www.technologyreseller.uk THE MAGAZINE & ONLINE CHANNEL NEWS & RESOURCE FOR MSPS, IT RESELLERS & SUPPORT PROVIDERS PAGE 16 Nimans enhances AV support with TechZone at Manchester HQ DISTRIBUTION Customers want managed print services (MPS) – but some resellers prefer to just sell them a device. Offering MPS doesn't have to be complex – with the right vendor "At your side", it's simple to win new deals, retain customers and grow your business. Brother MPS is simple, scalable and here to help you meet customer demand. � Increase profitability versus hardware-only sales � A range of MPS options � Increase customer life-time value � More upsell opportunities � Ongoing support from Brother Still think offering more than hardware is a hard sell? 86% of your customers prefer print on a contract* Brother MPS Makes Printing Simple Source: IDC Survey Spotlight: How Do Current Print Contract Arrangements Among European Enterprises Compare with Their Preferred Engagement Models?, #EUR154530626, June 2026 Grasp the MPS opportunity – learn more on BrotherZone Brotherzone.co.uk/make-printing-simple ⎙ IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2016 IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2016 PAGE 20 WWCS aiming to build largest tech team in Sheffield area MSPs PAGE 28 How to avoid the pitfalls of AV installations and office moves AUDIO-VISUAL
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03 CONTENTS technologyreseller.co.uk ISSN 2632-9301 (Print) ISSN 2632-931X (Online) Technology Reseller is published by Kingswood Media Ltd., 7 Amherst House, 22 London Road, Sevenoaks TN13 2BT • Tel: 01732 759725 Email: [email protected] www.technologyreseller.co.uk No part of Technology Reseller can be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. © 2026 Kingswood Media Ltd. Editor: James Goulding 07803 087228 · [email protected] Publishing Director, Social Media and Web Editor: Neil Trim 01732 759725 · [email protected] Advertising Director: Ethan White 01732 759725 · [email protected] Events & Commercial activities: Paul Johnson 01732 759725 · [email protected] Account Manager: Jeff Root 01732 759725 · [email protected] Designer: Brian Cloke 07484 288189 · [email protected] If you no longer wish to receive Technology Reseller magazine, please email your details to [email protected] Register online To receive your regular FREE printed copy of Technology Reseller Magazine simply fill in our online registration form at www.technologyreseller.uk/register Read Technology Reseller online, on tablets and smart phones www.technologyreseller.uk Join us : Follow us technology-reseller-magazine technologyreseller.co.uk 04 Distribution News Giacom makes it easy for partners to compare tariffs across its Vodafone, EE and O2 mobile offering 08 Market Research Retailers risk missing out as SMEs trade up to premium hardware 10 Reseller News TalkTalk Business announces merger with ARO 16 Distribution Nimans enhances AV capabilities and partner enablement and support with opening of TechZone at Manchester HQ 18 Contact Centres New industry group formed to raise profile of UK contact centres 20 MSPs London-based MSP WWCS is extending its reach to the north of England with the opening of an office in Sheffield 22 Sponsorship Tech brands to look out for in the coming football season 23 Cover Story Your next opportunity made simple 24 Marketing James Goulding talks to Gordon Christie about his and his sister Jane’s new marketing agency and why MSPs should avoid generic marketing playbooks and recycled content 26 Events Come and attend our 2026 channel PITR roadshow series 28 AV Why do so many office moves fail to achieve the desired results and what can you do to make sure yours is a success? Chris Gore, co-founder of SPOR Group, reveals all 30 Q&A With Emily Masterton, Global Head of Channel at 8x8 35 Events All the winners from the PrintIT and Technology Reseller Golf Society’s third round of 2026 at Walmley Golf Club 36 Tech Digest New solutions and services for MSPs and their customers 40 People News faces, new places IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2016 IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2016 ROADSHOWS AUTUMN 2026
01732 759725 DISTRIBUTOR NEWS enablement though a new partnership with Exclusive Networks. This will see Exclusive Networks act as Rapid7’s strategic distribution partner across the UK and create new opportunities for scalable growth by helping strategic partners and MSSPs meet growing demand for unified solutions that reduce complexity and improve resilience. Neil Brosnan, Vendor Alliances Director at Exclusive Networks UK, said: “The next phase of cybersecurity growth won’t come from selling more point products. It will come from helping customers simplify security operations and make better decisions, faster. Customers don’t need more tools; they need platforms that help them see more, respond faster and reduce risk with confidence. That’s why Rapid7 is such a great addition to our portfolio.” www.exclusive-networks.com …1Password joins Westcon-Comstor AWS Marketplace programme 1Password, the identity security specialist for human beings, AI agents and machines, has become the latest vendor to join WestconComstor’s AWS Marketplace programme. Partners across EMEA will now be able to purchase 1Password software from WestconComstor via private AWS Marketplace listings, streamlining how solutions are packaged, sold and delivered, backed by the distributor’s enablement, advisory services and billing support. The collaboration between Westcon-Comstor and 1Password builds on an existing EMEA distribution agreement signed last year. Larissa Crandall, Global Vice President of Channel and Alliances at 1Password, said: “This collaboration is about meeting partners where they want to buy and making it easier for them to do business with 1Password. As more organisations look to AWS Marketplace to simplify procurement, working with Westcon-Comstor gives partners a more streamlined way to bring 1Password Unified Access to customers and help them build a stronger identity security foundation.” www.westconcomstor.com … Submer Group strengthens EMEA presence with Netceed AI infrastructure company Submer Group has formed a strategic partnership with Netceed, a distributor and supplier of 90,000+ products addressing broadband, data centre and energy infrastructure. Under the agreement, Netceed will act as EMEA distributor