Featuring: IT Awards 2026 IT Awards 2026
IT Awards 2026 Phone: 01283 365204 Website: smenews.digital Sofi Parry Senior Editor No information contained on or in this website constitutes investment advice or an offer to invest or to provide management services and is subject to correction, completion and amendment without notice. Neither AI nor any of its associated entities are authorised to give financial advice of any nature nor are they regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Prior to making any investment, AI recommends that any prospective investor should consult with its own investment, accounting, legal and tax advisers to evaluate independently the risks, consequences and suitability of that investment. AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility. SME News is proud to announce the IT Awards 2026, a programme created to spotlight excellence, innovation, and achievement across the UK’s dynamic information technology landscape. From pioneering tech start-ups and agile MSPs to cybersecurity specialists, cloud integration experts, software developers, and transformative digital service providers, these awards honour the businesses and teams shaping the future of the nation’s growing IT sector. Championing Progress in UK Information Technology The IT sector remains one of the UK’s strongest and fastestevolving industries, underpinned by rapid digital transformation, growing demand for secure and resilient IT infrastructure, and continued investment in cutting-edge technologies. As businesses across the UK accelerate their adoption of AI solutions, cloudbased systems, and advanced cybersecurity frameworks, the need for adaptable, innovative IT partners has never been greater. From strengthening national digital resilience to supporting SMEs through technological change, IT specialists play a crucial role in enabling growth and improving productivity across the UK’s digital economy. The IT Awards 2026 aim to recognise the leading players whose transformative solutions and outstanding service are at the forefront of this progress.
Contents 4. Square One Network: Best Business Telecoms Company 2026 – South West England 5. DiscoverCars.com: Best Car Rental Comparison Platform 2026 & Technology Advancement Excellence Award 2026 6. Industrial Software Services Ltd: Leading Innovators in Turnkey Control & Software Solutions 2026 7. Two Clouds: Best Emerging Software Development Consultancy 2026 – Northern Ireland 8. Vortex 6: Best Partner Ecosystem Intelligence Platform 2026 & Excellence in Vendor-Partner Relationship Improvement 2026 9. The Genius Group: Website Traffic Generation Specialists of the Year 2026 10. Sumillion: Best Tech Sustainability Consultancy 2026 & Client Satisfaction Excellence Award 2026
IT Awards 2026/ 4 Best Business Telecoms Company 2026 – South West England Based in Bristol, Square One Network is a business telecoms provider in South West England working with businesses across the region, as well as in South Wales and beyond. Its team specialises in managed telecoms solutions for SMEs and multi-site organisations, providing the likes of hosted VoIP and connectivity solutions and business leased lines to the South West. Managing Director David Allen caught up with us following his company’s recognition within these pages. Technology is more critical to business operations than almost anything else, and is becoming increasingly so month to month and year to year. This is why Square One Network keeps people connected, productive, and ready for the future, all without complicating the process. Its success stems from the fact that it is trusted by its customers to act in their best interests and actually simplify their telecoms, rather than just selling them products. A foundation of trust such as this sees the company have a strong presence in its region. Working with growing local businesses through to national organisations across the likes of the professional services, manufacturing, construction, logistics, healthcare, hospitality, and IT sectors, Square One Network serves customers through enterprise-grade telecoms and a deeply personal service. The company’s belief is that businesses deserve more than call centres, ticket numbers, and being kept on hold, and that is why it has developed an approach where accessibility, honesty, responsiveness, and relationships are key. “Many telecoms providers focus heavily on scale and automation, whereas we focus on relationships, responsiveness, and becoming a trusted partner to our customers.” To partner with Square One Network is to deal with real people who know a business inside out and have direct access to account managers and support teams - people who can take ownership of any issues, while also looking for ways to enhance performance, resilience, and cost efficiency.. This is not all, as customers will also get a service that is continuously enhanced, with recent developments alone including business-grade fibre connectivity, mobile data solutions, and cloud communications. Square One Network’s ability to offer all of this lies with its team, which is much smaller than those of many large telecom providers. Some would see this as a disadvantage, but the experts here recognise it is invaluable, as it allows them to be agile, personal, and highly responsive, and even act as an extension of a customer’s business. The level of proactivity and genuine care this brings is something larger providers simply cannot match. Offering such a personalised approach is hugely refreshing for businesses, many of which find telecoms and connectivity to be overwhelming, especially if they are an SME without any internal expertise. As David told us: “Our role is to remove complexity and act as a trusted advisor rather than a supplier. We focus on understanding how each client operates before recommending solutions. That means avoiding unnecessary jargon and delivering practical advice that aligns with operational goals, growth plans, and budgets.” Even as the world of business telecoms continues to change around it, Square One Network continues to be consistent and rigorous in its commitment to