How Cloud2IT Helped Escape Campus Grow from a Startup to a Major Student Lettings Agency — with Seamless IT, Support, and Scalability
Client: Escape Campus
Industry: Student Lettings & Property Management
Website: escapecampus.co.uk
Based in: Lancaster, UK
Cloud2IT Services: Microsoft 365 setup and management, VoIP phone system, internet supply, office network installation, remote IT support, hardware provision
From landlord side-hustle to full agency — Escape Campus is growing fast
Escape Campus began as a favour between friends. Founder Paul Morris was a student landlord in Lancaster when others started asking him to manage their properties too. It wasn’t long before he turned it into a business.
Today, Escape Campus manages over 140 student properties and works with dozens more as a tenant-finding agency. The company now has a full-time team of 10, expanding to 15 during the busy summer turnaround period.
“It started with 10 properties,” says Philip Horton, Finance Director. “By the time I joined, we were managing 30. Now we’re over 140 — and still growing.”
But with rapid growth came new challenges — and IT was one of the biggest.
The Problem: “We were managing IT ourselves — and it wasn’t sustainable.”
When Philip joined the business, there was no dedicated IT setup or support.
“We had a basic email package, and we were just using Google Drive to manage everything. There was no backup, no structure, no real security. And none of us were IT experts.”
The business needed a proper setup — one that would grow with them and support a growing, mobile team.
The Solution: A fully managed, cloud-based IT system — built for scale
Cloud2IT stepped in and provided a complete IT refresh for Escape Campus. Everything was moved to a secure, cloud-based Microsoft 365 environment, managed entirely by Cloud2IT.
They also supplied and set up laptops, VoIP phones, a reliable internet connection — and even helped design the full network infrastructure in Escape Campus’s new office.
“They met with Openreach, planned the office layout with us, did the cabling, installed the mesh Wi-Fi, and set up the phone system. Everything was just sorted.”
“The new team members just log in and get going. The support is there every day — it’s seamless.”
Day-to-day support that feels like part of the team
“The support side of it is brilliant,” says Philip. “Anyone in the team can just raise a ticket or call them directly. They’ll either talk you through it or remote into your machine and sort it out like they’re sat next to you.”
“And it’s always quick. Always friendly. No waiting around.”
Cloud2IT’s approach is particularly valuable to smaller teams who don’t have in-house IT.
“We couldn’t afford an IT department — but with Cloud2IT, we don’t need one. It just works.”
A trusted partner for new ventures too
Escape Campus now also operates a second lettings business, IPM Lancaster — and Cloud2IT was the obvious choice to support it.
“We didn’t even look anywhere else. We knew how they worked and what they could offer, so it was a no-brainer.”
“They’ve supported that team just as smoothly as they do ours.”
The Outcome: Growth, confidence, and zero IT headaches
With Cloud2IT managing their entire setup, Escape Campus has been free to grow fast — without tech problems getting in the way.
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✅ Secure, cloud-based IT system with Microsoft 365
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✅ Responsive, helpful support available to the whole team
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✅ Professional office setup including internet, phones, and network infrastructure
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✅ Simple onboarding for new staff — just log in and go
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✅ Peace of mind from a trusted, proactive IT partner
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✅ Confidence to scale — including support for a second lettings business
“We just don’t have to worry about IT anymore. It works, and if there’s ever an issue, it’s sorted fast. That’s a huge weight off our shoulders.”
“It’s basically like an IT department we wouldn’t normally be able to afford.”
Philip Horton, Finance Director, Escape Campus