for Submer’s full stack AI infrastructure portfolio, spanning liquid cooling, monitoring software, data centre design and build, and GPU cloud services. Brillband sale completes APFN transition to 100% wholesale model AllPoints Fibre Networks (APFN) has completed its transition to a 100% wholesale-focused business with the sale of its Brillband retail customer base to UK broadband provider Olilo. APFN’s exit from retail broadband operations will allow it to focus exclusively on aquila, its wholesale platform for channel partners that brings together connectivity from Openreach, BT Wholesale, CityFibre and Sky Business Wholesale through a single API integration. Existing Brillband customers are not required to take any action as part of the transfer. All customer contracts, pricing and broadband services are being honoured by Olilo, which will continue to leverage APFN’s extensive connectivity footprint through aquila. Nisreen El Kaloush, Chief Commercial Officer at AllPoints Fibre Networks, said: “aquila gives the channel a single, simple route to market. Over the past year, we’ve proven that the platform works, and this sale marks the final step in fully aligning APFN behind that vision.” … Climb to partner with N-able in UK&I N-able is building on a five-year partnership with Climb Channel Solutions in North America by appointing it to distribute its security portfolio in the UK and Ireland as well. The extension will give UK&I resellers access to N-able’s cybersecurity, data protection and endpoint management technologies, alongside enablement, training and go-to-market support at a time of heightened cyber risk and growing pressure on organisations to improve preparedness, keep critical services running and recover quickly from disruption. Jon Bartholomew, Vice President, Global Channel Sales at N-able, said: “As the UK’s regulatory landscape evolves, businesses need practical ways to help customers stay ahead of risk and respond with confidence when incidents occur. Together with Climb, we’re making it easier for UK and Irish resellers to access the solutions, expertise and support they need to protect customers, minimise downtime and restore operations faster.” Climb CRO Gerard Brophy added: “Following strong momentum with N-able in North America, we’re excited to extend that success to the UK and Irish markets. N-able’s business resilience vision, combined with its channel-first approach and comprehensive portfolio, creates a compelling opportunity for our reseller community to grow revenue while helping customers navigate today’s more demanding security and compliance landscape.” www.climbcs.com/uk … Rapid7 turns to Exclusive Networks to boost UK presence Rapid7, a global leader in pre-emptive managed detection and response (MDR), is extending its UK reach and strengthening partner 04 VeloxServ enhances Unity Portal for UK channel partners VeloxServ, an independent wholesale aggregator of connectivity and provider of colocation services to ISPs, MSPs and channel partners, has enhanced its Unity Partner Portal through which partners can access multiple supplier networks, manage orders, monitor services and simplify the delivery of connectivity solutions. Partners can now search availability across all integrated supplier networks from a single interface, removing the need to access multiple supplier portals; manage the order journey end-to-end; take advantage of real-time order monitoring capabilities to see delivery progress and request updates directly through the platform; and investigate and resolve issues without leaving the portal via integrated diagnostics for CityFibre, Vodafone and ITS services. Other enhancements include better user profile management; improved invoice visibility; and an API that has entered testing, paving the way for partners to integrate Unity directly with their own business systems and automate routine workflows. Steven Wood, Head of Sales at VeloxServ, said: “As our supplier portfolio continues to grow, it’s increasingly important that partners have a single platform that brings everything together in one place. The latest enhancements to Unity are all about improving efficiency, reducing administration and giving partners the tools they need to deliver an even better experience for their customers. Rather than switching between multiple supplier systems, Unity provides a streamlined, centralised platform that helps partners work smarter.” www.veloxserv.co.uk/wholesale-partners Gerard Brophy Larissa Crandall
DISTRIBUTOR NEWS continued... technologyreseller.co.uk SOC services efficiently in a market where skilled security analysts are in short supply, while VARs need differentiated solutions that help customers modernise in-house security operations. By bringing category-defining AI SOC capabilities to our partner ecosystem, we’re supporting growth, improving service delivery and helping partners deliver stronger customer outcomes.” QBS Software’s third new EMEA partnership, with Cloud security pioneer Orca Security, will give its network of VARs, MSPs, MSSPs and cloud-focused service providers access to Orca’s AI security platform for enterprise and upper midmarket businesses. Corrigan said: “Orca Security represents exactly the kind of best-in-class cloud and AI security vendor we want to champion across our EMEA network. Their agentless approach and comprehensive Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) resonate strongly with the enterprise and upper mid-market buyers our partners serve every day. We look forward to building a high-performing ecosystem together.” The partnership will initially cover the UK & Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and UAE/Saudi Arabia, with the Nordics, Benelux and Central and Eastern Europe likely to be added later. www.qbssoftware.com Simon Noble, SVP of Global Channel at Hicomply, said: “This is an important moment for Hicomply and a big step forward in how we scale through the channel. What we are hearing from organisations across EMEA is that they need to prove they are secure and do so without adding more pressure to already stretched teams. Working with QBS gives us a stronger route to market, while giving resellers a clear way to support customers who are under growing pressure to demonstrate compliance, governance and trust.” Dropzone AI provides an Agentic SOC platform that uses SOC Analysts to investigate every alert end to end, providing