Telecoms firm TenTel rings up £170,000 funding

Daniel Halliday plans to expand the TenTel team. Picture: Contributed

The Selkirk company, launched last year, said it was also planning a move to larger premises as part of its ambitious growth targets, with a location set to be announced towards the end of the year.

Head of finance Daniel Halliday said the award of a £170,000 Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant would enable the firm – which currently employs about 50 people – to create more than 40 jobs as it targets more customers. Over the next 12 months, TenTel is aiming to sign up 50,000 more customers and increase its team to more than 100 full-time staff.

Halliday said: “We have been very well supported by Scottish Enterprise and the RSA funding is extremely important to our future. It is critical that we are able to build a strong and well-trained team able to deliver the highest standards of customer service.

This funding will be transformational to the pace at which we can grow our team and continue to serve our customers. We’ve already created a number of great job opportunities and this funding will allow us to create even more as we grow our business in the future.”

TenTel offers broadband and telephone services without a contract, aiming to take on “big four” providers BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin.

Anke Heggie, senior director for company growth support at Scottish Enterprise, said: “We are delighted to have been able to support TenTel in their growth ambitions. This funding is set to generate exponential growth by accelerating market penetration.”

The company was founded by Canadian-born entrepreneur PJ Darling, who also set up Spark Energy, the Selkirk-based gas and electricity provider that also focuses on the rental sector. In February, energy regulator Ofgem said Spark would pay Citizens Advice £250,000 after a probe found the firm had breached switching rules and complaint-handling regulations.