Comms Dealer

IT distributor Westcoast has bagged Nottingham-based distie ArtSystems for an undisclosed sum.

ArtSystems provides services and solutions to support printing, offering technical consultancy, demonstration services, logistics and pre and post sales engineering to the design, graphics, signage, display and 3D markets.

ArtSystem's product portfolio focuses on large format and latex print and finishing hardware, software, media and supplies. In the last 24 months the firm has seen significant success in 3D printing solutions.

Steve Hawker, Managing Director of ArtSystems, said: "Over the years ArtSystems has built a reputation for creating new channels for manufacturer's niche products. With investment from Westcoast we now have the opportunity to scale our solutions for suppliers and customers alike."

Westcoast Managing Director Duncan Forsyth added: "This acquisition represents a game-changing opportunity for Westcoast.

"ArtSystems has been a driving force in the development of the wide format sector and is a leader in next generation 3D printing. Both industries are growing hard and fast.

"Access to ArtSystems' technical expertise and range of distribution agreements with vendors like HP and Stratasys will give us a considerable competitive edge."

The days of reactive recruitment are long gone. It's not like the old days when you put out an advert, commissioned an agency, got ten CVs, shortlisted three and made an offer. In today's employment market successful recruitment strategies are underpinned by building a channel of candidates and speedy decision making, writes Clive Jefferys of recruiter JMA Network.
 
It takes time to build up contacts, develop referrals and entice people to consider new career options. This is true for employers and recruitment agencies alike. So once you decide on recruiting, you must give it every priority.
 
Job descriptions need to be written, adverts placed, agencies briefed, and as soon as you receive applicants you must respond. Not next week, not tomorrow, but today! If the interview goes well you should make your decision quickly to demonstrate decisiveness and confidence that the hire is good for both parties.
 
Like getting married, buying a house or having a child, career steps are important milestones in a person's life. Everyone wants to make the right move, they want to feel valued, they need to be certain they are doing the right thing.
 
If you are looking to hire that individual, you need to show that you care about winning their confidence. It's no accident that our most successful clients, most of whom you already know, exhibit this proactive stance. They will travel to meet candidates at weekends, after work, whatever is necessary to get ahead of the game.
 
In conclusion, Aesop got it wrong.
 
When it comes to the recruitment race, the hare wins every time.

Deeper integration and innovation with Skype for Business has earned TeleWare the Microsoft Gold Communications Competency.

The company has extended the Skype for Business feature set with a number of enhancements including cloud-based voice recording, enterprise class voicemail, IVR, Intelligent Number and reporting services.

TeleWare CEO Steve Haworth said: "These enhancements were developed following a number of customer requests for a cloud-based recording function to add to their existing Skype for Business product.

"They enable users to gain a deeper insight into their business. The result is improved employee engagement, business agility, process efficiency and customer satisfaction."

Phil Sorgen, Corporate VP, Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft, commented: "Gold Competency partners are in the top 1% of our partner ecosystem, and their proficiency helps customers drive innovative solutions on the latest Microsoft technology."

Datacentreplus founder and MD Mashukul Hoque has called on the data centre industry to give small companies a leg-up to fast growth via a flexible ‘pay as you grow' model.

"It is important that as data centre providers we do not take the one-size-fits-all approach," he stated.

"Small to medium-sized businesses are increasingly becoming digital businesses and require a helping hand when commencing their digital journey.

"The data centre community has a role to play in facilitating this journey, and I believe as an industry we have a responsibility to support this."

The Manchester-based company provides colocation for businesses' IT equipment at its Media City premises, working with organisations that want to outsource their power, storage and cooling requirements for their servers and data backup.

Datacentreplus launched its ‘pay as you grow' offering earlier this year, giving clients the ability to grow their services and reserve dedicated space, paying for it when needed.

One proponent of the service is Birmingham-based Autom8 which specialises in providing hosted telephony and call centre products that integrate with CRM systems.

Autom8 Chief Executive Shahid Ahmed, said: "Datacentreplus has physically adapted its service to support our growth.

"We initially procured a small number of dedicated servers, colocation services and technical consultancy. However, through ‘pay as you grow' we were able to expand from four to 100 dedicated servers in the space of 10 months."

Hoque commented: "With the case of Autom8, we listened to the needs and budget considerations, and this has allowed us to provide the necessary space and support for growth of their business."

