CHESTERFIELD: IT whizz celebrates company’s 10th anniversary

Richard Thompson, of Central Technology, of Bridge Business Park, Beresford Way, Chesterfield, was passionate about IT and saw a gap in the market to provide efficient, reliable and bespoke solutions to PC users both at home and for small businesses.

He founded the company with Christopher Barr in 2002 and it has since grown with investment, commercial experience and staff to become a leading provider of fast, reliable and cost effective IT solutions supporting over 200 customers throughout Derbyshire, the Midlands and South Yorkshire.

A company spokesman said: “Over the last five years, Central has seen businesses demanding a single point of contact for unified IT and communication solutions.

“Central Technology has responded to this by investing heavily to build its own infrastructure, utilising a network of data centres, allowing clients, at whatever level required to realise the benefits of having one-point-of-contact for all their IT and communications needs.

“As a result, Central now offers businesses, IT Support, Cloud Solutions, Unified Communications, Infrastructure including design, supply and installation as well as disaster recovery solutions.”

This move allows clients to free up valuable time and money spent managing IT to focus on driving their businesses forward.

Central also stores companies’ data and services in the UK so help is only a phone call away allowing for speedy recovery if there are any problems.

Central Technology also prides itself on being among only a handful of UK companies who do not re-sell solutions or pass control of any part of the service delivery to a third party which saves on costs and tightens security.

Richard and Christopher Barr met at Sheffield Hallam University whilst studying Business Information Systems and they built up a client base and opted to run their business full time when they won an annual contract with lift company Independent Lifts.

The lift company also became business mentors for Central technology and with their guidance, Central began to win more contracts and build up a reputable business.

In 2010, investors supported the business and helped take the company to the next level and it has become a real player in the Midlands and Derbyshire.

Central Technology has grown over the past 10 years from one contract with two staff back in 2002 to owning and managing 140 contracts, handling over 200 customers and managing 20 staff.

The business has grown by 25per cent year-on-year over the past four years and this growth has seen the team move offices. Its team hopes to make Central Technology the leading IT and communications solutions provider in Derbyshire, the Midlands and South Yorkshire.

The Central Technology team have projected that in the next five years they will turnover approximately £5m and claim that with contracts in place and the technology solutions they have at their finger-tips, they on course.

Their next goal is to expand and have a national wholesale business where Central sells its technical know-how and services to other smaller IT providers nationwide.