Member Article

Ambitious East Yorkshire tech companies agree exclusive trading agreement

Two growing East Yorkshire based tech businesses with a combined turnover of over £60million have joined forces in an exclusive partnership.

Contrac, which offers bespoke IT services and solutions to businesses, and cloud software specialist Giacom have agreed to enter into an exclusive trading agreement. Any Microsoft purchases Contrac makes will be made through Giacom, which is one of Microsoft’s largest partners in the UK, selling solely to the channel rather than direct to the end user. In addition, Contrac will be Giacom’s strategic partner for sourcing IT products. The deal will initially be worth an estimated half a million pounds annually.

It is hoped that this integration will further improve customer service and enable end users to maximise the value gained from their IT solutions – particularly in light of the predicted permanent move towards remote and hybrid working. Research conducted by Giacom with more than 200 small business leaders revealed that over 60 per cent say they are ready to invest to give their teams business grade, secure connectivity at home with 94 per cent recognising that adaptations to IT systems would be needed to support working from home.

European managing director of Contrac Mark Harding said: “The timing of this partnership is key. With the pandemic having changed the way we work overnight, SMEs are going to need more responsive and fully integrated support from their IT providers and this agreement will help us deliver that. For a long time it has been obvious to both Giacom and ourselves that the work we do, and the focus we have on customer service, is very much in sync. This partnership will strategically align our two companies to allow us to become bigger and better and to provide an even stronger end-to-end service to customers. We look forward to growing the partnership further over the coming months.”

Hull City sponsor Giacom is one of the UK’s fastest growing private technology companies, ranking 51 in the 2020 Tech Track 100 and has been named Yorkshires fastest growing company. Mike Wardell, CEO of Hessle-based Giacom, said: “When it comes to fast growing tech businesses, people typically tend to think of the Golden Gate Bridge and Silicon Valley – but actually with its fast developing tech hub status East Yorkshire is starting to develop a reputation. There’s a significant and growing powerhouse of tech companies based in this region and we are proud to be one of them. It’s great to be able to join forces with Contrac, another local business, and together we’ll be strengthening the sector even further.”

Contrac is headquartered in Brough, with additional offices in Barnsley, Durham and Spain.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Shona Nutter .