Softcat

Softcat
Public limited company
Traded as LSE: SCT
Industry Information technology
Founder Peter Kelly
Headquarters Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Number of locations
 6
Key people
 Brian Wallace (Chairman)
Martin Hellawell (CEO)
Revenue £672.35 million (2016)[1]
£42.19 million (2016)[1]
£33.16 million (2016)[1]
Website www.softcat.com

Softcat is a Marlow-based IT infrastructure provider founded by Peter Kelly in 1993. Martin Hellawell is the CEO.[2] Colin Brown is the current managing director.[3] It has UK offices in Bristol, London, Manchester, Leeds, Marlow and Glasgow. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and it is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

History

Softcat was founded by Peter Kelly in 1993 in High Wycombe, under its original business name 'Software Catalogue'.[4] Initially a mail order operation serving home and business customers, in 1996 it switched focus to the business-to-business market, and in 1998 changed its name to Softcat. In 2001 it became a Microsoft Large Account Reseller. In 2006 it moved its headquarters to Marlow, Buckinghamshire, opening a further three offices in Manchester, London[5] and Bristol [6] in 2009, 2011 and 2014 respectively. As of 2014, it has a client base of 8000 customers and a turnover of £500m.[7][8][9] In September 2014, it announced it would open an office in the northern city of Leeds, UK.[10] The company was the subject of an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange in November 2015.[4] The most recent addition to the Softcat offices is Glasgow, which was opened in February 2016.[11]

Workplace environment

Softcat currently employs approximately 821 employees. Its offices have been described as 'quirky'[12] and are reported to have an unusual work culture.[13] In 2014 Softcat was ranked as the 2nd best workplace in the UK,[14] and the 6th in Europe, by the Great Place to Work organisation.[15]

Charitable activities

Softcat has raised in excess of £1.2 million for various charities since 2007, through both company-wide initiatives and individual efforts. Four of its staff ran the 2013 London Marathon, raising £11,000.[16] Softcat's 2014 May Ball raised £236,000 for Dreams Come True, the charity for terminally ill children.[17] In March 2013 it raised £37,000 for Comic Relief.[18][19]

Corporate social responsibility

Softcat has a 'Green Team' managed by chairman Martin Hellawell, which has implemented energy efficient sensor lighting, tea bag recycling and a car pool scheme. Employees use a fleet of energy efficient 'car pool' cars to attend meetings. Its activity was featured on a Channel 4 documentary covering green credentials of UK businesses.[20]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Preliminary Results for the twelve months to 31 July 2016" (PDF). Softcat. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  2. ↑ "McDonalds-card-toting Softcat boss: I couldn't tell you how a computer works • The Channel". Channelregister.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  3. ↑ "Softcat eyes £500m sales as Brown opens up on first year at VAR - 30 Aug 2013 - CRN UK News". Channelweb.co.uk. 2013-08-30. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  4. 1 2 "Tech IPO Softcat sizzles on debut". Interactive Investor. 13 November 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  5. ↑ "Softcat opens new London hub - 20 Aug 2013 - CRN UK News". Channelweb.co.uk. 2013-08-20. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  6. ↑ "Softcat goes west and recruits for new Bristol office". Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  7. ↑ "New customer wins propel Softcat into the £500m club". CRN. 2014-11-26.
  8. ↑ "Softcat hits £500m sales milestone". The Register. 2014-11-26.
  9. ↑ "Softcat breaks through £500m barrier". Megabuyte. 2014-11-26.
  10. ↑ "Softcat Leeds the way to new Yorkshire office". Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  11. ↑ "Softcat set to open up Scottish operation as sales spike continues". Channel Register. 2 December 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  12. ↑ "CRN". Channelweb.co.uk. 2012-12-19. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  13. ↑ "Softcat does the Harlem Shake - 19 Mar 2013 - CRN UK News". Channelweb.co.uk. 2013-03-19. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  14. ↑ "Computer Reseller News". CRN.
  15. ↑ "Softcat ranked 6th best workplace in 19 countries - Geoconnexion". Geoconnexion.
  16. ↑ "Channel Pro". Channel Pro. 2013-04-24. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  17. ↑ "£236,000 raised at Softcat's charity ball for Dreams Come True". Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  18. ↑ "Comic Relief". Comic Relief. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  19. ↑ "Back to the 80s for Softcat in aid of Comic Relief - 14 Mar 2013 - CRN UK News". Channelweb.co.uk. 2013-03-14. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  20. ↑ "Green & Environment Programmes on TV - Green from". Channel4.com. Retrieved 2013-12-22.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/24/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.