An ambitious Gateshead firm, specialising in providing managed IT and Communication s services, is targeting growth in core private and public sector markets following a number of senior appointments.Advantex’s push for growth in the education, corporate, charity and SME sectors has been boosted by the promotion of Dave Cooling to account manager, who is joined in the sales team by new account managers Simon Bartlett and Louis Bell-Proctor who have significant experience in the Telecommunications and IT industries.
Elsewhere, Ian Butler comes in as a new IT engineer, bringing over 15-years’ experience to the role, while Paul Tailford adds further to Advantex’s capabilities as a new infrastructure engineer with considerable expertise in network and infrastructure services.
The move brings the number of employees to almost 50 based at Advantex’s Follingsby Park head office and follows a new funding injection from the North East Angel Fund which will fuel investment in personnel, equipment, increased office space and the existing Data Centre offering.
The company is targeting turnover of £5 million within the next 12-18 months on the back of new business wins and growing existing regional and national customers who use its range of IT Solutions, Communications and IP (Internet Protocol) Telecommunications and Infrastructure services.
These include GE Oil and Gas, The Gambling Commission, Caterpillar Trucks, ICL (formerly Cleveland Potash), Changing Lives, The Rivergreen and Redcar and Cleveland College.
Director Stephen O’Connell said investment in experienced people is critical to support growth and secure a highly skilled workforce.
He added: “We are strengthening the foundations to take us forward over the next phase of growth, and these appointments will be pivotal in achieving our ambitions and add real value to new and existing client services.
“All are experienced operators and will be major assets, able to hit the ground running with invaluable expertise and high quality skills. I very much look forward to working with them during these exciting times for Advantex.”
Advantex was established in 2002 and achieved the prestigious ISO9001/2000 industry quality mark within its first year of trading and holds the IOS9001/2008 mark. It is an accredited Microsoft, Cisco and Mitel partner, providing a single source package which combines to deliver flexibility, added value and cost saving benefits.