RENEWABLES
OUT OF THE SHADOWS
Versatile – the firm ’ s services include IT infrastructure and electric vehicle charging point installation as well as renewables .
UCS Technologies shine a light on IT
A
leading IT infrastructure business is setting its stall out this year in reminding the business community of its presence in the North-East and how it continues to support local industry , education authorities and major projects across the country .
UCS Renewables , trading as UCS Technologies , delivers green energy services , such as solar PV and EV charging .
“ But it ’ s the IT division that was first established and where the core of the business still lies ,” says director Paul Kidd .
“ It ’ s been great to see the growth of the renewable business along with the jobs we ’ ve created . But this has always been under pinned by the IT division and data services .
“ We definitely don ’ t shout enough about how talented this side of the business is , along with some of the great work we ’ ve done over the years .
“ One of our staff once said to me that it felt as though we were hiding under a bush ! Nobody would know we ’ ve carried out national roll outs for cooperate clients , delivering IT services to over 600 stores and we ’ ve delivered major projects , such as the 2012 Olympics .”
Today , UCS Technologies carries out large scale projects on developments like schools , meeting all their IT requirements from the concept and design stage through to delivery .
Recently , UCS has just completed a major project with Galiford Try on the new Woodham Academy in Newton Aycliffe , and has now moved its focus to Woodlands Academy in Scarborough , which is due to open this Summer .
“ Since our inception , our model has changed ,” says Paul .
“ When we first started the business , we had to compete with a dozen other companies bidding for work , whereas now we have developed the business into a more consultancy-based company , which allows us to be strategic and work on much larger projects and assisting the main building contractor at every stage of the design and build .”
This means the firm now works on much larger projects over a period of years , rather than bidding for many smaller projects where the margins are smaller – something that provides good job security for its 31 staff .
“ We only need three or four main projects per year because the contracts are much larger and our projects are three years in the making , so we are now working on schools that are being built for 2027 ,” Paul explains .
“ In partnership with all stakeholders , we design everything related to the IT from top to bottom , including wi-fi coverage , touch screens , stage audio visual as well as ensuring high performance connectivity – basically anything that ’ s ICT or AV-related within the building .”
UCS Technologies ’ success in large school projects has been possible due to many years of building up a good rapport at high levels within large construction firms and developing services through investment and training .
Director Simon Close ’ s commitment to continuous professional development in IT consultancy has also been a major factor .
The firm also undertakes regular work for Portakabin , recently providing the IT infrastructure in cabin-based schools set up in the wake of the discovery that Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete
WORDS : SARAH WALKER
Home fixture – UCS Renewables has completed solar installations at projects including Tennis World , in Middlesbrough , the revamped Redcar Railway Station and Greenbank , in Hartlepool , as well as many further afield .
( RAAC ), previously used in school buildings , was not safe .
The schools ’ installation work tends to be seasonal , with many big building projects busy between June and the start of the new academic year in September , and UCS say it ’ s reassuring for the firm to have some work for Portakabin pretty much every day of the year .
“ We are also a long-established supplier of PD Ports , delivering IT Infrastructure , and this in combination with our work for Portakabin gives us great security on which we can build in other more temporary contracts ,” Paul says .
Simon and Paul acquired UCS in 2015 and have since increased revenue from £ 2.4m to £ 6.5m , with the addition of solar and EV charging complementing the IT infrastructure division .
“ I think our next steps are to give each division a clearer identity , which could mean operating two separate companies ,” Paul says .
“ Already the logos are slightly different , our transport fleet have new livery for each division , and we also have separate websites .”
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