ITC Service: Charting lifelong client success

Anchored in a circular gravel drydock, a miniature metal yacht shimmers in the summer sunshine.

Its mainsail bends against an invisible breeze as a golden orb crowns its mast, casting a perpetual glow for a lone wayfinder above its bow.

Set inside a grass bordered mini-roundabout on Hebburn’s Monkton Business Park South,

THE FAR HORIZON, as spelled out by golden letters on its rear, stands as a neat metaphor for surrounding businesses seeking the commercial lands of tomorrow.

For ITC Service, the craft, which rests just yards from its main entrance, embodies its very existence.

From IT hardware and connectivity to cloud services support, telephony and cybersecurity, the company acts as a modern-day draughtsman, crafting blueprints that steer clients toward new trading landmarks.

“We provide a total support solution that solves headaches and pains, and creates continuity for businesses to maintain operations,” says Christopher Potts, ITC Service’s founder and director.

“A manufacturer makes a widget; a law firm defends a client; a construction firm creates a building – and they do those things very well.

“But they’re not an IT firm, and that is why our support is so valuable.

“Using our core values of integrity, trust, communication and service, we help clients fully leverage products like Microsoft 365, to ensure they are making the most of their investments.

“We also provide trusted connectivity services.

“Whether a firm is employing ten, 100 or 600 staff, it needs its people to stay productive.

“And our advanced technology and expert team monitors around the clock so they can do that safely.

“Our support also helps clients understand the benefits of planning and investing now, rather than waiting for apparatus to potentially fail.

“We make those conversations relatable, around areas like action plans if a laptop doesn’t start on a morning.

“A company’s IT department might buy a device and prepare it for employee use – but it’s going to lose at least a day’s work, it will carry costs and it will put stress on the employee too.”

Such conversations, says Christopher, are indicative of ITC Service’s deep-rooted commitment to clients’ sector-specific and operational circumstances.

Like the rust-patinaed Angel of the North, which guards over all who pass its outstretched wings just a short drive from ITC Service’s office, the firm is a constant custodian of organisations and their everyday wellbeing.

Christopher says: “There isn’t another managed service provider that fits our shape.

“We take a client-centric approach, which allows us to find the right angles to keep them safe and operational.

“We build lifelong relationships – we rarely lose a client,” says Christopher, who began his working life as a practice-based accountant before co-founding ITC Service with Peter Anderson after being struck by the “magic” of the mid-2000s burgeoning tech sector.

He adds: “A significant part of our success is down to our value-based pyramid, which, when combined with honest conversations, allows clients to make informed decisions about our technology stack.”

That powerhouse portfolio is being increasingly fortified by a dedicated cybersecurity offer.

Central planks in the endeavour are ITC Service’s IASME accreditation to deliver the Government-backed Cyber Essentials certification scheme, and a tiered package that suits clients’ varying operational and budgetary demands.

Its entry-level SecureStart cover includes services such as Microsoft 365 tenancy management and backup, device patching and email filtering, with its SecureAware suite adding functions such as vulnerability scanning, phishing simulation and security awareness training.

Its gold-level SecureComplete platform builds on those measures with actions including dark web monitoring, a Sophos breach warranty and free Cyber Essentials level one coverage.

All three are underpinned by a UK-first move alongside the Home Office-funded monitoring tool Police CyberAlarm, wherein ITC Service harnesses the apparatus’ technology to respond to alerts – without client intervention – and take immediate steps to manage detected vulnerabilities and risks.

Christopher says: “We take cybersecurity very seriously.

“I’ve seen the devastating effect of an employee accidentally sending money to a fake supplier because the company didn’t have strong enough processes.

“Anyone and everyone is susceptible.

“Our aim – through our three pillars of prevention, detection and business continuity – is to make it so frustrating for a cybercriminal that they give up and move on.

“Outside of specialist cybersecurity firms, there aren’t many managed service providers that are IASME-accredited to deliver Cyber Essentials.

“We’ve invested a lot of time and training to get our services to the levels they are today.

“It is a complete package, with our entry-level stack one of the strongest in the market.

“We don’t want a client to suffer a cyber breach, but if it does happen, and they’re on our SecureStart package, for example, then we can restore systems and get that business back up and running in a timeframe that minimises loss and reputational damage.

“A breach on one of our packages hasn’t happened yet.

“And we’re constantly increasing our focus on artificial intelligence and automation too.

“They are key productivity tools that touch nearly every role of a business, but many clients are still not using them, which poses a risk to competitiveness.”

That forward-thinking philosophy is being matched by scale, with ITC Service charting a new course for growth thanks to previously-secured £7 million BGF investment.

The backing has already allowed the firm to take its workforce from 47 to 61 – with further roles across areas including accounts and partner care to be filled.

And it will, says Christopher, fuel an acquisition drive, with the company in discussions with potential partners.

He says: “We’re scaling up on marketing and business development, but acquisitions represent a key part of our growth journey too.

“We’re looking for comparative businesses that hold our core values and which have good people, a good reputation and an owner who is either motivated to join us or wants a good caretaker for their company and its people and clients.

“If we can add those kinds of businesses, we will continue delivering the same high standard of service.

“And we’ll increase our standing in this region and the sector more widely too.”

 

ITC Service

For more information about ITC Service, its technology stack and how it could help your business, visit www.itcservice.co.uk

LinkedIn: ITC Service