Westcoast – headline sponsor of Thames Valley Tech Awards discusses the challenges faced by the sector

The Westcoast-sponsored Thames Valley Tech Awards are being held at the Select Car Leasing Stadium (formerly Madejski) on October 20.

Having earned a reputation as a fantastic celebration of the Thames Valley Tech sector, we spoke to Westcoast MD, Alex Tatham, about why he was happy to join the party and we gauged him on the current state of the tech industry in Thames Valley and beyond.

Thames Valley Tech Awards are a black-tie gala celebration of the great work being undertaken in the sector. The evening is also an excellent, indeed, exciting networking opportunity for those operating at the vanguard of technological development across the region.

Nominations to the Thames Valley Tech Awards are now open and have been expanded from ten to twelve categories. Full details of those categories can be found here.

Based in Theale Berkshire, our sponsors, Westcoast distribute some of the best-known global IT brands to resellers, retailers and other organisations across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe. Therefore Alex is well placed to comment on current tech and market trends, pressures and challenges...

How would you describe the Thames Valley tech sector currently?

Challenged! Challenged by many other areas of Britain establishing faster and smarter Tech hubs; challenged by complacency – because some of the largest tech companies are based in the Thames Valley, it is seen as a leader.

I don’t believe that’s true anymore, that we're leading and the sector is challenged as the business of technology is ever-changing and there are not enough recruits, talent and entrepreneurs taking up the mantel in the region. 

How is the tech sector in general and Westcoast specifically responding to challenges to supply chains?

The sector has performed very well during the pandemic experiencing huge growth which has inevitably slowed. Retail looks challenging as the cost of living increases but businesses are now enabling/commissioning larger infrastructure projects. 

These are being hampered by supply chains (networking is a particular challenge). The one area that is booming is security as all businesses and individuals face hundreds of malware threats every day. 

Westcoast as the UK’s leading distributor is very much a bellweather of the industry and revenue increased over 60% in the past two years combined. 

This year will be more challenging but double-digit growth will be achieved.

What is its most pressing challenge?

Of course these challenges change frequently. Interest rate rises, cost of living creating pressure on costs and recruitment feel like those we are grappling with at the time of writing. 

Can you give us an update on your skills investment strategy?

Yes – Westcoast has invested significantly internally with a larger training and development team. Lots of connections with local Berkshire schools and colleges too, promoting IT as a career to all and we even write and deliver the networking GNVQ course at the Southern Central School of Technology at Reading College. 

We particularly enjoy teachers visiting Westcoast to get an idea of what a career in the UK’s largest privately owned technology business would look like. 

How is the Thames Valley well positioned to take advantage of these trends?

Technology is one of the key industries that Britain is going to be famous for and as such the Thames Valley is blessed with a huge number of opportunities in many industries. 

We need more coding schools and training at all levels and employers have a strong responsibility to help. 

How is mobile communication changing in a remote working environment?

The voice industry has changed dramatically as Microsoft Teams and Zoom have rendered old phone systems redundant. 

Westcoast, like so many businesses, has moved to soft phones (ie using a PC as a phone) and Teams throughout with considerable savings and improved connectivity no matter where an individual employee is.  

As the PSTN and ISDN copper lines are switched off in 2025, this change is merely going to accelerate. 

Make a nomination for the Thames Valley Tech Awards today, in our quick, free and easy application form.