The shortlist for the 2016 Comms Dealer Sales Awards has been announced and the finalists can now look forward to celebrating their success at the glittering finals luncheon at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel, London on May 5th, followed by a special industry party toasting Comms Dealer's 20th birthday.

Commenting on the shortlist, Comms Dealer Editorial Director Nigel Sergent said: "This was another record entry and the standard of entry was as high as ever. All of our finalists should be proud of what they have achieved and I hope they will all be joining us for what promises to be an amazing day on May 5th. This year will be an extra special occasion because after the main awards event we'll also be celebrating Comms Dealer's 20th birthday with an after show party."

Places at the finals event are selling fast so to secure your table or place at the event please contact Sophie Timms ASAP on 01895 454444 or email her at stimms@bpl-business.com

THE FINALISTS

Reseller Sales Team of the Year up to £2.5m

Altinet

Cloudsource Technologies

GHM Care

Loop Voice & Data

MCL Telecom

Reseller Sales Team of the Year £2.5 - £5m

Calteq

Exsel

Frontier Voice & Data

Lily Comms

Telecoms World

True Telecom

NSN

Reseller Sales Team of the Year £5m - £7.5m

Berry Telecom

italk

netConsult

Reseller Sales Team of the Year £7.5m plus

Annodata

BDR

Focus Group

Reseller Best Marketing Campaign

App2Chat

Cisilion

Exsel

Lily Comms

Loop Voice & Data

Service Provider Channel Account Team of the Year

Agilitas

Channel Telecom

Comms-care

Daisy Wholesale

Fidelity Group

NTA

Plan.com

Zest4

Service Provider Channel Marketing Team of the Year

Agilitas

Channel Telecom

GCI

Plan.com

Service Provider Channel Marketing Campaign of the Year

Channel Telecom

Fidelity Group

Plan.com

Voiceflex

Distributor Channel Account Team of the Year

Nimans Samsung Team

Nimans Polycom Team

ProVu

Siphon

Pragma

VoIPon

Distributor Channel Marketing Team of the Year

Avnet Technology Solutions

Ingram Micro

Nimans

Pragma

ProVu

Distributor Channel Marketing Campaign of the Year

Avnet Technology Solutions

Ingram Micro

Nimans Samsung Team

Nimans Polycom Team

Pragma

ProVu

Wick Hill

Vendor Channel Account Team of the Year

3CX

Entanet

Gamma

Jabra

TMS

Virtual1

Union Street

Vendor Channel Marketing Team of the Year

3CX

BT Wholesale

Entanet

Vendor Channel Marketing Campaign of the Year

BT Wholesale

Entanet

Shoretel

TMS

Channel Marketing/PR Agency of the Year

Agency Ingram Micro

Blabbermouth

KG Moore Ltd

Larato

Castle Street Investments and its recently acquired subsidiaries of C4L and Selection Services have rebranded to CORETX following shareholder approval.

Andy Ross, CEO comments: "CORETX has an opportunity to deliver proximate technology services to a wider base of both direct and channel customers. With our acquired in-house expertise in networks, data centre and integrated service delivery we are excited about our new brand opportunity and proving our ongoing ability to deliver through our owned infrastructure."

The Institute of Telecommunications Professionals (ITP) has launched a new Corporate Associate Scheme that aims to create networking and collaboration opportunities for the telecoms industry.

Crissi Williams, ITP's Head of Operations, said: "The ITP has been the voice of the industry for more than a century and Corporate Associates will play a vital role in its structure going forward.

"At present, we offer members networking opportunities, career development through training and qualifications, mentoring and our own apprenticeship scheme. By joining forces with industry partners we hope to strengthen and support the sector for another century.

"We would urge all telecoms businesses who are interested in shaping the ITP and taking advantage of the opportunities this presents to get in touch."

Corporate Associates are being asked to sign up for the scheme and nominate a set of company ambassadors from within their organisation who will advise on the ITP's work.

The free scheme will offer members discounts on accreditations for their workforce, access to the ITP's apprenticeship consultancy, entry to its seminars, discounted CPD packages and invitations to exclusive Executive Club events and C level dinners.

For more information about the programme, please visit: www.theitp.org/membership/corporate_associates

Exponential-e has launched a new optical VPN platform across nine of its key data centre locations.

