Category Archives: Networking

Networking, News

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise Appoints the Nuvias Group as Distributor across the Nordics and Baltics

Enterprise-grade, digital age networking and cloud solutions for the channel.

Paris, France & Sandefjord, Norway – 21st June 2022 – Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, a leading provider of networking solutions tailored to customers’ industries, today appoints the Nuvias Group as a distributor across the Nordics and Baltics.

The partnership will focus on bringing advanced and integrated networking solutions to enterprises via the channel. This will include a comprehensive portfolio enabling connectivity through on-premises and cloud solutions, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, IoT and more. As channel partners, Nuvias Group will have access to robust solutions designed to support enterprise customers in their digital transformation process, which are essential if organisations are to remain competitive in the current market.

These integrated networking solutions address the hybrid working practices that are becoming commonplace in the wake of the health crisis, and enable a complete, uninterrupted network that extends to remote workers. While optimal network functionality is important for business, it is also essential to ensure continuity of learning in educational establishments, and this partnership will allow for remote learning and student-centric environments in ever-challenging times.

Channel partners will be able to deliver network monitoring as a service, through OmniVista Cirrus, a cloud-based, unified management system by Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, to afford visibility and control over the entire wired and wireless infrastructure. Customers will have one platform from which they can manage all their network infrastructures, to ensure a preventative approach and quick resolution for optimum performance.

Joakim Ahrens, Channel Sale Manager for Sweden, at Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, said: “We believe in the power and reach of distribution and are excited to leverage the expertise and channel reach for Nordics and Baltics that the Nuvias Group offers. Together we can help channel partners intercept considerable growth opportunities, as business digital transformation accelerates in this period of rapid change. The Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise solutions available through the Nuvias Group partners have been purpose-built to address the requirements of specific market segments, including public sector, education, healthcare, transportation, energy, utilities and more as we move through 2022 and beyond.”

Tom Ivar Solbakken, GM, Nordics at the Nuvias Group, added: “Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise brings an exciting range of innovative networking solutions from a trusted, experienced vendor, and further strengthens our Operational Technology (OT) offering. We look forward to building profitable new business opportunities with our partners, accelerated and enabled through our channel services.”

Nuvias will be distributing Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise solutions across Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden.

Business, Business Advice, Cardiff, Networking, News

“If you treat people well, you’ll reap the rewards” says CEO of fifth largest employee-owned company in the UK in address to Cardiff Business Club

David Howden, CEO of Howden Group Holdings, has addressed Cardiff Business Club members about the importance of building resilience and looking after your people when looking to build a bigger, more profitable business.

Fed up of working for companies that kept being sold, David Howden decided to build one that couldn’t be and created Howden Group, an insurance intermediary group, with two friends in 1994. He spoke to guests at Cardiff Hilton Hotel, during the club’s latest live speaker event.

Howden Group Holdings is currently the fifth largest employee-owned company in the UK, with 11,000 employees, 3,500 of those shareholders, delivering broking and underwriting services to more than 1.5 million clients in 45 countries.

First talking about his Welsh roots, with his grandfather born in the Rhondda Valleys, David went on to say: “I got my first job in insurance age 16, which basically involved getting bacon sandwiches for the more senior people. In the 80’s, a lot of British brokers were bought out by listed American companies, and the culture of those businesses wasn’t something I agreed with. They seemed to be all about their shareholders and not about their people, and I wasn’t sure that was somewhere I wanted to work.”

“We wanted to build a business that was owned by the people working there, somewhere you could build your career. I often say that we’re trying to build the biggest small company in the world – a big company with a small company culture, not a big corporate one.”

Talking about attracting and retaining talent, David said: “Since the Covid pandemic hit, we’ve nearly doubled size of the business. That rate of growth is down to two things – attracting and empowering talent. A key part of this is that we reinvest all our profits in the business.”

David also said that even given the size and recent growth of the business, he never talks about the numbers: “My mantra is ‘look after your people, they will look after the clients, and the money will look after itself.”

Professor Sir Chris Evans will headline Cardiff Business Club’s next event on 13 June at Hilton Hotel. For details on all of the Club’s events, visit www.cardiffbusinessclub.org/events.

Networking, News

Digicel Deploys Enea AdaptiveMobile Security to Protect Mobile Networks in 26 Caribbean and Central American Markets

Stockholm, Sweden and Dublin, Ireland May 24, 2022 Enea the world leader in mobile network security, today announced that Digicel Group has deployed Enea AdaptiveMobile Security’s comprehensive signaling security solution to protect mobile networks and subscribers in 26 markets across the Caribbean and Central American region. Using the Enea AdaptiveMobile Security SS7 and Diameter signaling security platform, together with unique threat intelligence services, Digicel ensures unrivalled protection for its networks and subscribers in each country.

