Serving the Teesside Business Community | 11
Robert takes the
reins at NMT
Smart IT advice from award-winning Cornerstone
Welcome to the first quarterly Cornerstone Advice Corner, with Cornerstone Business
Solutions Director Chris Petty...
We are going to use this space to let
you know of any up and coming changes
within the industry; for good and bad, and
to give you advice on how you can work as
smart and as flexible as possible.
A good start would be to look at the year
ahead and what to expect. There’s a host
of things happening in 2015 including
debates such as tablet or PC? Tablet
sales have been huge in 2014 but they
are gradually slowing. Could the new
Microsoft Surface Pro change that in 2015?
Wearable technology with the much
anticipated Apple watch. The Cloud is
always a big debate. There’s a lot to look
forward to in 2015.
We’re going to focus on Microsoft in this
article, as there are a lot of changes that
will affect us all.
End of Life Software
2014 saw Windows XP retired, but there
are still a lot of machines out there running
on this.
Windows XP proved to be very popular
and remained so even after the release
of newer versions, particularly due to its
poorly received successor Windows Vista.
However extended support for Windows
XP ended on April 8, 2014, after which the
operating system ceased receiving further
support or security updates to most users.
In July 2015, Microsoft Windows Server
2003 will also no longer be supported by
Microsoft. This means that:
• There will be no more Windows
updates.
• No online technical assistance from
Microsoft.
• No driver updates for your hardware.
• Your network is potentially vulnerable.
In short, if your 2003 server develops
a fault, you are on your own! Well, not
exactly. Your IT company will still be able
to help but there will be no support from
Microsoft if required.
New Software
However, this means that it is the perfect
time to look at upgrading your operating
system. Windows Server 2012 and
Exchange 2013 and other Microsoft cloud
services have lots of features that previous
versions did not have and may be a benefit
to your business. Some of these new and
improved features are:
• Servers can utilise much more memory
allowing for faster speeds and future
proofing hardware purchases.
• Exchange has many more features
including much larger mailboxes and
improved remote email access.
New man in charge - Barney Ord (main pic)
is handing the Northern Machine Tools reins
over to Robert Cockerill (inset).
I
t’s all change at Northern Machine Tools
(NMT) where Barney Ord - one of the grand
old men of Teesside industry - is handing
over the reins after 50 years in charge to
right-hand man Robert Cockerill.
One of the UK’s largest machine tool
merchants, Middlesbrough-based NMT
launched in 1958, initially as a marine
engineering business before moving into
the machine tool industry five years later.
They now boast extensive showroom and
workshop facilities, extending to 40,000
square feet.
Robert, who moved to Teesside at the
turn of the millennium after many years
with NMT subsidiary Thompson Machine
Tools of Sheffield, succeeds Barney as chief
executive officer from his previous position
as works director.
Barney is stepping back from day-today involvement with NMT and its parent
company, Fairfield Industries, where he is the
long-standing chairman.
Fairfield Industries is part of John
Livingstone and Sons Ltd – one of
Middlesbrough’s oldest businesses, founded
in 1853 – and acquired by the Ord family in
1967
.
Looking forward to his retirement, Barney
said: “I’m deligh