When time, costs and resources need to be used – and sometimes reused – carefully, a partner that is committed to guiding clients towards the best possible outcome is a valuable asset to have.
Simply Workspace and Simply Techspace – two divisions of a business that provides a single point of contact for office and workplace furniture and interiors, and the IT infrastructure they need to keep working efficiently – count a large number of schools, academy trusts and colleges among their clients.
Part of the company’s commitment to the education sector has seen it achieve Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation, and it is working towards ISO certification in order to ensure it can continue to build lasting, long-term relationships.
Collaboration was the driving factor behind furniture specialist Jon Bautista and IT expert Matt Dann teaming up to create Simply Workspace and Simply Techspace. The venture brings together not only the two vastly experienced former colleagues, but also specialisms across all sectors to ensure the best possible service for customers.
Matt said:
“We work with large and small companies across the UK in all kinds of sectors but our work within education is probably growing fastest, particularly locally. I would estimate that around 30 to 40% of Simply Workspace’s revenue is from education clients; slightly less for Simply Techspace, but growing all the time.
“From the beginning, we were keen to focus on repurposing and refurbishment in both furniture and IT equipment, and that’s a valuable proposition for schools. We offer, for instance, one-to-one schemes, where parents can purchase a laptop through their children’s school, by providing the school with the equipment and a finance package that means they can pass on savings and payment plans to the families.
“Good quality, refurbished devices that parents can trust – and that the school can trust to be safe, secure and reliable – can make all the difference. And it is an added factor for schools that take a keen interest in their environmental credentials as well.”
Simply Techspace, is a full-service IT business, providing hardware, software, cabling, telecommunications, IT support and cyber security. Meanwhile, Simply Workspace delivers a wide range of commercial furniture from chairs and desks to storage systems, partitioning and flooring.
Part of the Simply Workspace team’s expertise is reconfiguring existing spaces to create more room or make them more efficient – something that is often very much in need as school years change and class sizes vary.
Jon Bautista said:
“We work with a lot of schools locally that don’t have a great deal of money to spend. If we can help them carry out a refurbishment, it can make all the difference to them financially. They are often up against tight budgets but that doesn’t mean they can get by without the furniture and space they need. A careful redesign and repurposed furniture can often be the solution.”
As part of its commitment to ensuring the best possible service to clients, working towards key accreditations and certifications demonstrates the company’s aim to provide a guarantee of quality as part of the process of building client relationships.
“We didn’t have to go for those accreditations,
said Jon,
“but we see working within the education sector as a commitment because it involves going through what can be long tender processes and being part of procurement frameworks as a supplier. These are things we are happy to work with, because supporting schools and colleges is something we’re passionate about.
“You sometimes have to accept with schools that there might be delays. It’s frustrating when both sides want to do something but the funding isn’t there, but we’re in this for the long-term and understand that delays are just as frustrating for the school as they are for us. So, if that means we have to be patient, and hold off for a few months, or find financial options that work for them, then that’s the way it is.”
Matt added:
“Supporting clients in education can also mean advising on new products – there’s a lot of interest at the moment, for instance, in our detection systems that alert staff when vapes are being used, because it’s a real issue in schools these days – or going into schools to talk to those soon to leave school about the world of work, share our experiences and the options available to them. It’s all part of us becoming a trusted partner.
“We want to be able to give good value to our clients in any sector, to become part of the organisation and support them and help them get what they need. There’s never been as much pressure on education and funding as there is today, so we just want to offer best value, best practice and provide the support they need.”
Contact Simply Techspace and Simply Workspace on 01604 316989 or 01604 316922, email jon@simply-workspace.co.uk or matt@simplytechspace.com or visit www.simplytechspace.com
