PHS Datashred, the confidential data destruction division of the £400 million PHS Group, has continued its national expansion by purchasing Shred Secure.
PHS Datashred is on the acquisition trail and has attained Shred Secure, a £1.2 million turnover business based in Milton Keynes. The deal follows this month's acquisition of Shred Easy, a £7 million turnover company.
The company now has 15 destruction centres nationally to service their growing professional services client base.
Anthony Pearlgood, commercial director of PHS Datashred, said:
"Our aim this year is to own the shredding market nationally. This acquisition means, in the last few weeks, we have cornered the market in Milton Keynes and Manchester.
"We're always looking at opportunities to expand and Shred Secure fitted perfectly with our growth strategy.
"Our growth is down to the fact that business identity fraud is on the rise and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has imposed fines on businesses guilty of breaching the Data Protection Act. Shredding is a permanent way to alleviate this problem.
"We will offer our new and existing customers in Milton Keynes improved service levels, enhanced security standards, a more flexible range of services - including both on and off site shredding and recycling and waste disposal services."
Russell Harris, former managing director of Shred Secure, said:
"This acquisition is the result of nine years of work. We have built up a solid client base and are known for offering secure confidential data destruction services. We already have a good working relationship with PHS Datashred as we have worked together on numerous projects and have similar values and offerings.
"Many of our employees will also continue to work at the Milton Keynes centre; I have been employed as Head of Communications. This will offer clients consistency and added security expertise as I am the Chairman of the BSIA (British Security Industry Association) Information Destruction Section, having taken over from Anthony Pearlgood, who is now Vice Chairman."
Each year, identity fraud in the UK costs more than £2.7 billion and affects over 1.8 million people, according to recent figures from the National Fraud Authority (NFA).