evidence-backed verdicts so analysts can focus on confirmed threats. The AI agents work 24/7 across tools already in the customer’s stack, protecting their investment in existing SIEM, SOAR, EDR or case management solutions. The platform increases SOC capacity enabling MSSPs to improve SLA performance and protect margins as alert volumes continue to rise. For VAR partners, it can help customers’ in-house SOC teams augment internal analysts with autonomous investigations to reduce alert fatigue, accelerate triage, improve investigation consistency and close temporary skills gaps. Tom Corrigan, Chief Revenue Officer at QBS Software, said: “MSSPs need to scale Manpreet Bath, Vice President for Commercial Engagement at Submer, said: “Netceed brings a powerful combination of extensive EMEA reach and a specialism in global telecommunications and data centre infrastructure. This partnership will enable us to scale across EMEA and be accessible to telcos who are looking to launch new AI-driven services and sovereign data centres without reliance on centralised hyperscaler infrastructure.” www.netceed.com … Pax8 strengthens cyber resilience offering with Keepit and Absolute Security Pax8, the AI and cloud marketplace for MSPs and their SMB customers, has strengthened its cyber resilience offering through new agreements with Absolute Security and Keepit. Absolute Security’s ability to maintain the integrity of critical applications, including RMM, EDR, VPN and identity tools, enables MSPs to embed resilience directly into their service offerings, ensuring critical security tools remain intact, devices stay recoverable and downtime can be stopped before it leads to big losses. In addition, Pax8’s partnership with Keepit enables MSPs and channel partners to deliver a purpose-built cloud-native backup and recovery platform across 17 business-critical SaaS applications, including Microsoft 365 and Entra ID, Google Workspace, SalesForce, Okta, Jira, Confluence and Docusign. Keepit stores backup data in a fully independent secure cloud environment, entirely separate from the production SaaS systems and global hyperscalers. Its immutable architecture supports stronger cyber resilience and helps organisations meet recovery and compliance objectives, including in environments where AI-generated threats pose growing risks to data integrity. Giving partners a streamlined route to expand backup and recovery services beyond single-workload coverage, the platform features centralised management, predictable pricing and scalable unlimited delivery. pax8.com … QBS Software partners with Hicomply, Dropzone AI and Orca Security QBS Software has enhanced its software offering with a trio of new vendors looking to extend their reach across EMEA – Hicomply, Dropzone AI and Orca Security. Hicomply is a global provider of businesswide information security management software that enables businesses to achieve and maintain critical certifications like ISO 27001 and SOC 2. Its partnership with QBS builds on its recent expansion into North America and partnerships designed to strengthen compliance support across EMEA. 05 Channel partners act to offset hardware volatility amid rising risk to projects Almost nine in 10 channel partners (87%) are taking steps to protect customers and keep projects on track amid hardware pricing volatility and memory shortages, with 23% of partners surveyed by Westcon-Comstor reporting delayed or cancelled hardware orders. Partners in Westcon-Comstor’s global Tech Xpert community cited delays to project delivery caused by the need to redesign or revalidate solutions when components become unavailable or specifications change as the biggest risk arising from supply constraints and pricing pressure. In response, partners are adopting mitigation measures such as moving workloads or components to managed services (25%) and using storage tiering or caching to reduce RAM reliance (27%). More than half (60%) say they have improved infrastructure capacity planning to better align supply with customer demand and 29% have switched vendors or platforms in response to availability constraints. Customers are reacting too. Three quarters (75%) of partners report some change in buying behaviour, with 52% saying they or their customers have accelerated hardware purchases to mitigate risk and 45% reporting accelerated cloud adoption. Callum McGregor, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Westcon-Comstor, said: “Hardware pricing volatility and supply constraints are reshaping customer buying decisions and having a profound impact on the IT channel. In response, partners are helping customers plan earlier, adapt architectures and stay flexible so they can keep projects moving despite uncertainty. That ability to balance immediate performance and long-term requirements is becoming increasingly critical. It also demonstrates the strategic role that channel partners, supported by distribution, can play in building resilience and helping customers navigate the pressures that have quickly become a systemic feature of the market.” Callum McGregor Simon Noble Tom Corrigan
DISTRIBUTOR NEWS ...continued 01732 759725 Arrow Electronics signs new Pan EMEA distribution agreement with ABB Arrow Electronics has expanded its critical power offering for data centre channel partners with the signing of a Pan EMEA distribution agreement with ABB Electrification, a provider of uninterruptible power supplies and electrification products. Under the arrangement, Arrow will distribute ABB’s UPS solutions across key EMEA markets, starting with the UK&I, Benelux, France, Germany and Spain, later adding electrification products for demanding operational environments. Mike Worby, Head of Strategic Alliances at Arrow’s Enterprise Computing Solutions Business in EMEA, said: “This agreement brings important new capabilities to our channel partners. Power protection is a vital part of any modern IT design and the addition of ABB uninterruptible power supplies means our customers can work with a broader and more complete set of solutions. It is a strong addition to our existing portfolio and creates new opportunities for channel partners to support their customers’ evolving needs.” arrow.com … LinkShadow expands UK&I footprint with e92Plus LinkShadow has appointed e92plus to bring its unified cybersecurity platform to enterprises and partners across the UK and Ireland via the