The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire July 2014 Edition | Page 4

BUSINESS NEWS IT INVESTMENT LETS RECRUITER SET SIGHTS ON UK EXPANSION A Swindon-based recruiter is set to expand nationally thanks to investment in new IT which will enable it to improve services to job-seekers and extend its customer base. Field Recruitment, this year celebrating 40 years in business, has completed migrating its IT to Microsoft’s Office 365 cloud, which means all its staff can work anywhere, at any time, and access all the company’s systems. In practice, the move to the cloud will allow Field to have offices and staff throughout the UK able to access IT systems without the need to travel to the Commercial Road headquarters. At the same time, it gives Field scope to have candidates – those seeking employment – and clients based anywhere in the country. “With Office 365 now rolled out, we have the foundations to support the next phase of Field’s business plan – we are no longer restricted by physical location, we can recruit for any vacancy a client has so will be looking to expand our services into other towns and cities. With our flexible set-up we can even be based in the clients’ premises,” said Andrew Careswell, Field Recruitment’s Managing Director. “Combined with these mobility benefits, moving to the cloud also gives me peace-of-mind in knowing that all our data is secure and backed-up so in the event of a disaster there would be minimal disruption to our business.” Office 365 integrates a number of typical functions that employees use in their daily work – such as data access, email and web hosting – allowing staff to access all their office functions remotely, including from PCs, tablets or smartphones. The move to the cloud was achieved thanks to Field’s IT support partner, Sensata, which planned the project and ensured smooth implementation. Phil Cater, technical consultant for Sensata, said: “We have been strategic partners with Field Recruitment for nearly ten years, supporting their IT, and were delighted to be able to facilitate their infrastructure upgrade and migration to Microsoft Office 365. The cloud is a great solution for many businesses, and Office 365 integrated with Microsoft Windows 2012 Essentials suited Field Recruitment’s future business growth and requirements.” Andrew added: “Throughout the project scoping, implementation and post-migration, Sensata has provided first class advice and support, ensuring a smooth transition and continuity of service to our clients.” The move to the cloud is just the start of a programme of IT investment for Field Recruitment. Andrew said: “We are rapidly embracing technology to help us work smarter and bring additional value to the servicing of our clients’ hiring needs and we’re looking to invest in a number of technology implementations in the near future.” Wessex Chambers help local firms take a share in £121m Lyneham contract Work is now underway in Lyneham to deliver the MoD’s new Defence College of Technical Training at the former RAF Lyneham airbase. The new college will provide training facilities in one location for all three Armed Forces - the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force - for the first time in the UK. The scheme will provide single living accommodation for more than 1,100 trainees, purpose-built teaching facilities and a large outdoor training area. Much of the work will comprise of upgrading and refurbishing existing buildings. The scheme also includes a public museum and a new home for the Army’s Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). Balfour Beatty and Kier Construction were appointed in 2013 to work 50:50 on the joint venture, now called Hercules which is worth £121m. Wessex Chamber of Commerce have been working very closely with all of the organisations involved to ensure that local businesses could be considered where possible to be part of the Hercules project supply chain. A Meet the Buyer event was organised by Wessex Chambers earlier this year which has lead to the successful appointment of two local firms. Chippenham based civil engineers MJ Church have been awarded a £10 million pound contract for the ground works and Seqol Enterprise Works from Swindon are providing the catering for the whole construction site. Stefan Barbaruk from Wessex Chambers who was involved in organising Meet the Buyer said,” We are delighted with the outcome of this event and that Hercules 4 THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2014 are engaging with a further 20 other local companies which is great news for the local economy” The project is scheduled for completion in autumn 2015, when the first students and staff will arrive at the new college. At its peak the project will employ 900 people. From left to right: Stefan Barbaruk (Wessex Chambers), Roger Frost (Balfour Beatty), Steve Blower (MJ Church). Picture courtesy of Wiltshire Gazette and Herald. Wiltshire security firm receives industry accolade TrustOn Security based in South Marston, Swindon have been recognised as outperforming 95% of security providers in the UK by the Security Industry Authority – the independent regulator for the industry. Audited every year since its formation five years ago, TrustOn Security has consistently maintained high standards across a number of critical success factors encompassing the entire organisation, placing it in the top 5% of all Security Industry Authority approved contractors, meaning its growing client base can be sure their asse