Peterborough media company to create 100 jobs with ambitious expansion plan

Bosses of Media One Communications, based in Accent Park, Bakewell Road, in Orton Southgate, say they aim to double the size of the business over the next year and double it again the following year.

The company, which was founded in 1997 by its current chief executive Robert Nisbet, specialises in magazine creation and distribution and counts quality, niche publications from Primary Times to Houseproud and Your Build in its portfolio.

It currently employs 60 people but Mr Nisbet says he plans to create 100 new jobs over the next three years.

He said: “The company has just celebrated its 20th anniversary and now we are focused on a major expansion.”

Mr Nisbet said the growth plans were being driven by the acquisition of the UK’s most successful franchised magazine, Primary Times, and the appointment as managing director of Chris Pennock, a veteran of media publishing and a skilled business leader.

The purchase of Primary Times, which involves distributing 2.7 million copies to 11,749 primary schools across the UK, has sent the company’s turnover soaring by £8 million to £11 million a year.

Both Mr Nisbet and Mr Pennock are veterans of the former media publishing giant EMAP, which once owned the Peterborough Evening Telegraph.

Mr Nisbet said: “We both remember the heyday of EMAP - it was a tremendously exciting time and I guess we are looking to recreate something a similar. There is still a lot of life left in print.”

He added: “Primary Times is the most successful franchised magazine in the UK and we’re looking to replicate that with Houseproud, which we want to launch in 100 market towns around Britain.”

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