Kelvin Connect, the spin-out firm from Glasgow University that has equipped police in Scotland with an electronic notebook, has struck a deal to sell a £1m stake in the business to Airwave Solutions.

Kelvin Connect, the spin-out firm from Glasgow University that has equipped police in Scotland with an electronic notebook, has struck a deal to sell a £1m stake in the business to Airwave Solutions in a move aimed at rapid expansion across the UK.

Simon Hardy, Kelvin Connect's chief executive, yesterday told The Herald the deal would likely also see the Hillington, Refrewshire-based company increase the size of its workforce from nine to 60 by the end of 2010.

"This is a very significant deal for us because it deepens our partnership with Airwave and it will generate a huge amount of business for us throughout the UK. The £1m we get from the equity stake will allow us to expand our operations to support this new business."

The company has already struck a transformational deal to supply 300 officers in the Lothian and Borders police force with hand-held computers, allowing the officers to capture all relevant information while on patrol and essentially sentencing to death the Scottish bobby's so-called wee black book.

Kelvin has also agreed similar deals with the Strathclyde and Lancashire police forces, and has a number of contracts in the healthcare industry - particularly in the Highlands and Islands, where the hand-held computers are being used to monitor patients who require palliative care.

Hardy said: "Our system is primarily aimed at the law enforcement sector, and enables police officers to make notes, complete statements and forms covering every one of their processes. It removes the burden of paper work for front-line officers and streamlines or removes back-office processes, returning officers to front-line policing for at least an extra hour per shift, probably two.

"The idea is that our partnership with Airwave - which was actually the incumbent provider for Lancashire police - will help us expand our law enforcement penetration throughout the country."

"The combined solution it will enable Airwave to offer to the market is by far the most proven and comprehensive."

Richard Bobbett, chief executive of Airwave, added: "The demand for effective mobile information is growing rapidly within the police and law enforcement arena. Airwave recognises that to meet this demand there is a role for best of breed providers such as Kelvin Connect.

"There are clear synergies between the sectors in which Airwave and Kelvin Connect operate and we believe that this investment will add to our broad emergency services experience with the detailed mobile data capture expertise which Kelvin Connect already has."

Both companies declined to disclose size of the equity stake acquired for £1m.

Airwave is owned by Guardian Digital Communications, a company that is wholly owned by two Macquarie investment funds.