improve – for new and existing customers alike. Longterm growth therefore remains the primary focus for David and his team, and 2026 has been a textbook example of this so far. Specific initiatives for the rest of the year include expanding awareness of the services offered beyond traditional telecoms, as many businesses underestimate the knock-on effect of poor connectivity. David continued: “We’re also continuing to strengthen relationships with MSPs, IT providers, and channel partners who want a specialist telecoms partner they can trust to support their own customers. We’re also investing more in educational content, customer success stories, and industry-specific resources to help businesses better understand the value of modern connectivity solutions. Most importantly, we want to continue growing without losing the personal service and accessibility that customers value so highly.” Square One Network’s recognition in our IT Awards 2026 is a fantastic achievement for the team and a reflection of the strong relationships built with customers over the years. David is especially thankful to those who have been with the company now for a long time and have recommended it to other businesses. All these people – as well as its team and partners – are supporting the growth of Square One Network, and that is why this award is as much for them as it is for this outstanding business telecoms provider in Bristol. Contact: David Allen Company: Square One Network Web Address: https://www.squareone.network/
Helping travellers around the world to discover the joy of travelling by car, DiscoverCars.com is the goto international car rental comparison platform for tens of millions of people each year. Its customers are connected with more than 1,000 trusted suppliers in over 52,000 locations and 164 countries, which is the start of a seamless vehicle rental experience where booking is made clear, effortless, and enjoyable. DiscoverCars.com’s own Marina Druganova, Marketing Project Manager, was on hand to tell us more. Best Car Rental Comparison Platform 2026 & Technology Advancement Excellence Award 2026 Based in Latvia, DiscoverCars.com is the world’s most-visited car rental comparison website (according to latest Similarweb data), and a leader in online car rental bookings in so many ways. The platform combines rental deals from many companies to make sure that the customer can choose the best vehicle for their trip. Having all mandatory fees included in the quoted price is compulsory by their own ethical choice, so there are no surprises upon arrival. Underpinning this is a 24/7, multilingual customer service team, free cancellation, and information its customers can trust. Industry acclaim has followed as a result, with some providers even recognising DiscoverCars. com as the world’s leading car rental booking website. One of the most fitting honours the platform has received is being featured on the Financial Times’ list of fastest-growing companies in Europe for two consecutive years running and the fourth time in total since 2020. Between 2021 and 2024, the platform had an absolute growth rate of almost 160%, demonstrating the value it adds for users in today’s digital world. As Marina explained: “Customers want to book smart, yet fast.” This is why DiscoverCars.com looks to blend transparency with simplicity, something that starts with building a marketleading product and celebrating creativity, open-mindedness, and trust. The latter of these is particularly important for the team here, and DiscoverCars.com’s focus on trust is seen through the more than 267,000 reviews it has on Trustpilot, adding up to an ‘excellent’ score of 4.6/5. The number of reviews it receives continues to grow, as does its team of almost 300. Made up of 45 different nationalities, which is staggering for a team of this size, people of various backgrounds and cultures make up DiscoverCars.com, which has connected them all through a values-driven culture and an enjoyable work environment. In the last three months alone, more than 30 new members have joined its customer service team and seven new colleagues have started in engineering, highlighting its constant evolution. Whilst the team here mainly serve the travel industry, their work deserves recognition in the realm of IT thanks to their platform serving as a combination of ideas and IT solutions delivered in a structured and attractive way through the DiscoverCars.com website. As well as supplying customers anywhere in the world, this platform also helps create jobs in Latvia’s IT sector, and allows DiscoverCars.com to drive innovation. A fitting example of this was the successful DiscoverCars.com AI Hackathon it held at the beginning of the year. As shared, “the purpose was to accelerate AI adoption and innovation across DiscoverCars.com by giving everyone – from Product and Engineering to Customer Support, Marketing, and Commercial – a hands-on opportunity to build practical AIpowered solutions that solve real business or customer problems. This was a massive event, real-world opportunity to explore how AI can help work smarter, faster, and more effectively across the teams.” Also in the realm of IT, the in-house SEO growth DiscoverCars.com has experienced has fuelled its wider growth, expanding its online presence and credibility, generating ideas and putting them in action, and developing its existing processes. Demonstrating its strengths in this environment, DiscoverCars.com’s SEO Growth Team also made it to the final of this year’s European Search Awards, competing in the Best In-House Team category. It is thanks to this team that the site consistently ranks first amongst similar rental platforms. “According to Similarweb data, DiscoverCars.com had 3.4M monthly visits in April 2026, and this marks the third month in a row that we have led the category.” With its claims being backed up by the data, it is clear that DiscoverCars.com is one of the leading international car rental comparison platforms operating today, not only in number of users, but also when it comes to advancing technology in the region and beyond. Every member of the team here is aligned with the aim of being the best, and with Discover.com also being an example of transformational leadership, the company behind the platform is building a brighter future for its diverse team, only adding to its premier status. More on world’s number one car rental comparison and booking site can be found by visiting the web address below. Company: DiscoverCars.com Web Address: https://www.discovercars.com/
