ATS aspires to triple its turnover to £4m

Mar 13 2008 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

A FLEDGLING IT firm is expected to triple turnover to £4m by next year after landing an international deal with one of the biggest communications companies on the planet.

Gateshead-based Aspire Technology Solutions has won a contract with PR giant Brunswick which represents 25% of the FTSE 100 companies and has offices across 15 countries.

The deal, which will see Aspire set up corporate intranet systems at Brunswick’s clients, is one of several developments at the two-year-old business which are expected to take it from a £1.2m to a £4m-a-year business by the end of next year.

Meanwhile the company was this week awarded Gold Partner status by Microsoft which recognises the quality of products and the skills of staff.

According to company co-founder Nigel Begg, the award will give the company more weight in winning further deals in the future. He said: “This is great news for the business as it means we’ll get direct referrals from Microsoft, as well as their support.

“It’s also great news for our clients because it means we’re able to get issues resolved faster and that all our staff are Microsoft-certified and approved – giving them peace of mind that our people and processes are of the highest calibre. We beat off competition from one of the most renowned Microsoft consultants which employs 200 people, so we can now play with the big boys.”

Aspire was set up in 2006 by Mr Begg and technical director Chris Fraser and employs 15 people at its headquarters on Gateshead’s Mulgrave Terrace.

We talk to Nigel Begg about how he got his IT empire of the ground and how it survived the credit crunch at www.nebusiness.co.uk/technology.