Comms Dealer

Fidelity Energy has secured a major tie-up with British Gas and Scottish Gas to help ICT resellers across the UK expand their portfolios into the supply of energy services.

The deal represents a breakthrough for the fast-growing energy business headed up by former Gamma channel boss John Haw.

"This strengthens our ability to help resellers serve a range of businesses in both the SME and corporate energy market," said Haw. "It also means we'll be able to sell Scottish Gas products, something our Scottish partners are keen on.

"British Gas and Scottish Gas supply gas, electricity and a range of energy services and the strength of the two brands will help our partners when offering energy services alongside the communications and IT solutions they provide.

"British Gas options have already been built into our Energy Management Portal and we share a similar CRM system in Salesforce.com which is enabling us to fully automate contract production for our partners."

Since its launch at Comms Vision at Gleneagles last November, Fidelity Energy has secured over 75 new reseller partners in the communications and IT sector.

TeleWare has partnered with London-based banking and financial IT company Linx Networks which will offer TeleWare's FCA compliant mobile call recording solution.

Steve Haworth, CEO, TeleWare, said: "This builds on our mission to work with strategic partners to develop and provide integrated compliance solutions to a wider range of sectors and customers."

Gareth Malone, CEO of Linx Networks, added: "It's crucial that any financial institution has a system that will cover them at every customer touch point.

"By working with TeleWare, we ensure that users are able to make and receive calls on their mobile while safe in the knowledge they are 100% compliant."

8x8 has been accepted on the Crown Commercial Services' G-Cloud 8 framework.

Kevin Scott-Cowell, 8x8 UK MD, said: "Public sector organisations want to be treated like any other commercial business with employees to look after, customers to delight and a bottom line to protect.

"It's a great achievement for us to be part of the G-Cloud 8."

A group of comms sector business leaders have set up the Entrepreneur Panel, a CSR initiative established in partnership with youth-led international development charity Restless Development.

The scheme brings entrepreneurs from across the ICT industry together to work on initiatives that promote entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

Solar Communications founder Mark Colquhoun and Virtual1 CEO Tom O'Hagan have taken lead roles, working alongside former Alternative Networks Director and current Virtual1 Non-Exec, Jim Sewell, who is a trustee at Restless Development.

The Panel hopes to raise £1m during the next five years to support its efforts across the ten countries Restless works in. That would fund around 35,000 young volunteers to help 280,000 people lift their own way out of poverty.

Virtual1 has entered into a three year partnership with the charity and will be sending two staff members to visit Restless Development's projects later this year.

O'Hagan said: "We were looking to do something different in our charity work, something that involves everyone in our business, excites people and makes a difference in the world."

Colquhoun added: "I want to make a big difference in something outside my work. And I love the fact that I am helping people set up businesses. The Panel is a new concept, so I have the chance to play a part in its development. Who knows what its potential is?"

To find out more about joining Restless Development's Entrepreneur Panel, please contact Philanthropy Manager Ella McNab on ella@restlessdevelopment.org

The Institute of Telecommunications Professionals (ITP) has launched a consultancy service to help telecoms companies prepare for the apprenticeship levy, which comes into force next April.

The apprenticeship levy has been launched by the government to fund three million places for apprentices. From 6th April 2017, any business with a wage bill of over £3m will be liable to pay the levy which equates to 5% of the annual bill.

"With less than a year left to prepare, we have launched a consultancy service to take away the headache of researching the implications for our industry," said Ann Potterton, CEO at the ITP.

"We have specialised in apprenticeships for the telecoms industry for several years, supporting telecoms employers and creating jobs for young people. Therefore, the next logical step is for us to share our expertise and we will advise businesses on what to next, and how they can benefit from the levy."

The service will support businesses with all elements of the levy.

Potterton added: "There are many details employers need to be aware of, including how and when to start up apprenticeship schemes to meet the deadline. We aim to make sure the telecoms industry is ready to go by April 2017, and help attract many more talented people to our profession."

Total Fitness Health Clubs has partnered with Metronet (UK) for an overhaul of its technology infrastructure.

Metronet (UK) has provided a 17 site MPLS solution using both wireless and fibre connectivity.

This fully managed solution includes colocation and WiFi for use by Total Fitness' members and mobile workforce, enabling the company to push the business forward.

Total Fitness has over 95,000 members with 500-plus employees. The head office, along with the biggest gym, is based in Wilmslow where the team manages the day-to-day running of all the health clubs including marketing, membership and technology.

Tony Hughes, Sales Director at Metronet (UK), said: "Our MPLS solution means that companies with multiple offices such as Total Fitness can have all their sites on one network."

A new service to help resellers comply with changing industry regulations and prove compliance to customers has been launched by Train to Win.tv and industry body the Federation of Communication Services (FCS). The initiative is designed to help CPs check that their service delivery, marketing activity and record keeping complies with current industry regulation; and provide compliant organisations with an accreditation that forms an extension of the FCS Mark of Excellence programme.

"The service is based on a detailed review of the CP's documentation in key areas where regulation applies," stated Train to Win.tv founder and owner Julie Mills (pictured).

"A report will be provided, highlighting areas of non-compliance together with recommendations on the action necessary to address any problem areas.