IT Awards 2026/ 6 Leading Innovators in Turnkey Control & Software Solutions 2026 Our modern world is defined by rapid advancement and continuous evolution, and countless businesses are working tirelessly to keep pace across sectors. In a landscape saturated with tight deadlines, rocketing costs, and rising expectations, turnkey software solutions have emerged as the ideal option for businesses seeking a single partner dedicated to their project’s success. Enter Industrial Software Services, an integrated company offering a complete turnkey packaged tailored to each client’s unique project needs. Managing Director Ian Brown told us more below, as Industrial Software Services is named in the IT Awards 2026. Based in Birmingham, Industrial Software Services is a fast-growing company providing bespoke and cost-effective turnkey solutions to a wide range of industry areas, including chemical, water treatment, extrusion, power generation, plastics, warehousing, building control, power management systems, and more. The company specialises in professional design services for control and electrical requirements, from simple control panel applications to the highly complex, multiple PLC systems of today. Driven by more than 35 years of industry experience, Industrial Software Services guarantees to its clients a fast and reliable service for all industrial design, control, and software demands. “Automation is our speciality,” Ian told us. “With a vast knowledge and understanding of industrial, process, building, switchgear, and power generation automation solutions, we can service your needs.” Industrial Software Services offers a comprehensive service that spans design, automation, and consultancy. Its turnkey solutions range from individual control panel design to complex full-site systems utilising PLC, SCADA, DCS, and Multi I/O applications. It covers the entire lifecycle of a project, from design and built to final implementation, always incorporating industry best practices. What’s more, Industrial Software Services offers full software coding solutions with client witness and sign-off both on- and off-site. On-site commissioning and start-up are also available, along with a full aftercare solution. When required, individual site visits can be accommodated on standalone systems and controls to find faults and repair existing systems, whatever the vintage. At its core, Industrial Software Services is driven by its philosophy of always placing the client at the heart of the process. From the very first engagement and scope of supply right through to implementation and sign off, the team ensures that the client remains fully updated and informed of all developments. This philosophy has pushed the company to offer a full consultancy service as a part of its scope, advising clients on the most economical methods and best practices to ensure a costefficient, high-quality solution. Each service offered by Industrial Software Services is underpinned by the belief that attention to detail is paramount. The same commitment and dedication are applied to every project regardless of size or scope, with the team always working with the client’s best interests in mind. This means that, although the team strives to position client specifications at the forefront of the project, it will also discuss and advise wherever necessary to achieve the best possible outcome. Looking to the future, the team plans to continue on its upward trajectory, working closely with customers, clients, and suppliers to maintain its sustainable culture whilst producing products and services to a consistently high standard. In the wake of Industrial Software Services earning recognition as Leading Innovators in Turnkey Control and Software Solutions 2026, Ian concluded, “We plan to grow organically and continue ensuring that Industrial Software Services remains the successful company it has become.” Contact: Ian Brown Company: Industrial Software Services Ltd Web Address: www.industrialsoftwareservices.co.uk
Two Clouds designs, builds, and maintains the systems that businesses use to manage their day-to-day operations, such as ERP platforms, integration layers, customer portals, and stock management systems. The clients it works with are often in manufacturing, financial services, e-commerce/retail, or logistics, and tend to seek out Dan’s services when their off-the-shelf software no longer cuts it. It might be they have outgrown a SaaS product or that they are sitting on an ageing system no longer invested in. Since establishing his company last year, Dan has been passionate about offering a service business, not a product business. He explained: “I want to build long-term relationships with clients where we genuinely understand their business and grow with them.” This may sound simple, but it actually shapes almost every decision Dan makes regarding Two Clouds, from how it scopes work to its pricing, and how it handles problems. Being open and honest is also key, even when the news is bad. These are just the fundamentals, and what sets Two Clouds apart on a technical level is that it builds custom software designed to grow alongside the client, and does not just provide a system. Many agencies deliver projects well, but end the relationship with the customer as soon as they get it over the line. Dan has seen first-hand what happens next: the software becomes a legacy system – too expensive and complex to support – so the company is forced into an expensive rebuild of it. Dan told us: “We work differently. Once a system is live, we keep investing in it alongside the client, and that extends the lifespan of what they’ve already paid for. The longer that relationship runs, the better we understand the client’s