Latest News
Community website innovator uses ELGIN roadworks API to grow services
1 March 2012Dark Group a technology services provider with offices in Hampshire and N. Ireland are the latest innovative company to take advantage of ELGIN’s API service for local roadworks.
Dark Group are developing several community based sites, such as Liphook in Hampshire where they integrate public sector information from several sources to provide community interest information to citizens and local businesses.
Managing Director, Mark Baker commented:
"Getting all our local roadworks information via ELGIN’s intelligent API, as well as rail information and other data which impacts upon local citizens and businesses enables us to build new services and grow as a company. We have 25,000 unique visitors per month to the first of our community sites, and we are intending to launch several more in the next several months."
ELGIN’s API services are available to help UK industry use public sector information to innovate and grow – see here for more details
By making the data available in intelligent format to innovative applications developers, sponsoring local authorities are also helping to drive the nation’s growth strategy by encouraging enterprise.
IT job search website launched
29 January 2012Following the acquisition of the domain name IT.co.uk in 2011, Dark Group announce the launch of a website specialising in IT jobs.
Providing a single directory of vacancies for those looking for a new career in IT, and a specialist advertising space for employers looking to recruit. IT.co.uk already lists over 199,000 IT related jobs in the UK, and is growing daily.
With what has to be one of the easiest to remember website addresses, IT.co.uk is set to become the place for IT Recruitment.
New YSH Managed Hosting Website
8 October 2011We are very pleased to announce that our managed hosting brand YSH has launched it's new website.
Existing customers will note that we've launched a client area, allowing more automated online ordering, management of existing orders, and a new support ticket system.
We're working hard over the next few weeks to transfer all client accounts and services to this new area, as part of a complete refresh of this brand.
SiteHQ acquired by the Dark Group
22 August 2011We are pleased to announce that hosting provider SiteHQ have today been acquired by the Dark Group, a hosting provider established in 1999, with a focus on quality and impeccable customer care.
We'd like to welcome Martin Hoscik, the previous Managing Director of SiteHQ to the Dark Group team, who joins us as a consultant working with us on the development and management of the SiteHQ brand.
Martin commented: "I'd like to thank all our customers for their loyal support over the years. I'm very excited to be working with Mark and the entire Dark Group team. I know they share my personal commitment to excellent customer services and quality hosting and these qualities meant they were always my first choice to take SiteHQ forward to the success I know it will enjoy in the future."
SiteHQ will continue to run as a separate brand, with Dark Group providing the investment needed to ensure you carry on receiving a fantastic service. We will be replacing old server hardware as required, and there will be no price or major service changes - it is very much business as normal.
This acquisition gives SiteHQ a very positive future, and we'll share our plans for new products with you shortly.
Short .uk domains being released
26 May 2011Nominet are releasing a number of previously reserved short domain names.
Full details of the process are available on the Nominet web site at http://www.nominet.org.uk.
If you would like to register or discuss a short domain name please contact our managed hosting brand, YSH, via www.ysh.co.uk or call 01428 404040.
Acquisition of generic domain name it.co.uk
13 May 2011Dark Group are pleased to announce that we have today acquired the domain name it.co.uk for an undisclosed sum from its original owner, who had first registered it back in 1994.
This is one of many high profile domain names owned by us, and is in line with further acquisitions planned for the remainder of the year by the group.
Telco.co.uk news & events website launched
21 January 2011Dark Group has today launched Telco.co.uk, a source of news and events for those involved in, or interested in the telecommunications industry.
For further information visit www.telco.co.uk
Disk space increase on all hosting packages
25 October 2010We are pleased to announce that we have increased the disk space on all of our hosting package, for both new and existing customers. Our bronze package is now just £40 + vat per year for 100Mb of fast UK webspace, with UK technical support.
For further information visit www.ysh.co.uk
.co Domain Names Launched
12 July 2010Register your .co domain name for just £35 + vat per year, with free web and e-mail forwarding, or add web hosting from just £40 per year.
For further information visit www.ysh.co.uk
Airport parking website acquired
1 January 2010Dark Group has completed the acquisition of GetParking.com, a website offering car parking facilities at all major UK airports including Gatwick, Heathrow, Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester.
Using the GetParking.com website, you can get an instant, no obligation quote for parking your vehicle in over 70 car parks at 22 airports and 2 sea ports around the UK. Its free, quick and easy to do, and your car park space is reserved instantly. Furthermore, you'll save money by pre-booking your car park space, that ought to put a smile on your face!
This acquisition is the start of the growth plans of the group for 2010, with a number of similar acquisitions in discussion at this time.
Strategic acquisition of Firenet by UK ISP Fast.co.uk
1 December 2009BROADBAND provider Fast.co.uk (www.fast.co.uk) has today acquired ISP Firenet, an established broadband, dialup and hosting provider with a contact centre based in Northern Ireland.
This acquisition brings together two dedicated teams that are renowned for providing high quality Internet services, with a UK-based technical support service. Firenet is a perfect fit into the Fast.co.uk group, promoting a very similar ethos and focus.
Commenting on the acquisition, Fast.co.uk's Mark Baker said: "In these difficult times of a recession I am very proud that we have been able to invest a substantial amount into the UK and are proactively growing our business. This is a very exciting time for the management, staff and customers of both Fast.co.uk and Firenet."
Award winning Fast.co.uk, has bucked the trend seen in many of its struggling competitors, proving that the company has solid foundations on which it is now growing.
"We have an excellent line-up of new products and services that we will be launching over the next few months, geared to adding even greater value for both our existing and new customers.
"This new acquisition demonstrates our commitment to continue to provide the very best in service provision, which will continue to keep Fast.co.uk at the forefront of the industry," concluded Baker.
Dedicated Server brand launched!
31 January 2009We have today launched our Dedicated Server brand "Dedi.co.uk", offering high quality managed and unmanaged servers, with the same ethos of offering exceptional customer service.
Dedi.co.uk can provide both Linux and Windows servers to any custom configuration based in high quality datacentres in Maidenhead, Milton Keynes, Kent, London and Leeds.
Further information be found at www.dedi.co.uk.
New Passfield head office
10 May 2008We are pleased to announce that from the 10th May 2008 we have moved to new offices, and with immediate effect our new address is:
Passfield Business Centre
Lynchborough Road
Passfield
Hampshire
GU30 7SB
United Kingdom
All payments and communications to us should be sent to the above address. Our telephone numbers and email addresses have not changed.
Dark Group becomes LIR
1 August 2007We are proud to announce that we have become a RIPE Local Internet Registry (LIR) which allows us to request IPv4 and IPv6 space directly from RIPE for use on our hosting and broadband networks.
Your Site Here launches shorter name
6 July 2006We are pleased to announce that after extensive negotiations we have acquired the three letter domain name ysh.co.uk, for our managed hosting brand "Your Site Here", which will now be known as YSH.
This new domain name is shorter, and easier to remember so will make access to our website and contact via e-mail easier. Our website is now available at www.ysh.co.uk, and all e-mail addresses can now end @ysh.co.uk.
Our groups' aim is to create dynamic businesses that are built around strong branding, and this new domain name will assist in growing and promoting our YSH brand.
The domain name was acquired from Angus at Giraffe.co.uk, a well respected domain name investor, best known for selling taste.co.uk to Sainsbury's and three.co.uk to Hutchison 3G for a combined total of nearly £250,000.