1st Computer Services

What 1st Computer Services does

1st Computer Services is a privately held, founder-owned UK managed service provider (MSP) headquartered in Fareham, Hampshire, with satellite engineering coverage in Kent and Coventry. Founded by Russell Messem and Steve, the firm now operates with a four-person team (Russell Messem as Managing Director, Brad Collyer, Ian Richardson, and Brad Smith) and has been delivering outsourced IT support to small and medium-sized businesses across Hampshire, Kent, Sussex and surrounding counties for over a decade. In 2025, co-founder Steve departed and Russell Messem assumed the Managing Director role to lead the company into its next phase.

The company's core product is a unified managed IT services portfolio: proactive IT support services including infrastructure auditing and security assessment, remote monitoring and management (RMM) delivered through industry-leading third-party RMM software covering PCs, laptops, servers, firewalls, routers and cloud backup, outsourced IT helpdesk support, business connectivity solutions (leased lines, 4G/5G, satellite, WiFi mesh, private site-to-site links), disaster recovery and business continuity planning, and IT hardware supply. Technology is sourced from third-party partners — 3CX (Bronze Partner) for telephony, ESET (Gold Partner) for endpoint security — and the firm is itself Cyber Essentials certified under the UK Government-backed scheme.

The business model combines recurring managed services subscription revenue (annual billing, quote-based following an initial audit of the client's IT environment) with hardware sales and project work. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, with no disclosed marketing or paid acquisition activity beyond a basic website, free resources content, and direct outreach via phone, email, and on-site visits. Customer segments are sub-50-employee SMBs in non-tech verticals (e.g., health food retail, animal feed, manufacturing), and the company is deliberately positioned as a strategic partner rather than a transactional vendor. No external funding has been raised and the firm is bootstrapped.

Name

1st Computer Services

Legal name

1st Computer Services

Website

https://1stcomputerservices.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

1st Computer Services is a privately held UK managed service provider headquartered in Fareham, Hampshire, delivering outsourced IT support, remote monitoring, connectivity, disaster recovery, and hardware supply to small and medium-sized businesses across Hampshire, Kent, Sussex and surrounding counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Managed IT Services

NAICS

Computer Facilities Management Services (541513), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Other Computer Related Services (541519)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Remote Monitoring & Management (RMM) Services (BPAEABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

ITSM Managed Services (Run/Operate/Optimize) (BPAEAJAN), Network Management (LAN/WAN/Wi‑Fi) Services (BPAEABAD), Data Security & Privacy Managed Services (DLP/Encryption) (BPAEADAL)

Keywords

• Managed IT services
• Outsourced IT support
• Remote monitoring management
• Business connectivity solutions
• Disaster recovery services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fareham

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Managed IT Support Services: Recurring IT support services delivered through strategic partnership model, including remote monitoring, helpdesk support, and on-site assistance as needed. Services are tailored to business needs following an audit of IT systems, connectivity, and security.
2. Hardware and Equipment Supply: Supply of IT hardware including desktop PCs, laptops, tablets, monitors, keyboards, servers, and TVs. Full service from research through sourcing, delivery, and installation.
3. Connectivity Solutions: Primary connectivity and secondary failover connectivity solutions including leased lines, 4G/5G, Satellite, and internal WiFi mesh or private connectivity between buildings.
4. Disaster Recovery Services: Disaster recovery planning and implementation, with services scaled to different business requirements from recovering specific files to complete data recovery following security breaches.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

1st Computer Services is an outsourced managed IT service provider (MSP) for small and mid-sized UK businesses. It delivers proactive IT support through Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) software, an outsourced helpdesk, on-site engineering, business connectivity (leased lines, 4G/5G, satellite, WiFi mesh), disaster recovery and business continuity, and IT hardware supply with sourcing and installation.

