Cornwall Air Ambulance Perranporth
A technology firm in Bristol is helping to keep a publicly-funded life-saving air ambulance going.
ITEC, based in Whitchurch in the city, is now providing IT support for Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust (CAAT) following a rigorous tendering process.
The essential back-up ensures vital computer communications remain robust, enabling the charitable trust to raise the money to fund the helicopter’s 700 missions a year.
CAAT, which receives no taxpayers’ money or National Lottery grants, relies on fundraising to raise the £3 million needed annually to keep the lifesaving helicopter and crew flying.
The trust identified the need for a more resilient IT infrastructure and a comprehensive disaster recovery plan.
ITEC, the south west’s largest independent supplier of office print and reprographic equipment, provides industry-leading IT services through subsidiary company Stem Group.
The firm’s Chief Executive Nick Orme said: “We are honoured that ITEC has been chosen to provide IT support to CAAT’s fantastic team, so they can focus on what they do so well.”
TAKING OFF: Backing the Cornwall Air Ambulance are ITEC Cornwall Account Manager Kathryn Marsh, left, Managing Director Nick Orme and Cornwall Account Director Kevin Roberts with, right, Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust lead paramedic Steve Garvey
Paula Martin, Chief Executive of Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust said: “The charity’s IT infrastructure is essential since, amongst other purposes, it safeguards the communications that raise the necessary funds from the public that keep Cornwall Air Ambulance flying. We are delighted to be working with ITEC.”
The trust, the busiest single helicopter air ambulance in the South West and the first service of its kind in the UK, operates in a fast-paced environment and its IT infrastructure is essential to its overall performance.
CAAT prides itself that its fast and highly equipped helicopter – free at the point of need – is on scene at an incident in an average of just 12 minutes.
Kevin Roberts, ITEC’S Account Director Cornwall, said: “As a Cornishman from Hayle, I have always been proud of the excellent service provided by Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust.
“With increasingly stringent regulations around data protection and threat management for all types of organisations, the need for robust security and business continuity planning has never been greater.”
As well as the headquarters in Bristol, long-established ITEC has offices throughout the UK in Exeter, Plymouth, London, Manchester, Bournemouth and Redruth, Cornwall.
Cornwall Air Ambulance first took off in 1987 and since then has flown more than 25,000 missions, saving countless lives and providing a reassuring presence for half a million county inhabitants and millions of visitors.
Nick added: “ITEC’s proactive audit and comprehensive proposal not only met the fundamental tender requirements, but also identified new potential security vulnerabilities that could be mitigated.
“IT never stands still and a flexible, continuously evolving support arrangement is key to keeping pace with rapid change. CAAT’s environment is critical in the true sense of the word. ITEC and Stem are proud to play their part in helping to keep the ambulances airborne.”
Cornwall Air Ambulance 2
Paula Martin added: “The scattered population, rugged landscape, isolated rural and island communities, secluded beaches and slow road network can make it very challenging to get patients in Cornwall the urgent medical attention they need.
“The air ambulance treats patients on-scene or takes them to the hospital that best suits their needs, whether in Cornwall or at specialist hospitals out of county such as Derriford’s Trauma Unit or the Bristol Children’s Hospital. We reach these specialist centres in minutes, rather than the hours it can take by road.
“The successful model pioneered in Cornwall has been copied across the country, where there are now more than 30 air ambulance helicopters, the majority funded by charitable donations just like ours in Cornwall.”
ITEC was recently appointed ‘official document technology supplier’ to the Sahara Force India Formula 1™ team.
Ends
Notes to editors
Now in its 28th year, ITEC has been supplying Managed Print Services and Document Capture and Workflow Solutions to organisations both large and small, situated across a wide range of industries.
Headquartered in Bristol and with offices throughout the UK, ITEC is committed to helping organisations achieve more from their technology by providing smarter IT solutions.
ITEC has expanded its product portfolio to include: Hosted and On-Premise Infrastructure, Unified Communications, Connectivity, IT Support, Business Continuity and Asset Finance.
This expansion comes as an increasing number of UK businesses are viewing their IT infrastructure as a strategic priority in a bid to realise organisational-wide benefits.
ITEC was in 2016 appointed ‘official document technology supplier’ to the Sahara Force India Formula 1™ team.
ITEC Group Ltd, Hawkfield Way, Whitchurch, Bristol, BS14 0BL, 01179 511500, enquiries@itecgroup.co.uk
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