Bad actors and fraudsters exploit technical vulnerabilities to breach subscriber privacy, to deny access to services and to directly defraud both mobile operators and subscribers. Enea AdaptiveMobile Security’s award-winning signaling security firewall and threat intelligence solutions protect networks using signaling protocols such as SS7 and Diameter from continuous attack. This offers domestic and roaming subscribers protection from new and emerging cybersecurity threats.

“We are an operator group that places our commitment to security at the core of our operation, adopting a zero-trust interconnection strategy,” said Krishna Phillipps, Group CTO, Digicel. “After a thorough evaluation of the best possible partners to help us deliver on this vision, we selected Enea AdaptiveMobile Security’s security platform and threat intelligence services to continue protecting our networks against today’s threats and those we’ll face tomorrow.”

“Threat actors are well versed in penetrating unprotected mobile networks. As a result, it is critical that mobile operators work to actively secure vulnerable network infrastructure and maintain a managed defense. This level of security will be a clear differentiator for Digicel across all its markets”, said Brian Collins, SVP, Security, Enea AdaptiveMobile Security. “Our signaling security platform is enhanced by our unique signaling threat intelligence; we are continuously detecting and protecting against new threats and techniques used by sophisticated bad actors manipulating multiple network protocols. Our intelligence is extracted from over 50 billion signaling events globally every day. We are delighted to be working with Digicel to help secure their networks and subscribers.”

Networking, News

Cloud Distribution Ltd to Distribute the Full Ivanti Portfolio in the UK

Enabling Incremental revenue and cross-sell growth opportunities to the UK channel

Reading, UK: 10/05/22 – Ivanti, the provider of the Ivanti Neurons automation platform that discovers, manages, secures, and services IT assets from cloud to edge, has appointed Cloud Distribution Ltd, a Nuvias Group Company specialising in cloud-first, innovative & disruptive cyber security, networking & SaaS solutions, to distribute its full range of network solutions across the UK. Cloud Distribution, will benefit from the extensive resources available through the Nuvias Group to support partners in promoting Ivanti’s Network Security, End Point Security, User Endpoint Management and Service Management solutions for the Everywhere Workplace.

The Ivanti Neurons platform enables businesses to find, heal and protect every device, everywhere, automatically. This is particularly important in an era when hybrid work, rapidly expanding company networks with fluid boundaries and rising cyber threats combine to make effective and efficient network management a priority.

Cloud Distribution will have access to the full Ivanti portfolio, including the latest acquisitions, that support the four Ivanti pillars of Discover, Manage, Secure & Service, to offer its channel partners a considerable growth opportunity, servicing an installed base of 45,000 customers and 40M managed devices.

Making the Everywhere Workplace possible, the Ivanti Neurons platform maps and manages all endpoints from a single console, protecting every device, whether corporate-owned or personal and services your business networks.

“We have selected Cloud Distribution because we know and trust their service-first approach to distribution, their knowledge of the market and technology expertise. They are the perfect partner to help us transition from a single to a two-tier distribution model, an important step in our growth strategy”, David Weeden, Head of Channel, EMEA West & North at Ivanti, commented.

Adam Davison, Chief Strategy Officer at Cloud Distribution said: “This is an exciting addition to our portfolio and a considerable expansion to our range. Most of all, we are excited about the growth opportunity this represents for our partners. We can help partners build on and cross-sell additional Ivanti solutions to the well-established Ivanti installed base as well as assisting partners in driving demand for their extended portfolio, at a time when network visibility and cyber security are a top priority for companies of all sizes”.

Cloud Distribution will be driving focus on the new partnership by hiring a specialist team and by supporting partners through its Partner Growth Services, including lead-generation, professional marketing and financing services, pre-sales and more.

Events, Networking, News, News from Wales

Introbiz Swansea and West Wales Announces Inspiring May Event and September Awards Gala Dinner after Hugely Successful Business Expo Event

It’s been a busy month for Swansea and West Wales Introbiz Network, with April’s inaugural expo in the Guildhall, Swansea proving to be a huge hit with the local business community.

