A HORWICH-based IT company has been acquired by a London digital agency in a deal to develop a north-south business partnership.

MDB Consulting which works in web and mobile services has been bought by Skyron Ltd to improve the two firms’ geographical reach and increase their client base.

MDB Consulting, based in Victoria Road, specialises in Microsoft technologies and mobile applications while Skyron focuses on digital marketing and user-experience work.

The new arrangement means the two firms will be able to offer their clients a full technology and marketing service.

The acquisition was a strategic plan for Martin Bell, MDB’s managing director.

The 36-year-old said: “We currently have seven staff in Horwich and are looking to expand in the coming year.

“We’ve had our ups and downs over the 10 years of our existence, including the administration of our biggest client in the credit crunch of 2008, which could have put us out of business.

“However, now we’re a stronger organisation, with better experience and a much more varied client base, from start-ups to multi-nationals.

“The impact of our deal with Skyron has been fantastic, giving us access to larger clients, implementing better management processes and providing opportunities to grow.”

Mr Bell grew up in Bromley Cross and went to Turton High School.

He did not go to university and instead started his career with British Aerospace (BAe) at Warton.

He said: “BAe gave me fantastic training. I owe it a massive debt for its culture of self-improvement and skills training.”

After BAe he worked for Logica, a large IT consultancy, and around the country for several financial institutions as a consultant.

Now married with two young children, he said: “I’m extremely keen to support the local economy and raise the awareness of the amount of opportunities open to budding software designers and developers in the North West and across the UK.”

Skyron managing director Gareth Phillips said “As a combined team we have an extremely strong offering with a variety of technical and marketing services and the ability to gain new business from existing clients.

“Having offices in the north will greatly enhance our ability to cater for clients nationwide.”

Skyron has a list of combined clients including Nestlé, Compass, KPMG and Centaur Media. It said the benefit of a Bolton office is lower rental costs, access to northern towns and cities and the expertise of the Bolton team.

Skyron works in technical and communications work for sectors including financial and professional services, IT, publishing, fast-moving consumer goods and education.

Its technical systems are designed to increase revenues, reduce costs, automate processes, “humanise” high-tech communications and share expertise with new audiences.