Softcat selected to supply IT to Welsh public sector

Marlow, UK, 3 November 2011 – Following its commitment earlier this year to expand and grow its service offering into the public sector, Softcat has secured inclusion in another public sector framework agreement.

Value Wales, a division of the Welsh Government, has initiated an ‘all Wales IT equipment and associated services framework agreement’, which will run from October this year, for two years with options to extend for a further two.

After a comprehensive tendering process, the company has been selected as one of only eight suppliers on Lot1 of the framework agreement to provide IT equipment and associated services into the public sector within Wales. This is for products that deliver – or allow users to access – services, including PCs, monitors, laptops, handheld devices, tablet devices, netbooks and thin-client devices, together with related maintenance, warranty, software and support services.

A spokesperson for the Welsh Government said: "The ITEAS III framework underlines the Welsh Government’s commitment and compliance to, respectively, both the National ICT Strategy and Digital Strategy for Wales, providing public sector organisations across Wales with the ability and facility to procure excellent IT products and services. All suppliers tendering were evaluated against a robust set of criteria, including technical expertise, performance and delivery, account and contract management, sustainability / environmental credentials and of course, value for money."

Andy Bruen, Softcat’s public sector frameworks manager, stated, “We’re very much looking forward to working with our Welsh customers, and providing the customer-centric approach we’re renowned for.”

To support its commitment to growth, Softcat is actively looking for account managers with experience within the Welsh public sector, and advises interested candidates to contact its recruitment manager Shelley Ferrigno on 01628 403 476. Softcat was named The Sunday Times’ Best Small Company to Work For in 2010. As well as giving its staff opportunities to progress in their careers, the company offers student loan contributions, healthcare and dental plans, a company contributory pension, half-day holidays on employees’ birthdays, lunch at exclusive restaurants, and team-building activities.

Softcat is one of Microsoft’s fastest-growing public sector LARs, and was one of only three companies to be accredited across all six lots of the education-focused framework Crescent Purchasing Consortium in April. Other accolades that Softcat has won in the last year include CRN Reseller of the Year at the Channel Awards, Dell UK and EMEA Partner of the Year, and Symantec Commercial Partner of the Year.

Ends

About Softcat
Softcat (www.softcat.com) is a leading provider of software licensing, hardware, security and related IT services. Softcat, founded in 1993 by chairman and majority shareholder Peter Kelly, remains privately owned and currently employs more than 400 people. It achieved a turnover in excess of £200 million in its last financial year and has been profitable since inception, resulting in a strong balance sheet and very firm financial foundations.

The company sells and supports products and solutions from all the world's leading IT companies. On all its portfolio products and solutions it offers a full range of services, including advice and guidance, technical design, product sourcing, implementation, support and project management. It enjoys a trading relationship with over 1,500 longstanding customers, predominantly from the UK corporate sector but also including large enterprises, small businesses and public sector organisations.

As an organisation Softcat cares passionately about two things – outstanding employee satisfaction and world class customer service. It believes the former drives the latter.

About Value Wales
In Wales, the public sector is, overall, the largest user of services and goods from the private and voluntary sectors with an annual procurement expenditure of some £4.3 billion. To support the public sector in making the best use of its resources the Welsh Government established the Value Wales division to work alongside public sector bodies in Wales, in pursuit of efficiency and better value public services for its citizens.

Value Wales acts as catalyst for change, providing leadership and strategic direction in procurement, encouraging collaborative working.  Value Wales works in partnership with the Welsh public sector to promote professionalism and improve the value for money obtained from procurement activities; thereby supporting the delivery of public services while benefiting the economic, environmental and social landscape of Wales.

For more information please contact:
Robert Hayward
Resonates SLM Ltd
Tel: 44 (0) 1635 898 362
softcat@resonates.com
www.resonates.com

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