cybersecurity distributor’s new e92spark division dedicated to bringing the most innovative cybersecurity vendors to the UK market. LinkShadow started out with an AI-driven Network Detection and Response (NDR) platform before adding Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) and Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) capabilities. Its AI-powered CyberMeshX (CMX) platform brings insights from these core solutions into a unified and adaptive security framework that, by correlating signals across environments, enables organisations to move beyond fragmented tools and gain deeper, real-time visibility into threats. With an open, integration-driven architecture, CyberMeshX eliminates vendor lock-in and enables seamless integration across a wide range of security tools allowing organisations to retain their existing investments while achieving a more streamlined and scalable security posture. Sajin Yousuff Kutty, Chief Partner Officer at LinkShadow, said: “Cybersecurity is no longer just about defence, it’s about having the intelligence and visibility to stay ahead of threats. We’re enabling organisations in the UK to bring together network, data and identity insights into a single, cohesive framework that drives faster, more informed decisionmaking.” www.e92plus.com/spark management grows, partners need flexible ways to deliver multicloud storage across environments. Bringing Vawlt into our portfolio gives our partners a practical, innovative way to address these challenges while creating new service opportunities for their customers.” The two companies will initially focus on Virtual NAS, a ready-to-deploy solution that enables partners to extend or replace traditional storage while accelerating customer adoption of multicloud environments. … Giacom adds Huntress to cybersecurity portfolio Channel-only marketplace and software provider Giacom has added Huntress to its cybersecurity portfolio, giving channel partners access to managed endpoint detection and response, identity protection and managed SIEM services backed by a 24/7 Security Operations Centre, plus security awareness training. Designed for MSPs, Huntress can work alongside existing antivirus tools and Microsoft Defender, helping MSPs strengthen the security services they provide to customers without requiring them to replace customers’ existing protection or add unnecessary complexity to their own operations. Carl Oliver, Head of Product & Cloud Practice at Giacom, said: “MSPs are under pressure to improve security outcomes for customers, but they also need to be able to scale those services profitably without making their own operations harder to manage. Huntress stands out for its ability to deliver high-quality Managed EDR in a way that is purposebuilt for MSPs, backed by around-the-clock specialist support.” Giacom.com DigiCert expands EMEA channel strategy with Ignition Technology DigiCert, a global expert in intelligent trust, is aiming to grow its channel across Europe and boost partner-led growth through a strategic distribution partnership with Ignition Technology. This will see Ignition bring the AI-powered DigiCert ONE platform to customers and partners across the UK and Ireland, DACH, France, Benelux and the Nordics. DigiCert’s platform unifies PKI, DNS and automated certificate lifecycle management, helping organisations establish trust across machine identities, software, devices, digital content and AI agents, while reducing outages, strengthening compliance and supporting the transition to post-quantum cryptography. Sean Remnant, Chief Strategy Officer at Ignition Technology, said: “Organisations are facing increasingly complex security, operational and regulatory challenges as they embrace AI, modernise infrastructure and prepare for the post quantum era. They don’t need more disconnected tools. They need a platform that simplifies complexity, helps them move faster and gives them confidence they’re ready for what’s next.” www.digicert.com … TD SYNNEX to distribute Vawlt multi-cloud storage TD SYNNEX is bringing Vawlt’s full portfolio of secure storage capabilities to TD SYNNEX partners following a pan-European distribution agreement with the multicloud storage provider focused on secure, sovereign data solutions. Sam Paris, TD SYNNEX’s Vice President of Security, Networking and Communications, Europe, said: “As demand for secure, sovereign data 06 Giacom simplifies wholesale mobile across Vodafone, EE and O2 with Velocity Following the addition of EE to its Wholesale Mobile portfolio, Giacom is making it simpler for communication providers and MSPs to sell mobile services across Vodafone, EE and O2, with the launch of a Wholesale Mobile proposition spanning all three networks. Velocity replaces separate VodaShare, EE Everyway and O2 All in One propositions, giving partners a common way to compare tariffs, prepare customer proposals and manage mobile opportunities, while retaining the individual coverage, commercial and service strengths of each network. Velocity is delivered through Giacom’s Cloud Market platform, alongside the company’s wider portfolio of cloud, connectivity, cybersecurity, hardware and business software services. Andrew Wilford, Managing Director – Mobile, said: “Historically, managing services across multiple mobile networks has introduced unnecessary complexity through different propositions, processes, platforms and commercial structures. Velocity changes that. By bringing Vodafone, EE and O2 into a single, consistent framework, partners can quote, order and manage mobile services through one self-service platform, while selecting the right network and tariff for every customer.” https://giacom.com/velocity-nb/ Andrew Wilford Sean Remnant Carl Oliver Mike Worby
How you organise, save and submit your UK tax and VAT returns continues to change and evolve, for both individuals and companies. The government’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) scheme simplifies the tax paying and record keeping processes. Digitising your documentation makes it easier to organise your financial information, get your tax right first time and have greater transparency of your company data. Digitising your documents is easy with ScanSnap scanners from PFU (EMEA) Ltd Are you and your customers ready for Making Tax Digital for income tax? MTD DEADLINE 6TH APRIL 2026 All sole traders and landlords with an annual gross income threshold of over £50,000 1st MTD DEADLINE 6TH APRIL 2027 All sole traders and landlords with an annual gross income threshold of over £30,000 (up to £50k) 2nd MTD DEADLINE 6TH APRIL 2028 All sole traders and landlords with an annual gross income threshold of over £20,000 (up to £30k) 3rd WHAT MAKING TAX DIGITAL FOR INCOME TAX MEANS Take a look at our MTD infographic and animation and scanner range at our partner portal https://partner.imaging-channel-program.com
