Midlands firms ranked among best technology suppliers in UK

Seven West Midland businesses have kicked off 2009 by celebrating new Accredit UK certifications. 

With the Accredit UK Standard, the seven companies across the region will be recognised among the best SME technology suppliers in the country.

Four of these businesses are Birmingham based; FCL Computing & Software Solutions Ltd, of Aston Science Park; Chilli Zone Ltd of Bissell Street; 4mation IT Ltd of Acocks Green and Blue Stone Business Solutions Ltd of Hagley Road.

The other companies were from Coventry (Iain Wood Associates), Stoke on Trent (PromptPC) and Wolverhampton (Mellow Marsh Software).

FCL Computing & Software Solutions Ltd provides clients with advice and help on growing their business through products from Microsoft and Sage.

Director Frank Thunder said: “We took part in the certification to increase quality procedures within our company.

“We believe that the certification will help us to win additional business as clients will now have evidence that our processes have been assessed independently and are of the highest standards.”

The second Birmingham-based business, Chilli Zone Ltd, is a successful web marketing agency that provides online marketing services and offers website, multi-media and network solutions. 

Marketing director Ausaf Khan said: “After hearing about the certification through Business Link, we recognised the award as being the up and coming standard for our industry.”

Paul Tubb, director at 4mation IT, said: “The process to gain the certification enabled us to identify our strengths and weaknesses and reinforced that our current procedures were largely correct.

“It enabled us to gain a better understanding of our customer requirements and to view our services from their standpoint.”

The fourth Birmingham-based business, Blue Stone Business Solutions, offers IT strategy review, process re-design, procurement of IT systems and project management and has worked with a wide range of companies, primarily in the manufacturing, distribution, hire and construction sectors. 

Paul Lovett, director at Blue Stone, said: “Unfortunately, there are very few industry standards in our sector. Our accreditation will reassure potential clients that they are dealing with a professional business that utilises high quality methodologies and processes.”