- Founded in 1988, Radiocoms is the UK’s largest independent provider of mission-critical communications systems, serving defence, emergency services and critical infrastructure;
- The business has delivered strong growth, reaching £38.7m turnover and double-digit EBITDA margins, supported by continued investment in engineering and advanced integrated technologies;
- The funding package will support Total Capital Partners’ investment, enabling CEO, Mark Blythe, to lead a management buyout alongside a targeted buy-and-build strategy;
- The UK critical communications market is supported by structural demand from defence, infrastructure and public safety, driving increasing need for integrated, technology-led solutions[1].
London, 22 April, 2026: OakNorth, the digital bank for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs, has provided a bespoke funding package Total Capital Partners’ investment into the UK’s leading critical communications provider, Radiocoms.
Founded in 1988, Radiocoms is the UK’s largest independent provider of mission-critical communications and security networks, delivering integrated voice, video and data systems to customers across defence, emergency services, critical infrastructure and the public sector. The business has demonstrated rapid and profitable growth in recent years, achieving turnover of £38.7m at impressive double-digit EBITDA margins. Continued investment in technical and engineering capability ensures the business is the UK market leader in delivering increasingly complex integrated systems, including AI-driven command centre software, cellular and satellite networks, security systems, body worn video and smart sensors.
Total Capital Partners’ investment provides the backing for CEO, Mark Blythe, to lead a management buyout from the founding shareholders. Total Capital has backed a plan to accelerate the growth of the business both organically and via acquisition, with a targeted buy-and-build strategy already in place and additional funding support committed to underpin this growth. The investment will support Radiocoms’ next phase of growth, including expanding its presence across defence and critical infrastructure markets, investing in new technologies, and executing its acquisition strategy.
Commenting on the announcement, Mark Blythe, CEO of Radiocoms, said: “This is a very important milestone for Radiocoms. Demand for complex and resilient communications systems has never been greater, and as a result of this investment from Total Capital, we are now extremely well positioned to accelerate our growth, expand our capabilities and continue to deliver outstanding solutions for our customers. From the outset, OakNorth demonstrated a deep understanding of our business and the dynamics of sponsor-backed transactions. Their experience in supporting management buyouts, combined with their speed, flexibility and ability to deliver certainty of execution, made them a highly valued partner throughout the process.”
Commenting on the announcement, Paul Brown, Partner at Total Capital, said: “We are delighted to partner with Mark Blythe and the Radiocoms team. They have built the clear market leader in the critical communications sector. We look forward to supporting the team as they continue their strong growth trajectory and develop the business into the leading market consolidator in UK and Europe. “Having worked with OakNorth on this transaction, we were impressed by the team’s expertise in sponsor-led and private equity-backed deals. Their pragmatic and responsive approach, combined with their ability to move quickly and structure a flexible solution, was instrumental in successfully delivering this investment.”
Dale Cowdell, Director of Debt Finance at OakNorth also commented: “We’re delighted to have supported Total Capital and the management team on this transaction. Radiocoms is a high-quality, market-leading business operating in a mission-critical sector, with a strong track record of growth and innovation. It was a pleasure to work alongside such a strong group of Midlands advisers to deliver this deal, and we look forward to supporting Total Capital and the Radiocoms team as they execute their ambitious growth strategy.”
ENDS
Notes of Editors
[1] IndustryARC – Critical Communication Market
OakNorth
Launched in September 2015, OakNorth is the bank for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs. It was founded to address the persistent funding gap facing lower mid-market businesses – a segment that accounts for a significant share of economic output yet remains underserved by traditional banks.
To date, OakNorth has provided over $20bn in lending to thousands of entrepreneur-led businesses across the UK and US, supporting the creation of more than 70,000 jobs and generating more than £40bn in economic value. Throughout multiple economic cycles, the bank has maintained a highly disciplined approach to credit, delivering performance metrics that place it among the top 1% of commercial banks globally.
It is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Visit www.oaknorth.co.uk for more information.
Total Capital Partners
Total Capital is one of the UK’s first independent sponsors, focused on investing in lower mid-market businesses and partnering closely with management teams to drive growth and long-term value creation.
The firm has a partnership-led approach, supporting a range of transaction types including buyouts, growth capital and minority deals, typically with a funding requirement up to £50m. It is able to provide flexible funding packages, including both equity and debt, and works alongside management teams to scale businesses through organic growth and strategic acquisitions.
Operating as an independent sponsor since 2013, Total Capital has established a strong track record, backed by leading institutional investors, with a focus on operational value creation and delivering attractive risk-adjusted returns.
Radiocoms
Radiocoms is the UK’s leading critical communications partner, specialising in the design, engineering, deployment and maintenance of highly resilient voice, video and data communications networks. It focuses on clients who operate in mission-critical settings and have complex communication infrastructure requirements in sectors such as defence, emergency services, government and infrastructure.
[1] IndustryARC – Critical Communication Market