01732 759725 08 employing between one and 50 people, retailers should court business customers that typically generate significantly higher transaction values and purchase more frequently than retail consumers. He said: “Retailers that continue to focus predominantly on entry-level consumer devices risk leaving significant margin on the table. Those that evolve their proposition towards business buyers have a real opportunity to capture this growing market.” One retailer already doing this is Currys, which plans to double its B2B revenues over three years, expand the dedicated Business Hubs within its stores and offer services such as business account management, flexible payment terms and technology leasing to better serve SME customers. www.contextworld.com In the UK, commercial ASPs averaged €821 (32.8% above retail). James Bates, Senior Retail Analyst at CONTEXT, said: “The analysis clearly shows that SMEs are purchasing differently from consumers. When a 15-person agency or independent consultant invests in technology, they’re buying for productivity, security and longevity rather than looking for the cheapest option.” This trend is being driven by factors such as rising demand for commercialgrade security and compliance features; increased investment in devices capable of supporting hybrid working; growing adoption of AI-ready PCs and higherperformance hardware; and longer refresh cycles requiring greater durability and lifecycle services. Bates adds that with a UK addressable opportunity of £9 billion in businesses European technology retailers are at risk of missing a significant commercial opportunity by continuing to treat SMEs as consumer buyers, warns global market intelligence firm CONTEXT. Its analysis reveals a widening gap between the Average Selling Price (ASP) in the traditional retail channel and the ASP in the Small and Medium Reseller (SMR) channels, indicative of a structural shift towards higher-value business technology purchases by SMEs. Across Europe, notebook ASPs in the SMR channel averaged €835 in the first half of 2026, compared with €663 in traditional retail, representing a price premium of 26%. Between January and June 2026, that premium rose from 16.6% to almost 34%, highlighting growing demand for higher-specification business devices. Retailers risk missing out as SMEs trade up to premium hardware MARKET RESEARCH use. The strength of all-in-one bars is a good example of that shift. Rather than a broad refresh across every collaboration category, investment is increasingly going towards technologies that can deliver an immediate improvement to the hybrid meeting experience.” There are also pronounced differences between regions. Eastern Europe delivered 18% year-on-year UC&C revenue growth in Q2, compared with a flat performance in Western Europe. This follows an equally sharp divergence in Q1, when Eastern Europe grew 6% while Western Europe declined 3%. Gaudin added: “The geographical picture reinforces how fragmented the market has become. There are still clear opportunities for vendors and channel partners, but growth cannot be assumed across UC&C as a whole. The strongest opportunities are emerging around specific technologies, use cases and markets. For the channel, understanding exactly where customers are still prepared to invest will be increasingly important through the second half of the year.” months of 2026. Businesses have had limited budget available for peripherals, while a slowdown in the refresh cycle has added further pressure to the category. At the same time, video collaboration is providing a clear area of growth. Sales of all-in-one video bars have been particularly strong and are boosting the standalone camera segment. In June, revenues for all-in-one bars were 95% higher year-on-year, following a 127% increase in April. Compact cameras returned to 5% growth in June after declining 17% in May, while 360-degree/ PTZ products grew 19% in June. Fragmented market Rémi Gaudin, Business Data and Market Analyst at CONTEXT, said: “The UC&C market is not moving in one direction. Businesses are clearly being more selective about where they invest. We are seeing pressure on mature categories such as headsets and IP phones, while video continues to attract spending, particularly where products make meeting rooms simpler to deploy and easier to Europe’s Unified Communications and Collaboration (UC&C) market is becoming increasingly polarised, with strong growth in video and camera technologies contrasting with weaker demand for established workplace categories such as headsets and display systems, according to the latest data from global market intelligence firm CONTEXT. CONTEXT’s market review of Western European distribution sales through Week 31 of 2026 tracks collaboration headsets, cameras, speakers, microphones, room systems, IP phones, display systems, conference solutions and accessories. The divergence was particularly evident in Q2 when collaboration video revenues increased 18% year-on-year and collaboration cameras grew 7%, helped by a strong surge in Poland that lifted the European figures. In contrast, collaboration headset revenues fell 7%, display systems declined 2% and IP phones were down 3%. Conference accessories were up 1%. The weakness in headsets follows subdued investment during the opening European UC&C market splits as video surges and headsets struggle Currys is courting SMEs with enhanced support for business customers
03304 333 888 giacom.com New setting, same award-winning experience. 17.09.2026 Imagine Nation returns this September with a nostalgia-filled celebration of 90s club culture, hosted at the legendary fabric nightclub in London. Bringing Giacom’s partner community together for an unforgettable event, Imagine Nation features live music, DJs, great food and drink, and the relaxed atmosphere that sets it apart. If you’re a Giacom partner and would like to join us please email [email protected] to request your place.
