In a digital age where the threat to data doesn’t end at deletion, a 37-year-old Rotherham-based firm is emerging as an unexpected linchpin in the UK’s national cybersecurity ecosystem. S2S Group, a specialist in secure IT asset disposal and electronic recycling, has just received a £500,000 investment from Bailie Group, a move that signals a strategic shift in how critical data security is handled beyond the screen.
This is not just another green tech story. It’s the convergence of sustainability, national defence, and backend cybersecurity, and it’s happening in South Yorkshire in the UK
From backroom to boardroom: The rise of ITAD
IT asset disposal (ITAD) isn’t new – S2S Group has been at it since 1987. But as data breaches grow more sophisticated and organisations look for end-to-end security, the humble task of wiping and recycling old tech is now a frontline defence.
The company securely processed over 217,000 redundant IT assets in 2024 alone, with 81% recycled and 19% resold – a contribution to both the circular economy and national security. Its credentials include being a Blancco Technology Gold Partner and Cyber Essentials Certified, positioning it as a trusted player across sensitive sectors like defence, finance, and education.
The Bailie backing: Fuel for a national expansion
With this recent half-million-pound injection, Bailie Group has taken a 25% stake in S2S, marking its first investment into the secure IT disposal space. Known for owning communications agencies and cybersecurity consultancies like CDS DS, Bailie Group sees S2S as a natural extension of its mission: “to improve lives by sharing knowledge” — and now, by safeguarding information through secure hardware disposal.
“Partnering with Bailie Group is a major milestone for us,” said Grant Barton, CEO of S2S Group. “With their support, we’re confident we can grow faster, innovate further, and deliver even greater value to our customers.”
S2S is now targeting a 21% revenue growth this year, aiming to hit £5.8 million in annual turnover, driven largely by deeper inroads into the UK defence sector.
A new kind of ESG: Where climate goals meet cyber policy
S2S is not only a cyber hygiene specialist but also a sustainability leader. The company aligns its practices with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, maintaining a 4-star SDG rating. As of 2025, it has formally committed to gender equality (SDG 5) alongside responsible consumption and climate action.
This dual focus on green operations and secure data destruction puts S2S in a category few occupy — an environmental company with a defence contract pipeline.
Rethinking tech’s lifecycle: Not just an end, but a beginning
As tech giants and public agencies invest in new infrastructure, few consider the silent threat lurking in their retired devices. S2S Group’s business model — certified data-wiping, equipment refurbishment, and secure recycling — represents a new kind of lifecycle management that’s becoming indispensable.
“This is about more than recycling,” says Fergus Bailie, CEO of Bailie Group. “It’s about national resilience. Secure data disposal is mission-critical, and S2S is well-positioned to lead this charge.”
Based in Rotherham, with operational footprints in London and Glasgow, S2S defies the notion that only capital-city startups drive innovation. As attention shifts to regional tech hubs and the UK’s levelling-up ambitions, S2S exemplifies how regional SMEs can become national players through strategic capital and mission-driven alignment.
The bottom line
In a world obsessed with innovation at the front end – new apps, AI, and cloud tech – S2S is a vital reminder that true digital resilience starts with responsible endings. And with Bailie Group now on board, this quietly powerful ITAD firm is poised to take on a much louder role in defending data, empowering sustainability, and reshaping the way we retire technology.
