A tech entrepreneur has bought The Printed Cup Company and become the chief executive.
Oliver Alcock is the founder and managing director of Bowland IT, which supports more than 300 businesses with their IT, telecoms, cybersecurity and cloud services.
Now he’s acquired Clitheroe-based The Printed Cup Company for an undisclosed sum in a deal that has signalled an exit for founders Mark and Jenny Woodward.
Alcock said: “I’m incredibly proud to share that, after many months of hard work and planning, I have officially acquired The Printed Cup Company in Clitheroe and will be stepping in as CEO.
“Founded 20 years ago by Mark Woodward and Jenny Woodward from their living room, The Printed Cup Company has grown into the UK’s fastest bespoke printed drinks cup manufacturer, operating out of a 15,000 sq ft facility and employing a fantastic team of 30 dedicated staff.
“I’m honoured to carry forward their legacy, and I want to reassure everyone that there are no plans for redundancies as part of this transition.
“This is a new chapter – focused on growth, innovation, and continuing the great culture and service the company is known for.”
Alcock founded Bowland IT in 2012 from the back bedroom of a terraced house near the centre of Burnley.
He recalled: “In the early days, I ran the company from the boot of my car, learning the ropes and laying the foundations.
“Everything changed when I fully embraced the recurring revenue model, which enabled me to build a substantial portfolio of monthly income streams across IT and telecoms services.
“Today, Bowland IT has a strong management team in place. While I still retain ownership, I’ve been able to step back from day-to-day operations to focus on growth and new ventures.”
He founded Vanguard Vertex in 2025 to help long-standing business owners transition smoothly into retirement.
Alcock added: “Our most recent acquisition is The Printed Cup Company – a multi-million-pound manufacturing and warehousing operation.
“PCC is the UK’s fastest-turnaround provider of printed drinks and food packaging, renowned for its commitment to small businesses by offering high-quality, custom products with no minimum order quantity.”
Explaining his plans for the business he said: “We plan to broaden The Printed Cup Company’s product ranges to better serve our customers while deepening our commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices.
“As part of this vision, we are actively working toward formal recognition as a business that meets the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability.
“Our aim is to operate not just for profit, but with purpose – ensuring that our decisions benefit not only our shareholders, but also our employees, customers, communities, and the planet.”
Founder Mark Woodward said: “After 20 wonderful years building The Printed Cup Company with Jenny and our team, I couldn’t be prouder of where we’ve arrived. Oliver is exactly the right person to take this business forward – entrepreneurial, values-driven, and full of energy. We’re excited to see what’s next.”