10 01732 759725 RESELLER NEWS It redefines what organisations should expect from an MSP in the AI era.” Integris says the fundamental difference between CORE and a traditional managed services model is that CORE treats technology as a lever for operational performance, not simply as a cost required to keep systems running. https://integrisit.com/services/core/ … Redsquid acquires Spalding-based ARK ICT Redsquid, the fast-growing, B Corp-certified managed technology and cybersecurity provider, is adding education sector expertise and an established East Midlands presence to its growing capabilities, with the acquisition of ARK ICT, based in Spalding, Lincolnshire. Established in 2001, ARK ICT provides managed IT support, hardware, software, installations, training and consultancy to hundreds of schools and businesses across the East Midlands area. Approximately 80% of ARK ICT’s customers operate within the education sector, bringing valuable sector expertise to the Redsquid group, along with an established regional SME customer base. ARK ICT customers will continue to be supported by the same local team while gaining access to Redsquid’s wider capabilities, including AI enablement and transformation; cybersecurity backed by a 24/7 Security Operations Centre; cloud services; connectivity; and workplace technology. Sohin Raithatha, CEO and Co-founder of Redsquid, said: “ARK ICT has built an exceptional reputation across the education and SME markets. Its commitment to customer success, strong regional presence and highly experienced team make it a natural fit for Redsquid. “This acquisition considerably strengthens our education proposition while broadening our reach within the SME market. Most importantly, it brings together talented people who share our ambition to build the UK’s most trusted and loved technology partner.” … Bechtle moves to bigger London office Bechtle UK has moved into new London premises at Angel Square, a state-of-the-art office building in Islington. A few minutes’ walk from the company’s previous office, the new location provides 11,606 The acquisition of Six Degrees gives Claranet, which currently provides cloud, cybersecurity, data, AI, networks and workplace solutions, additional UK expertise in secure cloud, hybrid infrastructure, cybersecurity and modern workplace services. Six Degrees CEO Vince DeLuca said: “The acquisition reflects continued demand from organisations looking for trusted managed service partners that can simplify complex technology environments, improve resilience, strengthen cyber security and support cloud transformation. Claranet’s enlarged UK business will continue to help customers modernise and protect their organisations through secure, scalable and highperformance IT services.” www.claranet.com … AI to the core Global managed AI and IT services provider Integris has launched a new managed service that it describes as ‘the complete managed services package for the era of artificial intelligence.’ Designed to help organisations move from experimenting with AI to using it safely and consistently in their everyday work, CORE brings AI, automation, data governance and cybersecurity into a single managed service, with Integris providing the platform, guardrails, training and ongoing support to help teams identify practical use cases and create measurable business outcomes. Integris CEO Rashaad Bajwa said: “As AI has evolved from hype to reality, we’ve seen a pivotal shift in what organisations expect from their technology partners. CORE closes the gap between what modern businesses need and what traditional managed services were built to deliver. Project X acquires Sapphire Computer Systems Essex-based IT support specialist Sapphire Computer Systems has been acquired by Project X Holdings, currently embarking on a ‘buy and build’ strategy to acquire, invest in and scale IT managed services businesses. Incorporated in January 2025, Project X Holdings is led by Directors Simon Newton, who was Group CFO of inTEC from November 2016 to June 2023, and Ciaran Kenny, who was Director of Macnamara ICT from June 2003 to December 2025. On its website, Project X says it is looking to acquire IT services businesses with adjusted EBITDA of between £350k and £1m and a minimum of 60% recurring revenue and help them reach their potential by providing centralised expertise and support across HR, finance, legal and marketing, as well as opportunities to collaborate with complementary businesses within the group. Sapphire Computer Systems, founded in 1992 and based in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, provides a range of IT system management, connectivity, support and consultation services to business in the South-East of England. Sapphire Computer Systems was advised by KBS Corporate. … Six Degrees acquired by Claranet At the end of June, global technology services provider Claranet boosted its UK presence and expanded its services offering with the acquisition of complementary IT services provider Six Degrees. Operating under the Claranet brand, the enlarged business will have 3,500 staff and revenues of more than €650m. continued... TalkTalk Business to merge with ARO TalkTalk Business has announced plans to merge with UK technology services provider ARO and create one of the UK’s largest independent connectivity and managed technology services groups. The merger, subject to final approval under the National Security Investment Act, is expected to conclude by the end of the summer, creating a group with a combined headcount of 650 employees, annual revenues of around £200 million and a customer base of more than 70,000 organisations. Bringing together ARO’s strengths in cloud, cyber security and managed IT services with TalkTalk Business’s in connectivity, networking and communications will enable the new group to offer a broader end-to-end proposition and be a single trusted technology partner for customers. It will also give it the scale, expertise and resources to accelerate investment in technology, service delivery and innovation. Ruth Kennedy, CEO of TalkTalk Business, said: “The market is evolving rapidly, with organisations increasingly seeking technology partners that can combine strategic expertise, operational excellence and broad service capabilities at scale. This combination creates a business that is uniquely positioned to meet those expectations and support customers across every stage of their technology journey.” For TalkTalk Business, the merger with ARO marks another milestone in its evolution into a managed technology services provider following its final separation from TalkTalk Group in February and its acquisition of IT and cybersecurity specialist Planet IT in March. ARO, previously Arrow Business Communications, acquired a number of service providers following investment by MML in January 2020, including UK-tec Ltd, Complete Networks, Click Networks, Altinet and BTL Communications. For the time being, both companies will continue to operate under their existing brands to ensure continuity for customers, employees and partners. Ruth Kennedy