As well as providing a fantastic exhibiting and network opportunities, the day was kicked off by a sell out Breakfast in the Lord Mayor’s reception room with rugby Legends Shane Williams MBE and Ian Gough, where sponsors Celtic Holiday Parks delivered an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable presentation.

Not knowing what to expect for the inaugural event, organisers Mark and Bernie Davies were delighted to see the Guildhall full of exhibitors and visitors, with an electric atmosphere and a real buzz of expectation.  Here’s a selection of images from what proved to be an exciting day for the region:

The event also offered an opportunity for Start Up finalists to pitch for funding and judges were impressed with the high quality of entrants – the winner will be announced at September’s awards dinner.

Exhibitors also had the chance to hear from keynote speakers including Olympian and motivational speaker Derek Redmond, Leader of  council Rob Stewart, Network Leader, Speaker and Business Coach Bernie Davies and Headline Sponsor, MD of Ministry of Furniture Graham Hirst.  Seminars were also held throughout the day.

Organisers Mark and Bernie Davies said:

“Following the success we’ve seen in Swansea with TedX and in our regular Introbiz events, we were expecting this sell-out event to be a massive success and it certainly didn’t disappoint – we cannot wait for the next one!”

“The energy and passion for business in Swansea and West Wales is electric, if only we could bottle that and sell it – and we’d also like to thank our sponsors for their generosity and support which made the event possible.  Feedback from the expo has been overwhelming, our phones haven’t stopped ringing with business owners thanking us for the great connections and business opportunities which were there. The common sentiment is that the venue, the speakers and seminar leaders created an atmosphere that created the ideal networking and business education platform, with many businesses reporting that it has brought in new business opportunities for them.

“We are therefore pleased to announce, that the Guildhall is now the home of Introbiz Swansea and West Wales Expos!”

So, after such a successful event –  what’s next for this successful networking group? Quite a bit it seems!

 

Breakfast Club Networking Event with World Triathlon Para Series and “Super Sam” Holness – Wed 4 May

Introbiz Swansea and West wales and British Triathlon, are jointly hosting a Breakfast Club networking event at The Village Hotel in Swansea on Wednesday 4 May.

Delegates will  be able to learn more about the World Triathlon Para Series, hear from competitors and Paralympians and learn more about the event  that will be taking place in the city for the first time on Saturday 6 August 2022 – the Swansea and West Wales business community can learn more about how they can engage and even partner with the event.

The event will also be joined by inspirational elite professional Para triathlete Sam Holness (also known as “Super Sam”).  The Autistic Ironman Triathlete will share his experience in triathlon and talk about what participating in the event means to him and his sporting journey.

Meet Sam Holness – also known as “Super Sam” The Autistic Ironman Triathlete

Tickets are available on Eventbrite

 

Red Carpet Gala Awards Dinner – 8 September

Join the network for our celebration of 2022 with our Red Carpet Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony at the Village Hotel Swansea 8th September 7.30-11pm

This event celebrates the 2022 year after COVID, and members. visitors, collaborators and Partners are all welcome to attend – and the network has lined up a fantastic evening, with:

  • Keynote speaker
  • Three course meal
  • Bubbly reception
  • Red carpet event
  • Entertainment
  • Awards ceremony including start up awards with prize money

The Expo Start Up Business awards winner will be announced, finalists include:

  • See No Bounds
  • Doolittle Pet Services
  • Phoenix Bloom
  • Living at Home
  • Aspera
  • Via Fortuna

In addition, Introbiz Swansea and West Wales will present awards in the following categories:

  • Networker of the year
  • Male Entrepreneur
  • Female Entrepreneur
  • Outstanding Achievement Award
  • Directors Kindness and Authenticity Award

Tickets are £35 per person and can be bought individually or by table of Ten.  Tickets are available on Eventbrite

Mark and Bernie conclude:

“After almost two years of COVID and online meetings, the Swansea and West Wales Introbiz network is now growing from strength to strength and April’s successful expo has set out our intentions for the future. Once again, we have to thank our Partners Swansea Council, Swansea University and our headline sponsors Ministry of Furniture who enabled us to deliver a great business event for Swansea and the South West Wales business community.  This is only the beginning – watch this space!”

 

Marketing, PR and SEO, Networking, News, South East

Oxford gains its own digital marketing meet-up launching this month called ‘Search Oxford’

Aaron Rudman-Hawkins, SEO expert and managing director of Oxfordshire digital marketing agency, The Evergreen Agency, has recently launched Search Oxford, the only industry meet-up in the Oxfordshire area. 

