Comms Dealer

Next Generation Data (NGD) has upgraded the network capacity at its tier three carrier-neutral data centre in the Cardiff Capital Region.

NGD will leverage global telecommunications provider Level 3 Communications' enhanced network services to enable customers to connect to leading cloud platforms and achieve greater efficiencies.

The new connection will provide diverse routing services including an initial six dedicated (10Gbps) links from NGD's mega data facility to Telehouse, a key telecommunications exchange hub in London Docklands, to which many of NGD's regional and global customers require connectivity.

BT is on the hunt to recruit 900 people to work in its security business in the next 12 months.

The company already employs over 2,500 security professionals and has security operations centres all around the world, with annual revenues growing at a double-digit rate.

It addresses the entire range of consumer, business and governmental security needs - from antivirus and parental controls that protect families in their home, through to complex managed security solutions used by multinational companies, banks and national governments.

To meet the growing global demand for cybersecurity services and address the skills shortage in the sector, BT expects to take-on and train 170 graduates and apprentices as part of its 900 recruitment intake in the next 12 months.

People will work in a range of cybersecurity and related support services roles.

Graduates and apprentices will undergo training in BT's Security Academy in a range of areas including physical security, penetration testing, threat intelligence, risk management, security operations and sales.

As well as hiring from leading universities, BT takes part in a number of hackathon-style 'war-game' competitions, such as Cyber Security Challenge UK and the international Cambridge 2 Cambridge cyber security challenge, to identify the best talent.

Contestants take part in simulations of cyber-attacks pitting their skills against other participants, to see who has the strongest cybersecurity skills.

While the majority of the roles will be in the United Kingdom, with many located at BT's security operations centres in London, Sevenoaks and Cardiff, BT is also looking to hire security specialists across Continental Europe, the Americas, the Middle-East and Asia-Pacific.

"A number of high profile security and data breaches have dominated the headlines in recent months, and this has led to a surge in interest from both consumers and IT departments wanting to know how best they can protect themselves in the digital world," said Mark Hughes, President of BT Security.

"BT plans to remain at the forefront, innovating in cybersecurity, by hiring some of the best talent while training up the next generation of experts at our BT Security Academy."

Entatech UK has added financial rigour to its operations with the appointment of Grant Thornton as auditors for the distributor.

"We are passionate about working with growing and ambitious businesses and are therefore delighted to have been appointed to work alongside Entatech as the Group embarks upon the next stage of its journey," stated David Munton, Partner at Grant Thornton UK LLP.

Rob Davis, Financial Director at Entatech, added: "Grant Thornton are ranked number five in terms of global fee income and have a dedicated office in close proximity to our HQ, in Birmingham.

"We felt that given its size and level of experience it would be perfectly placed to add value in terms of controls review, systems support and proactive tax-planning."

Dave Stevinson, Entatech Managing Director, stated: "We will be working with Grant Thornton's Birmingham-based team on consultancy, audit and tax. We believe the introduction of an advisor with the reputation of Grant Thornton signifies the improved governance and controls that we wish to impose on our business.

"This is to complement our own improved controls and financial rigour imposed by our Financial Director, Rob, and his team."

The total number of smartphones worldwide is forecast to rise from 2.74 billion at the end of 2015 (equivalent to 37.4% penetration of total mobile connections) to 4.48 billion by the end of 2018, according to the latest research by mobilesquared.

The UK-based research analyst firm has launched its first Databook, called Global subscriptions & smartphone forecasts by country (2015-18). The Databook forecasts China and India alone will account for almost half (48.5%) of net smartphone additions over the period - with China surpassing 1 billion smartphones in use by end-2018 and India becoming the single largest market by annual growth in smartphone users.

"With many developed markets seeing individual mobile subscriptions reaching saturation and smartphone numbers slowing, we expect growth over the three years to 2018 to be centred on Africa, Asia and Latin America," said Gavin Patterson, chief data analyst at mobilesquared.

"Latin America is also on course to surpass North America in terms of the total number of smartphones in market during 2018."

In 20 key markets, representing approximately 71% of total smartphones worldwide, Android OSes are forecast to raise market share by 2.5 points to 74.4% by 2018, iOS will fall 0.7 points to 20.8%, Windows will be down 0.9 point to 3.3%, with Blackberry almost disappearing and Others climbing to 1.4%.

Content Guru is set to launch WebRTC integration with its storm LOSS utilities solution.

The development improves the LOSS service by enabling utilities organisations to more effectively engage with customers across enhanced collaboration, voice-to-browser communication and video conferencing.

Content Guru has been active in the utilities sector since 2008 with its multi-channel storm LOSS solution, which is designed to shield contact centres from the surges in contact demand that occur during unpredictable service outages.

LOSS connects customers to information at any time, from any place and on the devices and channels they choose while improving organisational efficiencies.

Its accreditations include 'Best Enterprise Vertical Market Solution' at the 2014 Comms National Awards and it gained recognition for Content Guru as runner-up in 'Cloud Provider Innovation of the Year' at the 2014 UK IT Awards and a place in US magazine CIO Review's 'Top 50 Most Promising Utilities Technology Solution Providers of 2014'.

Shub Naha, Content Guru Business Development Director, commented: "The utilities sector faces a unique blend of challenges. Supplies are often victim to unpredictable outages and today's consumer demands real-time updates on the channels of their choice. Our LOSS suite of solutions empowers utilities organisations to handle unpredictable spikes in volume by delivering multi-channel cloud communications with scale-on-demand capabilities.

"WebRTC integration allows us to take our utilities offering to the next plane and delivers a rich seam of opportunities to engage with consumers and collaborate with colleagues in real-time."

Skyscape Cloud Services is in course to double its headcount by the end of 2016 having already grown more than ten-fold in four years.

The company has achieved success over a short period of time winning key contracts across central and local Government, developing a partner community of more than 200 companies and attracting industry recognition, most recently winning the Communications category of the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA Award. 

Skyscape is focused solely on serving the UK public sector and supporting the digital transformation of public services.

So far this year, Skyscape has hired 33 new people across its customer services, technical and development teams and is set to welcome 10 new students as part of its undergraduate programme.  

The company is also intending to fill a further 60 technical and dedicated customer service roles. 

"As a company, we recognise that our continued success doesn't just depend on technical innovation but also on the intellectual creativity and calibre of our people," said Simon Hansford, CEO of Skyscape Cloud Services.

"We have seen exponential growth in a relatively short amount of time since our debut on the first iteration of the G-Cloud Framework.

"To maintain service levels and ensure we continue to be disruptive in terms of how ICT can be delivered, we invest in recruitment ahead of demand and when recruiting focus on ensuring we offer rewarding careers and opportunities for top IT talent who want to make a genuine difference to UK customers and citizens."

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."