Strive Capital has acquired technology solutions provider Jigsaw24, bringing the Nottingham-based company together with Academia Group to create a UK technology services business generating approximately £350m in combined annual revenue.
The acquisition gives Strive ownership of two established technology suppliers with complementary activities across hardware procurement, managed IT services, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and professional services.
Jigsaw24 was sold by private equity investor Alcuin Capital, which had backed the business since 2018. The financial consideration and valuation attached to the transaction have not been disclosed.
The acquisition extends the geographical and customer coverage of Academia Group, whose existing operations serve education, public-sector, and commercial customers. Jigsaw24 brings a substantial presence in enterprise technology supply, with particular expertise in Apple products and supporting services.
Both businesses also maintain established relationships with technology companies including Microsoft and Adobe. Those supplier arrangements support the procurement, deployment, and ongoing management of technology used by customers across different industries.
Jigsaw24 has developed expertise in commercial computing environments, including those used by creative production, media, and design organisations. Its services extend beyond equipment supply to technical implementation, maintenance, managed services, and infrastructure support.
Academia’s activities include educational technology, workplace IT, and support for organisations managing sizeable technology estates. Combining the businesses extends the enlarged group’s ability to provide equipment alongside services required throughout the operational life of those products.
The companies will initially continue operating as separate legal entities, retaining their existing workforces, management teams, customer relationships, and strategic supplier partnerships. Opportunities for greater collaboration will be developed as the group assesses how to integrate complementary services.
Maintaining those arrangements is important in a sector where supplier accreditations, procurement frameworks, and longstanding customer contracts can influence how a technology reseller operates. A change in ownership does not automatically consolidate the contractual relationships held by separate businesses.
Strive Capital owner Andrew Harman has identified recurring services income as an important part of the group’s strategy. Managed services, cybersecurity, and cloud activities account for more than half of revenue across its services portfolio, according to Academia’s transaction information.
That recurring services measure applies to the relevant portfolio rather than the enlarged group’s entire £350m turnover. Hardware procurement and other transactional activities remain part of the commercial offering.
Recurring contracts can provide greater visibility over future income because customers purchase support, management, and technical services over defined periods. Equipment sales, by comparison, can fluctuate according to replacement cycles, customer investment programmes, and procurement decisions.
For organisations purchasing technology, the combination offers access to a wider service range through businesses that already supply hardware and provide technical support. This includes customers seeking to manage complex equipment estates alongside security, cloud infrastructure, and ongoing maintenance.
The transaction follows Academia’s earlier acquisition of Smartdesc, which expanded its managed services capabilities. Jigsaw24 adds further scale and strengthens the group’s position across commercial and public-sector technology markets.
Jigsaw24 chief executive David Dudman and Academia Group managing director Mark McCormack will continue leading their respective businesses following completion.
The sale also marks Alcuin Capital’s exit after eight years of ownership. During that period, Jigsaw24 expanded its service offering and developed its management structure, with Alcuin supporting the business’s development beyond its original founders.
The £350m combined revenue figure is confirmed by Academia, Alcuin Capital, and transaction adviser Osborne Clarke. The enlarged group will now operate through two established businesses under common ownership, with further integration directed towards their technology services capabilities.
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