Marlow, UK, 20 February 2013 – Softcat has become the first ever UK HP partner to win an award at the HP Global Partner Conference, following a year of exceptional growth and overall excellence in partner support and innovation. HP’s CEO Meg Whitman presented the EMEA Partner of the Year award to Softcat’s sales director Dave Ridgway at an award ceremony hosted at The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas last night.

The HP award recognises the top-performing partner across the whole of Europe, the Middle East and Asia. HP determines partner success by considering sales performance, product implementation excellence, as well as overall partner support and innovation in its ‘HP Enterprise Group’ – HP’s large business unit, which offers server and storage hardware, technology consulting, and software sales.

Softcat’s chairman Martin Hellawell expressed his delight at winning the award: “Las Vegas is famous for its spinning roulette wheels and Lady Luck, but Softcat doesn’t believe in gambling with its valued partners. This award recognises the consistent hard work and outstanding customer service provided by our sales and technical teams; we don’t take risks but we’re definitely in it to win it – for HP and our customers.”

He added, “HP’s products transform our customers’ IT operations. We’re privileged to have been recognised for providing our customers with the products they need, along with expert implementation and support. We take all of our partnerships very seriously, and I thank our sales and technical teams for leading us to qualify for this award.” 

The HP Global Partner Conference takes place over three days and attracts partners from all over the world. In addition to networking, strategic keynotes and discussions, the event is renowned for its entertainment. Softcat’s delegation took full advantage of HP’s hospitality to celebrate the company’s award and live up to its ‘work hard, play hard’ philosophy.

About Softcat
Softcat (www.softcat.com) is a leading provider of software licensing, hardware, security and related IT services. Softcat, founded in 1993 by Peter Kelly, remains privately owned and currently employs more than 500 people. It achieved a turnover in excess of £307 million in its last financial year and has been profitable since inception, resulting in a strong balance sheet and very firm financial foundations.

The company sells and supports products and solutions from all the world's leading IT companies. On all its portfolio products and solutions it offers a full range of services, including advice and guidance, technical design, product sourcing, implementation, support and project management. It enjoys a trading relationship with over 5,000 longstanding customers, predominantly from the UK corporate sector but also including large enterprises, small businesses and public sector organisations.

As an organisation Softcat cares passionately about two things – outstanding employee satisfaction and world-class customer service. It believes the former drives the latter.

For further information or interview opportunities contact:
Mary Stringer
PR consultant for Softcat
Resonates (marketing communications)
Tel: 01635 898 390
Email: softcat@resonates.com

Further Information

Resonates
Chris Dace
Marketing consultant
Tel: 01635 898361
Email: chris@resonates.com