Softcat to supply software to universities
Marlow, UK, 29 November 2012 – The Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC) has selected Softcat, along with a small number of other suppliers, to provide software licence reseller services to over a hundred higher and further education institutes in the UK. Potentially worth £60m per year, this is the first contract of its kind for UK universities to purchase software under a national agreement.
The new framework contract will help higher and further education institutes across the UK to attain the best value for their software licensing over the next three years, although SUPC retains the option to extend the framework for a further year. Educational institutions already purchase much of their software from resellers and it is expected that framework resellers will provide added-value services. Softcat, with its supplier status for Microsoft, Adobe, VMware and other software, successfully tendered for all four lots under the agreement.
“This contract is hugely important to Softcat as part of our continued investment in and commitment to working with higher education institutions,” Nick Berry, Softcat’s education business development manager, said. “Softcat has in excess of 20 specialist account managers who are dedicated to working with higher education institutions. They are trained to the highest level on Microsoft, Adobe, VMware and other leading software products in order to provide the best possible advice and support on education licensing agreements to our valued customers. We look forward to working closely with SUPC member institutions and assisting them in providing best value software licensing solutions for both staff and students.”
Andy Bruen, Softcat’s public sector frameworks manager, said, “We are delighted to have been awarded a place as a supplier on the software contract. It reflects our historic association and strengths in selling software. Inclusion on more and more national university contracts is allowing Softcat to have more meaningful cross product conversations with university customers, helping to deliver considerable ‘value add’ in our relationships.”
Softcat is one of Microsoft’s fastest-growing public sector large account resellers, with top tier accreditation as an Adobe Platinum Reseller and Education Platinum Reseller. Earlier this month, Softcat won the acclaimed Reseller of the Year 2012 at this year’s CRN Channel Awards, a record breaking third year in a row. Other recent awards include Adobe’s Commercial Partner of the Year, VMware’s Partner of the Year and SMB Partner of the Year, Mimecast Partner of the Year (for the fourth year in a row), Symantec Commercial Partner of the Year, Websense EMEA Triton Partner of the Year, and Sophos Mid-Market Reseller of the Year.
About SUPC
(SUPC) Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (http://supc.procureweb.ac.uk/aboutsupc) is the largest of the six regional higher education purchasing consortia that operate throughout the UK. SUPC was formed in 1974 when a handful of universities came together for the collaborative purchase of stationery. It has now grown to a membership of over one hundred higher and further education institutions and offers its members a wide range of collaborative purchase agreements covering most commodity areas.
The Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC) awards and manages framework agreements for the education sector and is acting as lead organisation for the Software Framework on behalf of its members and also for members of the London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC), North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium (NEUPC), North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium (NWUPC), the Higher Education Purchasing Consortium Wales (HEPCW) and Advanced Procurement for universities and Colleges Limited (APUC). A full list of the participating Consortia members is available on the Consortia websites.
For more information please contact:
Mary Stringer
Resonates SLM Ltd
Tel: 44 (0) 1635 898 390
softcat@resonates.com
www.resonates.com
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 500 people. It achieved a turnover in excess of £300 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 5,000 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.
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