Search Oxford – a digital marketing meet-up in Oxford for the digital community of the city and its surrounding areas, is a rebrand of what was once ODWU meet-up (Oxford Digital Workers Union) that was first launched in 2017 and wasn’t continued after the pandemic hit, due to a change in circumstances. 

This exciting new networking event welcomes everyone from agencies to freelancers and in-house digital professionals. The focus for Search Oxford is collaboration, knowledge sharing and community. Aaron’s plan is to continue to build the inclusive community that previous organisers Aisha and Charlie started and produce an opportunity to learn, network and interact with fellow digital professionals in the local area.

Aaron Rudman-Hawkins comments on his takeover of the former meetup and explains: “I loved the ODWU meet-ups and attended regularly. During Covid, their circumstances changed and long story short, I’ve taken it over and I’m going to bring this Oxford-based event back with a bang!

At this point, I want to give the former organisers of the event, Aisha and Charlie, a massive shout out as they did such a great job over 3-4 years to build ODWU into the fantastic event that it became, with 500+ members registered and regular attendees of 30-40+ for every event.”

Running a local networking event has always been a plan of Aarons that he is now ready to pursue, with the first event scheduled to take place on Wednesday 30th March from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at an Oxford-based venue. 

Rudman-Hawkins also comments: “Search Oxford is going to quickly become Oxford’s premier digital meetup for anyone in the digital space. Regardless of your discipline or experience, if you’re in the digital space and are based in or around Oxford, this is the event for you.” 

For further information on Search Oxford including dates and opportunities to become a speaker or sponsor visit – searchoxford.co.uk  

Midlands News, Networking, News, Northamptonshire

President steps down from Next Generation Chamber

The president of an organisation which supports more than 100 young entrepreneurs from across Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes has stepped down after completing her tenure.

Hannah Brady became the second ever president of the Next Generation Chamber when she was appointed in November 2020.

Since then, she has championed the organisation wholeheartedly, hosting countless events including the popular social sandwich online networking events during the pandemic.

Hannah, who was a finalist at the Northamptonshire Business Awards 2021, also hosted the first face to face Next Generation Chamber event post-Covid at Cobblers Sixfields stadium.

Hannah said: “Being involved with Next Gen over the last three years has been brilliant. I’ve broadened my network, learnt from members and CPD speakers and built friendships. As somebody who likes to get stuck in, it’s been great to help drive things behind the scenes.

“I love working in a team so being on a committee with such great people has been an absolute pleasure. I’ll always be a cheerleader of Next Gen and what it stands for and I’m looking forward to attending some of the upcoming events as a member. You can’t get rid of me that easily!”

Next Generation Chamber was created in 2017 by Northamptonshire Chamber and Milton Keynes Chamber to help businesses support and nurture staff who are dedicated to advancing their careers.

Northamptonshire Chamber and Milton Keynes Chamber deputy CEO Julie Maclennan said: “Hannah has been a hugely influential leader of our Next Generation Chamber and we thank her for her commitment and dedication over the past three years. She has welcomed many new members to the fold, supporting and inspiring them all to strive and thrive.

“Next Generation Chamber continues to grow and will now refocus its activities to do what it does best – champion, inspire and encourage young business professionals from across Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes.”

Next Generation Chamber will host an online personal development session on managing online personal brands on 30 March.

To find out more about the benefits of joining Next Generation Chamber visit www.nextgenerationchamber.co.uk or call 01604 490490.

Midlands News, Networking, News

Friday Hub takes to the road as success grows

A hugely-successful Shropshire networking club set up during the pandemic is taking to the road as it continues to thrive.

The Friday Hub – a collaboration between the Marches Growth Hub Shropshire and Bridgnorth-based business consultancy Good2Great – will visit different towns across the county every other month as it adopts a new hybrid networking format.

The roadshow events allows members to attend both in person or virtually and follows a successful trial staged in Bridgnorth earlier in the year.

Roadshow events planned for the next few months include:

  • 18th March – Whitchurch
  • 20th May – Church Stretton
  • 15th July – Ludlow
  • 16th Sept – Oswestry
  • 18th Nov – Shrewsbury

The usual virtual event – which has attracted hundreds of people after being launched during lockdown to give the business community a chance to continue to come together – will continue every Friday as normal.

Emma Chapman, Marches Growth Hub Shropshire manager, said the hybrid events help the hub continue to grow as the world of work recovers from the pandemic.

“The Friday Hub has been a real success story over the last two years, regularly attracting more than 50 guests every week and proving a great way for businesses to learn from guest speakers, each other and to continue to network.