"Additional hands-on support is also available, including help with the drafting of key documents and provision of templates in some areas."

Full accreditation will be awarded to companies that provide evidence to show that all non-compliances have been satisfactorily addressed.

The scheme builds on work already carried out by Train to Win.tv and FCS during the past two years, helping CPs to fully grasp their regulatory obligations in many areas such as sales and marketing, customer contracts, billing, codes of practice and complaints handling.

"These are all areas where Ofcom has recently carried out investigations to monitor compliance against its requirements," added Mills. "In some cases substantial fines have been levied for non-compliance."

Ofcom also plans to overhaul the sector's regulation as part of its Digital Communication Review, which is contained primarily in the General Conditions of Entitlement (part of the UK Communications Act).

In response to the watchdog's regulations the new service will also deliver updates on regulatory changes, and offer two-yearly reassessments to ensure compliant CP's maintain their accreditation.

"The compliance and accreditation service is a logical development of our current training," said Mills. "Client feedback indicated the need for direct support and a structured framework to help make the necessary changes in their businesses."

FCS CEO Chris Pateman added: "FCS welcomes any initiatives which help to improve the professionalism and the public image of the industry."

HighNet is the first company to sign up for the service and gain accreditation.

"It can be difficult for companies to identify whether a telecoms supplier is reputable or not, until they encounter a problem," noted Katrina McDonald Service Delivery Director.

"This service provides our customers with the confidence that our processes and practices are fully compliant."

FCS members can discover more about the new service at the FCS CP16 event on 8th September in London.

Henley-based service provider Fidelity Group has been selected to help an innovative upgrade of Britain's iconic red public telephone boxes gain industry traction.

New York-based Bar Works is set to launch Pod Works in London, Leeds, Bradford, Norwich and Edinburgh using old BT telephone boxes as mini-work stations for both entrepreneurs who are constantly on the move or for those who need a convenient place to work before a meeting or an interview.

Fidelity will be providing the connectivity to the 'Pods' which will each have Wi-Fi and Internet connections, printer/scanner, wireless mouse, a 25-inch screen, a hot drinks machine and a power bank of plugs.

A fee of £19.99 a month buys membership of the Pod Works 'club' and access to any work station. In order to enter, a link to a mobile App is sent which allows access any time day or night.

Bar Works is also planning to turn other BT phone boxes which are no longer in use into work stations and will gradually expand the concept into major cities across the UK.

CEO Jonathan Black said: "Entrepreneurs and others constantly on the move need a convenient, affordable and private place to work.

"Why should they sit in Starbucks or any other coffee bar when using one of our Pods will allow them to truly focus on their job before an important meeting or presentation at less than the price of two cups of coffee a week."

Pod Works intends to grow a network across the UK starting in London, Leeds and Edinburgh and membership will also allow access to Bar Works locations which currently include New York with London and San Franciso opening soon.

An internet service provider poised to transform Glasgow's business broadband offering has opened its first Central Belt location in St Vincent Street, bringing the city a step closer to Gigabit City status.

Scottish firm HighNet has invested £250,000 in developing the new base at The Beacon as they bring the next generation of ultra-fast internet to surrounding businesses, schools, hospitals and public sector services in partnership with leading pure fibre infrastructure provider, CityFibre.

Set to commence construction later this year, CityFibre's 40km multi-million-pound pure fibre investment will make Glasgow Scotland's third Gigabit City with connections expected to go live in early 2017.

The first phase will take up to 12 months to complete and will be capable of reaching over 7,000 businesses and public sector organisations as well as seven hospitals, including the new Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. The new network will offer connectivity up to 100 times faster than that offered by existing infrastructure.

In advance of work starting, HighNet has recruited eight new employees in the city and adapted the 4000ft2 space to include a range of technical and customer facilities.

David J Siegel, Managing Director at HighNet, said: "Over the past 21 years we have grown our business throughout Scotland from our base in Inverness. However, with the launch of the Glasgow Gigabit City project, it was vital for HighNet to set up a local presence so that we could service our rapidly growing network of staff, partners and customers in the city.

"Digital technology has the capability to transform the way we and our customers do business. It can also drive new innovation and increased productivity. To achieve this, however, customers need top-class connectivity. Glasgow's Gigabit City status will ensure its businesses and organisations can stay ahead of the curve, and we look forward to playing our part in delivering this ambitious project. Exciting and interesting times lie ahead."

James McClafferty, CityFibre's Head of Regional Development in Scotland, added: "In cities like Glasgow, the rise of new technologies is radically transforming the way we live and work, and this means that our digital connectivity can either be a barrier to growth and innovation or a catalyst for economic and social development.

"Working with HighNet we want to make sure Glasgow has the infrastructure it needs to compete with other cities in the UK and across the world."

Channel Telecom's eighth annual partner golf day received a big thumbs up from guests who enjoyed a welcome breakfast, 18 holes of golf followed by a gourmet BBQ with prizes for the longest drive, nearest the pin, team winners and the overall day winner. Clifford Norton, Channel Telecom MD, said: "This event isn't just an excuse to squeeze in 18 holes, it's another way to thank our partners for their ongoing commitment and contribution. We have a great team, and we see our partners as an extension of that."