Product overview

1st Computer Services is an outsourced IT support company offering a unified portfolio of managed IT services. The core offerings include IT Support Services (infrastructure auditing, security, and strategic planning), Remote IT Support Services (RMM-based monitoring and outsourced helpdesk), Connectivity Services (leased lines, 4G/5G, satellite, WiFi mesh, and network solutions), Disaster Recovery Services (data backup, recovery, and business continuity), and Equipment Supply (hardware procurement and installation). These services are designed to work together to provide comprehensive IT support for businesses, from infrastructure planning through day-to-day operations and emergency response.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IT Support Services Professional IT support services including infrastructure auditing, security assessment, and tailored support solutions for business efficiency, resiliency, and security. Targeted at small and mid-sized UK businesses that need an outsourced IT partner.
• Remote IT Support Services Remote monitoring and management using industry-leading RMM software, providing proactive protection and an outsourced IT helpdesk for PCs, laptops, servers, firewalls, routers, and cloud backup. Includes a ticketing system that routes client issues to the most appropriate team member.
• Connectivity Services Business connectivity solutions including leased lines, 4G/5G and satellite connectivity, internal WiFi mesh, private connectivity between buildings, network solutions, mobile/telephone solutions, and business internet. Includes analysis of existing connectivity and tailored recommendations.
• Disaster Recovery Services Data protection and recovery solutions covering file recovery, complete business data recovery, security breach recovery, business continuity planning, and preventative approaches to data loss. Centralized control of all data enables timely, cost-effective recovery.
• Equipment Supply IT hardware sourcing, delivery, and installation services covering desktop PCs, laptops, tablets, monitors, keyboards, servers, and TVs. Full-service from research through sourcing, delivery, and installation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced downtime through proactive monitoring and preventative approach
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• 3CXcoreTechnology or Integration3CX Bronze Partner status. The company implements 3CX telecommunications solutions for clients, with team member Ian Richardson spearheading telecoms initiatives including 3CX implementation and providing support to clients in Kent.
• ESETcoreTechnology or IntegrationESET Gold Partner status. The partnership provides cybersecurity solutions and protection for client systems, with the company acting as a certified reseller and implementer of ESET security products.
• Cyber EssentialscoreTechnology or IntegrationCyber Essentials Certified status. UK Government-backed certification scheme that addresses cybersecurity fundamentals. The company has achieved this certification demonstrating commitment to cybersecurity best practices.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Netstar UK: Netstar is a UK-based IT support and managed services company focused on SMBs, providing helpdesk, remote monitoring, and strategic IT advice — directly comparable in scale, geography, and offering to 1st Computer Services.
• OryxAlign: OryxAlign is a London-based MSP serving SMB and mid-market clients with managed IT, cloud, and security services — comparable business model with similar strategic-advisor GTM motion to 1st CS.
• ramsac: ramsac is a long-established UK managed IT service provider serving SMBs with outsourced IT support, cloud services, and cybersecurity — almost identical business model, customer segment, and service portfolio to 1st Computer Services.
• Sapphire Systems (UK): Sapphire Systems provides managed IT services and business applications support to UK SMBs, with overlapping service lines including IT support, cloud, and connectivity consulting.
• Amicus ITS: Amicus ITS is a UK managed service provider offering IT support, cloud, and cybersecurity to SMBs — direct competitor with similar recurring services contract structure and proactive monitoring positioning.
• Taylor Made Computer Solutions: Taylor Made is a UK SMB-focused managed IT support and cybersecurity MSP, comparable in customer segment size and outsourced service model. Closely matches 1st CS's positioning around strategic partnership and proactive support.
• Cambridge Support: Cambridge Support is a UK outsourced IT support provider for small businesses offering remote monitoring, helpdesk, and cloud services — closely comparable regional MSP profile and customer base.

Broad incumbents

• SCC: SCC is one of Europe's largest independent IT services groups, offering managed services, support, and procurement — broad incumbent overlapping with 1st CS in SMB/outcomes-based managed IT, but operating across enterprise and SMB with much broader capabilities.
• Softcat: Softcat is a major UK IT infrastructure provider and reseller with managed services capabilities — broad incumbent that competes with 1st CS for SMB and mid-market managed support contracts, but operates at vastly larger scale with a portfolio-led model.
• Bechtle: Bechtle is a large European IT provider with managed services, hardware supply, and support across the UK market — broad incumbent competing with 1st CS's hardware resell and managed support offerings but at enterprise scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/1stcs.it
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1st-computer-services

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 1st Computer Services