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RESELLER NEWS 12 01732 759725 ...continued technology portfolio, including AI-powered customer experience and communications solutions. … BCN attains Microsoft Managing Partner status BCN, a Microsoft solutions partner specialising in Cloud, Data, Security and AI-led business transformation, has taken its partnership with Microsoft to the next level by attaining Microsoft Managed Partner status. CEO Rob Davies believes BCN’s enhanced relationship with Microsoft, including access to Microsoft account teams and more co-sell opportunities, will help its customers move from AI ambition to real-world business outcomes. He said: “Achieving Microsoft Managed Partner status strengthens our ability to help organisations navigate one of the most significant technology shifts of our generation. Our ambition is simple: to help customers realise tangible business value from AI, data, cloud and security technologies through practical, secure and measurable transformation. This closer alignment with Microsoft enables us to bring even greater expertise, innovation and support to organisations looking to accelerate their digital and AI ambitions.” With expertise across Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Fabric, Microsoft Copilot, Security, Data & AI and Managed Services, BCN supports customers through every stage of their transformation journey. BCN holds all core Microsoft Solutions Partner designations, multiple advanced specialisations and was among the first partners globally to achieve Microsoft’s Support Services designation. … Phoenix Software focusing exclusively on UK public sector Phoenix Software has completed its transition into a dedicated public sector IT specialist, in line with a go-to-market strategy announced by parent company Bytes Technology Group on May 12,2026. This stated that from July 1, Bytes Software Services would focus solely on the private sector, with Phoenix Software focusing solely on the public sector. Clare Metcalfe, Managing Director of Phoenix Software, said: “We are the UK’s public sector specialist. Every customer we serve will now be working with an organisation built entirely around their world.” To this end, Phoenix Software has aligned its business around 11 key public sector verticals: Central Government, Local Government, Policing, Fire and Rescue, Defence, Healthcare, Higher Education, Further Education, Schools and Trusts, Housing, and Charity and Social Impact. Each one has its own content, its own framework conversation, its own named contacts and its own sector specialists. underpinned by strong new customer acquisition, customer retention of approximately 98% and high net revenue retention. Russell Crowley, Co-CEO of Principle Networks, points out that the company has benefitted from a change in the way organisations buy cybersecurity as they consolidate security platforms and adopt AI, cloud and zero trust architectures. He said: “Businesses are under pressure to simplify increasingly complex security environments whilst protecting AI, cloud and hybrid infrastructure. Rather than adding more technology, they’re looking to consolidate around strategic platforms and work with specialist partners who can help them maximise value from those investments. That’s exactly where Principle Networks has built its business, helping customers reduce risk, simplify operations and accelerate value through identity, Zero Trust, cloud & AI security and data protection.” www.principle-networks.com … Communications Plus acquired by Focus Group Focus Group, the Hg Capital-backed provider of essential business technology, has strengthened its O2 partnership with the acquisition of Rainfordbased Communications Plus, including Cellular Solutions North East based in Sunderland. Over the last two decades, Communications Plus has established itself as a leading O2 partner with a strong and loyal customer base across mobile distribution, wholesale mobile and fixed communications. As a five-time O2 Franchise of the Year award winner and an O2 Direct Excel Business Partner, it brings an outstanding depth of O2 expertise, well-established supplier relationships and a track record of growth to Focus Group. Communications Plus will continue to be led by its existing management team and will benefit from immediate access to Focus Group’s advanced square feet of flexible space, including a roof terrace with views across London. Developed by Bechtle UK Interiors, the space provides a modern working environment for the company’s 80 IT experts, doubling as a customer showcase where visitors can experience modern workplace concepts and technology solutions. The new office has space for further growth of Bechtle’s London operation, including a planned expansion of its Sales team and Business Solutions and Services Team. Bechtle has operated in the UK for 28 years and established a firm foothold in London with its acquisition of value-added reseller Tangible Benefit in 2023 and the opening of a new warehouse in Canning Town. It also has locations in Chippenham, Manchester, Northampton and Newbury through its acquisitions of ACS Systems in 2022 and Qolcom and DriveWorks in 2024. … Third year of strong organic growth for Principle Networks Cybersecurity specialist Principle Networks, which helps mid-enterprise organisations simplify and modernise cybersecurity through co-managed security services, platform consolidation and zero trust architecture, has reached £8 million in revenue and £1 million EBITDA following a third successive year of strong organic growth. Over the past three years, the business has achieved average annual revenue growth of 40% and EBITDA growth of 106%, reflecting greater demand for specialist cybersecurity expertise as organisations modernise their IT environments. Its growth in FY25/26 was entirely organic, Intercity raises profile in South West with Bristol Bears partnership Intercity, the Birmingham-headquartered MSP, is raising its profile in the South-West by becoming an official partner of Bristol Bears Rugby Club for the 2026/27 season. As the Premiership club’s official Managed IT Service Partner, Intercity will provide support across IT services, cloud, cybersecurity and communications. It is also supporting Bristol Bears Women as their lower back-of-shirt partner. Oliver Hayward, Chief Revenue Officer at Intercity, said: “There is a real buzz around rugby in the city, and we want to equip both teams with the robust IT foundations and technology innovations they require to make the most of performance analytics and the matchday experience. The sponsorship element of the deal will also raise awareness of the Intercity name in a relatively untapped area for us, with stadium branding, digital engagement and, the icing on the cake, our logo on the lower backs of the Bristol Bears Women’s shirts.” The one-year deal with Bristol Bears builds on Intercity’s existing partnerships with Birmingham City Football Club and Edgbaston. www.intercity.technology (l-r) Daisie Mayes (Bears Women), Charlie Blakemore (Intercity), Tom Tainton (Bristol Bears) and Oliver Hayward (Intercity) Russell Crowley Clare Metcalfe
