement, proactive systems monitoring, backup and recovery, cybersecurity, internet connectivity, and VOIP telephony for SME and mid-market clients.
• Microsoft 365 Setup, migration, and ongoing management of the Microsoft 365 cloud productivity and collaboration suite, including Teams, Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Intune, with built-in security features such as multifactor authentication, advanced threat protection, and data loss prevention.
• Cybersecurity Services Security services covering rapid incident response and remediation, proactive threat prevention, and 24/7 AI-driven managed detection and response via CrowdStrike Falcon Complete MDR across the full attack surface.
• Cyber Essentials Certification Government-backed Cyber Essentials certification programme delivered as assessment-only or guided support packages, typically achievable in two working days, helping businesses protect against phishing, ransomware, and other common cyber threats.
• Cloud Services / Microsoft Azure Migration Migration of on-premise servers to Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure with flexible subscription-based pricing, providing scalable, secure hosting, reduced hardware costs, and high availability.
• Internet Connectivity Broadband and internet connectivity services covering needs assessment, provider selection, hardware setup, and ongoing management, delivered as a single point of contact alongside wider managed services.
• VOIP Voice over Internet Protocol telephony delivered in partnership with 8x8, providing internet-based phone systems with call forwarding, voicemail, video calls, and unified communications on flexible month-to-month subscriptions.
• Software and Hardware Supply Procurement and supply of hardware (Dell servers, laptops, workstations; WatchGuard firewalls; DrayTek routers; Ubiquiti UniFi access points and switches; HP peripherals; VoIP phones and headsets) and software (CrowdStrike antivirus, Microsoft 365, Proofpoint email security, 8x8 VoIP, WatchGuard AuthPoint MFA, Redstor cloud backup) at competitive prices through industry partnerships.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cyber Essentials certification achievable in as little as two working days
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration24 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft partner providing Microsoft 365, Azure cloud services, and related Microsoft solutions. Flagship strategic technology partner enabling delivery of Microsoft's productivity and cloud platform.
• WatchGuardcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner for firewall solutions and WatchGuard AuthPoint MFA. Provides security hardware and multi-factor authentication technology integrated into managed security services.
• DellcoreTechnology or IntegrationLongstanding partnership for sourcing Dell servers, laptops, and workstations at highly competitive prices. Hardware procurement partner enabling provision of quality endpoint and server hardware.
• UbiquitisecondaryTechnology or IntegrationUniFi products used for Wi-Fi solutions including long-range access points and PoE switches. Technical partnership for wireless networking implementations.
• CrowdStrikecoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides Falcon Complete MDR (Managed Detection and Response) combining AI-driven technology with expert human oversight for 24/7 security monitoring.
• ProofpointsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationEmail security solutions provider. Used for email continuity service during migrations and ongoing email security protection.
• 8x8coreTechnology or IntegrationVoIP telephony partner providing voice communication over internet. Delivers flexible, scalable phone solutions with unified communication capabilities.
• RedstorsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationCloud backup solutions partner providing online backup services as part of comprehensive data protection offering.
• DrayTeksecondaryTechnology or IntegrationRouter solutions provider included in hardware portfolio for connectivity and network infrastructure deployments.
• Cyber EssentialscoreTechnology or IntegrationGovernment-backed cybersecurity certification scheme. Flex IT provides certification services to clients and maintains their own certification.
• NinjaOnesecondaryTechnology or IntegrationRemote monitoring and management (RMM) platform partner providing tools for efficient managed service delivery.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Six Degrees Group: UK managed services and cloud provider delivering unified communications, managed IT and security to mid-market and enterprise. Overlaps with Flex IT in managed IT, VoIP, connectivity and security but at materially larger scale.
• ANS Group: UK managed cloud and digital services provider (formerly UKFast) covering cloud, security, managed IT and connectivity. Comparable to Flex IT on Microsoft cloud, security and managed-IT services, but with substantially larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Node4: Larger UK managed services, cloud and connectivity provider offering data-centre-grade infrastructure alongside managed IT. Comparable to Flex IT on managed-IT and Microsoft cloud services but operates at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Microsoft (as ecosystem incumbent): Hyperscaler whose Microsoft 365, Azure, Intune, security and Teams products underpin Flex IT's entire managed services portfolio. Listed as a peer because Microsoft's own managed-service offers (e.g., Microsoft 365 Defender, Azure Lighthouse) increasingly encroach on Flex IT's SME managed-security and cloud-management scope.

Direct peers

• Trustack: UK-based managed IT services and cybersecurity provider serving SMEs with Microsoft 365, cloud, backup and security. Comparable to Flex IT on bundled managed services, Microsoft stack and UK SME customer base.
• BCN Group: UK MSP delivering managed IT, cloud, connectivity and unified communications to SME and mid-market customers. Closely comparable to Flex IT on managed-services bundling, Microsoft productivity focus, and UK SME vertical coverage.
• Ultima Business Solutions: UK IT services and managed services company focused on Microsoft, Azure, security and business continuity for SME and mid-market clients. Comparable to Flex IT on Microsoft-centric service stack and managed-IT positioning for UK SMEs.
• Littlefish: UK-based managed IT services and support provider serving SMEs and mid-market clients with Microsoft 365, security, cloud and helpdesk offerings. Directly comparable to Flex IT in service portfolio, customer segment and Microsoft-centric delivery model.
• Xeretec: UK managed workplace and IT services provider focused on Microsoft 365, endpoint, print and cloud services for mid-market. Directly comparable to Flex IT on Microsoft 365 deployment, managed workplace services and UK SME/mid-market orientation.
• Air-IT: UK managed service provider offering managed IT support, cloud, security and connectivity to SMEs across multiple regions. Comparable to Flex IT on customer profile (UK SMEs), bundled managed-services model and Microsoft-led technology stack.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/flexit_ltd

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Flex IT