COMPUTER firm Skillsgroup is still on the acquisition trail.

The firm said it was looking to buy more businesses this year after spending £34 million on Pontis Consulting.

The acquisition by the firm, which began life as P and P Computers, in Haslingden, was the latest in a series of deals by the group aimed at focusing its business on specialist computer services. David Southworth, chairman of Skillsgroup, said: "This is an extremely important acquisition that adds a highly profitable, professional and progressive specialist consulting operation to Skillsgroup."

Since 1998, the company has sold six businesses, Mr Southworth said. The cash raised is now being spent on a series of acquisitions.

Last week the company also bought The Knowledge Centre, a UK-based data communications and education company, for around £3.85 million. And Mr Southworth said Skillsgroup is still looking to acquire more businesses this year.

Pontis is a system design and integration consulting company, supplying large financial institutions with complex IT systems. It has about 100 staff in Buckinghamshire, Manchester, the Netherlands and California.

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