“Now that we can all meet in person again it seemed only logical to take the event out to its members and give them a chance to get together. But for those who cannot make it in person, there is still a chance to attend the roadshow events through Zoom.

“We trialled the hybrid structure in February and it went down really well, so we are looking forward to giving even more companies the chance to meet up throughout the rest of the year.”

Johnny Themans of Good2Great added: “It has been wonderful to see how the Friday Hub has evolved over the last two years to provide members with valuable opportunities and a supportive local business network. And it’s a real joy to be able to take it on the road to bring many of those people together in person.

“We look forward to watching more of our hub members thrive and grow over the coming months.”

The next Friday Hub will be on March 18. To register visit https://bit.ly/FridayHubRegistration

Appointments, Business, Business News, Cybersecurity, Europe, European News, IT Services, London, London News, Networking, Networks, News, News from England, Security, South East, South East England News

Westcon-Comstor appoints Patrick Aronson as Chief Marketing Officer

Move signals renewed focus on Partner Success for the security, networking and hybrid cloud distributor

LONDON, UK – 1 February 2022 – Westcon-Comstor, the global technology provider and specialist distributor, today announced it has appointed Patrick Aronson as Chief Marketing Officer. In this position, Patrick will be responsible for driving growth, and building a modern marketing organisation that will ensure Westcon-Comstor’s continued leadership in a world increasingly driven by subscription and as-a-service business models. He takes on this new role, in addition to his current role as Executive Vice President in Asia Pacific, which sees him responsible for business performance across Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Westcon-Comstor continues to see accelerated market demand across global markets – and continued customer growth from the channel community. This new appointment signals a renewed focus and investment into partner success and a commitment to delivering channel customers with solutions and technology that will help them adapt and prosper in an environment pivoting quickly to software and hybrid cloud.

Patrick will lead Westcon-Comstor’s global marketing strategy and drive the evolution of the company’s 130-person strong global marketing team with a focus on analytics, marketing automation and Partner Success.

In a move which heralds a truly international leadership team for Westcon-Comstor, Patrick joins fellow C-suite members – David Grant, CEO, in London, Rakesh Parbhoo, CTO, in Johannesburg and Callum McGregor, CFO, in New York.

“I’m thrilled to take on this new responsibility as CMO as we continue to build and grow the business,” said Patrick Aronson, Chief Marketing Officer, global and Executive Vice President, Asia Pacific, Westcon-Comstor. “I know first-hand from our partners that they’re looking to us to provide the right tools, process and structure at scale so they can adapt their business models to deliver recurring value to each one of their customers. Westcon-Comstor is already a trusted brand by the world’s leading technology vendors. As these vendors pivot to subscription and annuity models, they too are keen leverage our focus on Partner Success.

“As an inspirational leader who has been part of this business for the past seven years, Patrick is the ideal person to join the C-suite and to drive partner success”, said David Grant, CEO, Westcon-Comstor. “Patrick’s been instrumental in spearheading our success in the Asia Pacific region, having launched and led initiatives like our APAC Partner Success Centre and developing our cloud business with AWS and Microsoft. He’ll bring that experience, leverage the work and make it global. The future is bright – and I’m excited to work more closely with Patrick.”

Patrick has been responsible for growing and leading Westcon-Comstor’s business in Asia Pacific. Prior to joining, Patrick spent a decade leading Motorola’s mobile business in south-east Asia. He spent five years as Managing Director at Brightstar where he developed its engagement strategy and mobility business. He has a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Asian Studies from Hobart College, New York, and is fluent in Vietnamese and Thai.

Events, Networking, News

Kier CEO to Commence Cardiff Business Club Season

Following the successful launch of the Cardiff Business Club’s 2021/22 season, Andrew Davies, Chief Executive of the Kier Group, is set to headline the first live networking event on October 18 at Cardiff Hilton Hotel.

The event, sponsored by Q5 Partners, will see Andrew address attendees about the construction industry today and overcoming the challenges of COVID-19, Brexit, and fuel shortages.

Andrew was appointed as CEO of Kier Group plc in April 2019, prior to which he was CEO of Wates Group.

This will be the first live speaker event for the Cardiff Business Club since March 2020, during which time Zoom seminars were hosted monthly for both members and non-members.

A members’ dinner will follow Andrew’s speech.

To book a place at the networking evening visit https://www.cardiffbusinessclub.org/event/194/andrew-davies.