RESELLER NEWS technologyreseller.co.uk 13 He added: “The July price rise also changes the maths on waste. When nearly a third of licences sit unused, paying more for seats nobody touches is real money. In most cases the licensing review alone pays for the service.” Every engagement starts with a free assessment, showing an organisation how much it is wasting and where its gaps are before any commitment is made. www.northdoor.co.uk … Flotek Group boosts London presence with 16th acquisition Flotek Group has continued its buy and build strategy with the acquisition of Essex-based Clear Telecom, an established provider of IT support, hosted VoIP, SIP trunks, Microsoft Teams telephony, business phone systems, mobile, broadband and leased lines. The acquisition – Flotek’s 16th since it was founded in 2022 – will strengthens Flotek’s managed IT presence across Essex and London, while giving Clear Telecom’s customers access to an expanded range of managed IT, Microsoft cloud, cyber security and communications services. The Clear Telecom team will become part of Flotek Group but continue to operate from their Essex base, with erstwhile owners Barbara and John Malone working alongside Flotek to ensure a smooth transition for Clear Telecom customers. www.flotek.io … Wavenet invests in smarter, more proactive support model Wavenet is investing in AI-powered customer service technologies following a year in which its support teams handled over 450,000 support cases and 165,000 customer calls while maintaining a 92% customer satisfaction score. The company has doubled its turnover in the last 12 months and now has offices in over 30 locations, 1,700 staff and more than 22,000 customers across the UK. To support this growth, Wavenet has signed a new three-year, £7.4 million agreement with IT support, cyber security, cloud services, backup, disaster recovery and strategic IT consultancy to businesses in Essex and beyond. https://techwyse.co.uk … New Northdoor services to tackle wasteful cloud spend Microsoft Gold Partner Northdoor plc has responded to recent Microsoft price rises by expanding its managed services portfolio, covering infrastructure, security, data analytics and AI readiness, with new services for Azure Cloud Management, Microsoft 365 Management & Optimisation and Modern Workplace Managed Services. The new services address growing pressure on IT budgets caused by Microsoft price rises (up 25% to 40% over three years, with a further increase on 1 July 2026) and wasteful cloud spend, with the average organisation wasting close to one third of its cloud spend and 20%-30% of Microsoft 365 licences sitting unused or misassigned. Martin Summerhayes, Head of Managed Services at Northdoor, adds that at the same time businesses are having to contend with a capacity problem. He said: “Most of the organisations we meet are not short of technology. They are short of the people and hours to run it properly. An IT team of three is now expected to cover the service desk, security, licensing and every device the business owns, while the bills go up around them. These services take that load on.” Metcalfe added: “The UK public sector needs a technology partner that is built for it, not adapted to it. Public sector is not a practice for us. It is the whole company.” … Kinly launches UK-first HP Dimension with Google Beam demonstration centre Kinly has become the first integrator in the UK to host a live, commercial-grade demonstration environment for the HP Dimension with Google Beam 3D spatial communication system. Unlike traditional, flat 2D video conferencing software, HP Dimension with Google Beam utilises a specialised camera array, millimetre-accurate eye tracking and advanced neural rendering to project participants in true physical scale and depth, creating a life-sized 3D experience without the need for headsets or wearables. By making remote meetings feel less like video calls and more like sitting across from someone in the same room, the technology gives enterprise teams a more natural way to connect across locations. Kinly CEO Ken Scaturro said: “For teams spending multiple hours per week in virtual meetings, traditional video calls have reached a point of digital fatigue. But HP Dimension with Google Beam technology, coupled with Kinly’s extensive experience in workplace communication, will enable them to collaborate more naturally and build stronger connections. By being the first integrator to empower UK enterprises to get hands-on with this technology, this partnership will help organisations to enter the next generation of workplace communication.” https://www.kinly.com/hp-dimension-withgoogle-beam … TechWyse now Assurix Trustmark accredited Essex-based managed service provider TechWyse has added the Assurix Trustmark to its list of accreditations, alongside ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus. The Assurix Trustmark provides independent verification that an MSP meets high standards of security, governance and operational excellence through continuous assessment, with businesses able to verify their provider’s status via a public register. Founded in 1990, TechWyse provides managed continued... Europe’s first Panduit Platinum Partner Network infrastructure and connectivity specialist The Cabling Group has been awarded Panduit Platinum Partner status, in recognition of its technical expertise, customer focus and a commitment to delivering industry-leading infrastructure solutions. The Cabling Group is currently Panduit’s only Platinum Partner in Europe Jens Holzhammer, Managing Director EMEA at Panduit, said: “By combining Panduit’s industry-leading infrastructure solutions with The Cabling Group’s technical expertise and market reach, we are well positioned to accelerate growth across the network infrastructure business.” Jens Holzhammer
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