With the launch of a state-of-the-art data centre in Leeds Firstnet Solutions's reputation as a fast rising northern powerhouse is assured, according to Managing Director David Cusworth.
Leeds-based Firstnet's new £24 million data centre, launched in March, is not only 'just the job' for channel partners and customers, it is also a boon to job seekers in the local area as the facility is expected to generate around 100 new positions. As well as adding people, the data centre adds colocation, cloud platforms and disaster recovery to Firstnet's services portfolio, including its own cloud solution powered by Nutanix and targeted at SMEs. Cusworth said: "The opportunity to expand and invest in this building to create a certified Tier III facility was too good to miss. Our customers now have access to the latest technology in managed services and a host of additional support, including office space with over 100 desks designed specifically for workplace recovery and relocation needs."
It was in 2014 when Firstnet began to flourish having earned a reputation as the 'go to provider' of IT services in the Leeds city region. That same year Firstnet's profile was raised across the nation when it featured as a finalist in a number of industry awards and scooped the Comms National Award in the Best Enterprise Mobility Solution category. The company currently has a headcount of 30, circa 250 customers and revenues of around £4 million; while Cusworth's plan to target £20 million turnover by 2020 and 100 jobs is advancing nicely.
"Our growth plans are aggressive but as any business owner knows fast growth poses a whole raft of challenges, but I have a great management team and I know there isn't any obstacle we can't overcome," said Cusworth. "A milestone for us was changing our mindset from a small business to a medium sized operation. We now undertake large scale IT projects and roll outs to the enterprise and corporate marketplace and have established Firstnet Education which provides IT services to schools, while Firstnet Data Centre offers colocation for resellers, cloud for the SMB space and workplace recovery services to the corporate and enterprise market - all fully end-to-end services."
Cusworth 'fell' into IT by chance and fate could have played a hand as he started out at Pipex which, also by chance, was based on the site of Firstnet's new data centre. As an entrepreneur and with a successful career in IT sales under his belt Cusworth decided to go it alone having spotted a gap in the market to offer enterprise solutions and services to the SMB marketplace. "I persuaded my wife Angie, who is an exceptional Operations Director, to join me in my vision and we have taken the business from strength to strength every since," he said.
The industry trend that most interests Cusworth right now is the high level of acquisitions in the distribution arena which he believes will eventually, sooner rather than later, leave just four or five large distribution players. The role of resellers is also evolving, noted Cusworth, who urges them to partner with their customers. "For resellers to succeed it is imperative that they understand their clients' businesses and how they can add value to them," he added. "All VARs should help customers change their perception of IT as a cost centre to a profit centre.
"IT is always changing and to be successful you have to be ahead of the curve and able to offer the latest technology. Resellers also need to be aware of the IT landscape. Ten years ago virtualisation was the big thing, then it was the cloud, now it's Business Intelligence, analytics and the Internet of Things. If resellers can't give client's what they want and need someone else will. And as the landscape changes new challenges spring up every day such as GDPR. It is our duty to enable clients and support them and their businesses through these challenges, so we are working with our customers to ensure they are GDPR compliant and able maximise the business benefits that BI can provide."
Educating customers is perhaps a VAR's biggest opportunity, backed up by what Cusworth says is Firstnet Solutions' greatest source of potential growth - its new data centre and the associated cloud services it brings. "This facility will enable us to provide a true IT service to our clients," he added. "We have an amazing in-house team and the business wouldn't be where it is without them. Within three years I expect Firstnet to be a £50 million turnover business and the go-to IT company in the north of England. We have grown quickly and will continue to do so - there just doesn't seem enough hours in a day."•