Isle of Wight: IT companies in acquisition
As IT and telecommunication systems become ever more integrated, two of the Island’s most technologically advanced companies have decided to move into the future together and join forces.
Top IT specialist Navigate Solutions LLP has acquired the Isle of Wight’s largest and longest running telecoms specialist, Island Telecom - pooling expertise to become the only Island company to offer businesses a complete solution for all IT and telecoms requirements.
Island Telecom has been operating on the Island for over 15 years. “It’s a very exciting time for us and having worked in partnership with Navigate for several years I thought it a logical decision for Island Telecom to be incorporated full time with them. Both companies have always shared the same ethos so now we’re just enhancing the current service our customers can receive,” said Dave Ward, director of Island Telecom, who will become director of telecoms at Navigate Solutions LLP.
He continued: “I feel Island Telecom has the opportunity to flourish within the new company and our customers can only benefit from this additional resource and expertise.”
The new group will be run centrally from Navigate’s Newport office in St Cross Business Park. Both companies already enjoy a strong client base and will continue to provide excellent customer service at the most competitive prices. With the new generation of IP telecommunications using the same network as IT, for all types of data, (voice, internet, audio or visual), the very latest technology available to blue-chip companies on the mainland is now accessible on the Isle of Wight.
Asked why Navigate Solutions acquired Island Telecom, Paul Wood, managing director Navigate Solutions, said: “We quickly realised that Island Telecom was the most experienced and most professional installer of telephone systems and cabling on the Island offering a fantastic service from the NHS Trust to over 40 schools and Island Businesses from Hovertravel to Isle of Wight Radio.” He added: “The opportunity was subsequently identified to provide a complete service to customers for all their IT and telecoms needs with the advantage of one point of contact. The new group will now be a main competitor to BT on the Island with the ability to provide solutions to IT and telecoms requirements with just one call.”
Navigate Solutions has been operating on the Island since 2005, supplying hi-tech IT and data communication systems to companies of all sizes. It offers a 24-hour monitoring service and proactive support, consequently if systems do develop problems out of hours, the company will be automatically informed and things can often be remotely remedied, ensuring minimum disruption to working hours for the customer.
Dave Ward, who will become director of telecoms for the new group, established his company Island Telecom over 15 years ago, taking it from small beginnings to becoming the largest telecoms company on the Island. He began his career working in central London, servicing many of the large banking and financial establishments.
Also joining the new group, as sales director, is Peter Collinge.
