Company Spotlight: Planet IT

Milton Park shines a spotlight on Planet IT, a managed IT services provider helping businesses to streamline their technology infrastructure, from cybersecurity to cloud solutions.

Named one of the UK’s best companies to work for, Planet IT delivers technology strategy, specialist cybersecurity support and project management for clients across the globe from their Milton Park headquarters.

From car washes to cloud services

Planet IT started in 2003 when childhood friends Sean Smith and Gavin Jones launched the business using a borrowed credit card.

They met at school in Blackbird Leys, Oxford (they were also classmates with Henna from Planted Plates) and showed their entrepreneurial spirit early on. At just 12 years old, they started a car washing business to earn money for fishing gear and a Nintendo Game Boy.

Two decades later, the friends’ entrepreneurial spirit has flourished into a business of 100 employees. The company manages IT for thousands of users, supporting clients from Milton Park occupiers like Immunocore and New England Biolabs to the BBC and the Royal Household.

The pair started out selling hardware but shifted into managed services 12 years ago. This pivot allowed them to deliver comprehensive IT support, becoming a trusted partner for organisations that need enterprise-level technology without the cost of large in-house teams.

The people behind the technology

For Planet IT, success isn’t just measured in technical expertise, it’s team spirit. Dozens of employees have been with the company for over a decade, creating what they describe as “a big family”. That longevity is mirrored in their client relationships, with many customers staying loyal for over a decade.

This culture is reinforced through monthly employee awards, annual employee recognition events and regular charity days. They even went as far as surprising its founders with a celebration at Oxford Town Hall to commemorate its 20-year anniversary.

Barry O’Brien, Marketing Director, explains: “Having a group of 60-plus engineers isn’t possible for most businesses. However, we’ve become an extension of our clients’ teams, giving them access to in-house expertise they wouldn’t otherwise have.”

Investment in people is central to Planet IT’s strategy. Helping them to stay ahead of emerging threats and technologies, regular training has become particularly important in a rapidly evolving online landscape.

Planet IT’s approach to its employees has earned recognition beyond Milton Park. The company was recently named the Best Small Company to Work For in the UK, Best Company to Work For in the South East and the Best Technology Company to Work For in the UK.

A natural move to Milton Park

As the company grew, it built a life sciences niche. Moving to Milton Park brought them closer to clients, at the heart of a connected innovation community. Barry adds: “We had clients here and needed to expand. Being just next door to those companies makes a real difference because we can be there in minutes if a situation arises.”

Building relationships across the Park

That proximity has transformed how Planet IT works with clients. Its engineers understand the unique challenges facing life sciences companies, whether handling sensitive data or maintaining uptime for critical laboratory systems.

For companies developing groundbreaking therapies or scientific research, IT infrastructure is about so much more than emails and file storage. They need complex systems which protect intellectual property, are regulation compliant and run without interruption.

The company makes full use of the Park’s amenities, from the Bee House to the green spaces for team building. They also take advantage of Milton Park’s urban gardens, where they grow vegetables which is shared amongst staff.

Being surrounded by tech and science innovators has created unexpected opportunities. Conversations over a coffee and chance meetings in Bee House’s shared spaces have led to new partnerships and a deeper understanding of client challenges.

Barry notes: “The transport connections are really convenient, but it’s the community feel that’s kept us here. Being surrounded by tech and science innovators gives us a leg up. When you’re just next door to potential clients, conversations happen naturally.”

Looking ahead

As Planet IT looks toward the future, the company hopes to become one of Milton Park’s major employers and a place that every local business recognises and trusts.

It also hopes to play a bigger part in the Milton Park community by supporting local events, building partnerships with neighbouring businesses and continuing to invest in the area we call home.

Barry reflects: “In three years, I’d love to see us even more embedded in the Park, with a bigger team and stronger connections across the community. From that borrowed credit card to where we are now, we’ve built something special here over 23 years. Milton Park feels like home and we’re really excited to grow alongside it.”