The platform will cater for increasing enterprise customer demand for secure cloud and colocation services. It will deliver Exponential-e's high capacity optical VPN services to data centres operated by Ark Data Centres, Telehouse, Virtus and Equinix across the UK.

Huw Owen, CEO at Ark Data Centres, said: "The platform will give our customers access to a fully managed suite of IT solutions delivered by Exponential-e, providing them with a secure and flexible environment through which to support their growing businesses."

The optical VPN platform will be delivered over a next-generation multi-terabit optical transport network. This high capacity optical service - available at 10Gb, 40Gb and 100Gb speeds - is expected to deliver space and power savings to customers, while ensuring the solution offers total flexibility, high resiliency and security.

Chris Christou, Director of Engineering at Exponential-e, said: "The launch of our Optical VPN platform underpins our future growth strategy across key data centres in the south of England.

"Customers in these data centres now have access to all the necessary components required to support high bandwidth demands, including high capacity network services and inter-data centre cloud services."

ITSPA has welcomed the first five successful applicants to its updated Quality Mark, which was first introduced in 2009 and revamped in 2016 to more closely align with the evolving technological landscape.  

Voipfone, Hello Telecom, SureVoIP, VoiceHost and Gradwell have signed up to the new standard that's designed to highlight a company's commitment to best practice and delivering a reliable service.

Chair of ITSPA Eli Katz said: "We have made significant changes to the requirements of the original Quality Mark which reflect the maturing nature of the next generation communications industry.

"These changes have involved consultation with members to ensure the new requirements remain an effective tool for driving up standards as well as being a meaningful accreditation to apply for."

Among the new requirements are an adherence to the ITSPA Code of Practice and Best Practice Guidance documents; evidence that the applicant's platform design is resilient and that they deliver a reliable service, which will be measured by ITSPA as 99.99% availability between 8am and 8pm Monday-Friday using the VoIP Spear monitoring platform; transparent porting arrangements; active fraud control measures; evidence of access to the emergency services; easy to find information on complaints and dispute resolution; polices in place for nuisance calls and CLI presentation; evidence of Data Protection and Retention Compliance; and evidence of a single point of contact showing that there is an easy way to contact the member with issues arising.

Software provider Advanced has made its mark in the midlands with the opening of a regional HQ at the Mailbox in Birmingham and the launch of a recruitment programme to fill 1,000 roles over the next 18 months.

The positions are open to graduates and non-graduates of all ages and backgrounds wanting a career in IT.

At least 50% of new employees will come from a talent acquisition programme, and 400 of the new roles will be based in Advanced's newly refurbished midlands HQ which occupies 45,000 sq ft of space on the building's third level, making it one of the city's largest commercial accommodations on a single floor.

Gordon Wilson, CEO, said: "The launch of our new Birmingham office is a key milestone in our business growth strategy and the talent acquisition programme represents an opportunity for individuals considering a career in IT.

"We are passionate about identifying dynamic, high performing and motivated individuals who are invaluable to our future expansion and who will make a major contribution to our company culture.

"Birmingham is the clear choice given it has the UK's largest regional urban economy and is the most popular destination outside the South East for mass millennial migration."

Advanced has grown to a £750m company in eight years. Following its acquisition by Vista Equity Partners in March 2015 the business has undergone significant transformation and investment in its people and solutions, creating a platform for further growth.

Part of the transformation includes the appointment of a new C-suite comprising high calibre employees in the tech industry. The business is also completing a four stage programme of re-branding, relocation, restructure and recruitment.

Mark Rogers, Chief Executive, Birmingham City Council, said: "With over £1 billion of investment in the last year, the Greater Birmingham region is enjoying significant growth. We are building an unprecedented amount of modern office space and investing record amounts to improve transport links. Advanced's arrival demonstrates the strength of Birmingham's offer for major British brands looking to locate here."

Neil Rami, Chief Executive, Marketing Birmingham said: "With more than 6,000 firms in Greater Birmingham employing 36,000 people and delivering £1.6 billion to the local economy, Advanced is joining one of the UK's best performing digital economies.

"Tech companies are increasingly looking to our region's offer to set up, thrive and expand. The strength of this sector means Advanced has a large local talent base from which to recruit, with some 40,000 students studying computer science or business in Birmingham each year."

Advanced employs 2,000 people and has a customer base of more than 20,000 organisations including Virgin Trains, Harvey Nichols, Birmingham Children's Hospital and Carewatch.