business, and that ultimately makes us more useful to them.” Things do not end here, as keeping up its end means Two Clouds must stay close to the technology it is offering, and this is one reason why it uses AI tools as part of its own development workflow. Dan continued: “We work across Azure, AWS and Digital Ocean, and keep our integration capability sharp across Sage, SAP, Salesforce, and QuickBooks, to name a few. But honestly, the bigger part is staying close to the clients. Most of what we improve comes from listening to what businesses are actually struggling with.” Since most clients are also not technical, it is mostly up to Dan to make the decisions for them. This position makes Dan somewhat sceptical when it comes to some of the trends in this space, especially AI in software development. Vibe coding is one area with lots of hype, but Dan believes it is worth being measured about it. Whilst he does use AI tools across his work and finds them genuinely useful, he recognises they are not yet fit for building serious systems on their own. The opportunity is for experts like Dan to use AI to speed up processes, without sacrificing their engineering expertise. Leaving our readers with some valuable expertise, Dan shared the general rule he has when it comes to solving technical challenges is that it is fine for a person to spend 30 minutes to an hour on a problem by themselves, but they need to ask someone if it is any longer. “Pride is expensive in this industry”, he said. As for his clients’ challenges, a big part of what Dan does is helping clients who have previously been let down, with the kind of turnaround he offers even making them feel excited about work again. These projects, all of which have come from Dan’s ethos of doing the work properly, being visible in the community, and staying patient, are set to continue for the rest of 2026 and beyond, with Two Clouds looking to maximise growth areas such as integration projects to open up projects that might otherwise have remained in the woodwork. We wish Dan the best of luck with all of this, and are delighted to recognise the quality of his Northern Irish software development consultancy in our IT Awards 2026. Contact: Dan Coulter Company: Two Clouds Web Address: https://twoclouds.co.uk/ Specialising in bespoke software development, Belfast-based consultancy Two Clouds provides custom business software to clients in the UK and Ireland. Dan Coulter, the founder and managing director of Two Clouds, is a software integration specialist (Sage, SAP, Salesforce), leveraging more than 15 years of experience building custom software to deliver what he believes is the culmination of his knowledge. We caught up with Dan for more following Two Clouds’ recognition. Best Emerging Software Development Consultancy 2026 – Northern Ireland
IT Awards 2026/ 8 Best Partner Ecosystem Intelligence Platform 2026 & Excellence in Vendor-Partner Relationship Improvement 2026 With knowledge and expertise fuelling the outstanding software it has created, Vortex 6 helps organisations in the fast-moving technology market thrive by remaining aligned with its partners and vendors, with a deep understanding of these relationships proving instrumental in its success. The company has worked with some of the most successful and dynamic organisations in the industry as a result, and is trusted by huge names such as Verizon, IBM, and BT. We caught up with Jim Cannon, the head of product management here, to learn more. Many of the leading technology vendors operating today (including Cisco, Microsoft, and AWS) rely on large partner networks to deliver solutions to their customers all over the world. These partner programmes are sophisticated and sometimes complex frameworks that include certification requirements, specialisations, lifecycle engagement models, and incentive structures, all of which organisations must navigate in order to remain competitive. Vortex 6 exists to help vendor partners manage the complexities inherent here effectively. The company’s journey dates back more than 17 years, with Peter Olive, the founder and CEO of Vortex 6, recognising that technology businesses were struggling to get the most out of their partnership programmes with major vendors. Crucial tasks such as maintaining compliance with certification requirements were a real challenge, as these partners often failed to capitalise on the rebates and incentives that their vendors were offering. This spelled bad news for all. Utilising its extensive expertise with Cisco and other major vendor partner programmes, Vortex 6’s first development was V6 Fusion, a software service that fully automates partnership management and gives partners total control and real-time visibility of their partner programme compliance. From this foundation, the solutions evolved a step ahead of the market, and now encompass the entire deal lifecycle including an incentives module, deal optimisation, and customer experience products. Now a specialist technology company helping its partners to succeed within complex global vendor ecosystems, Vortex 6 has also developed a flagship SaaS solution, Certification Manager, which provides technology organisations with total visibility over their workforce’s certifications, and therefore their organisation’s capabilities, and helps to identify any capability gaps. It is the consolidation of all this information into one product that demonstrates real value in this space. Jim explained: “By consolidating this information into a single intelligent platform, we enable partners to manage certifications strategically, maintain programme eligibility, and align workforce capability with business growth objectives.” V6 Certification Manager is far from the only thing the company provides in this environment, however, as it also delivers specialist advisory services blended with powerful data-driven reports and analytical tools, especially within the new Cisco 360 framework. These services help organisations interpret evolving vendor partner programmes and translate them into practical operational strategies, whilst ensuring any new quotes and deals bring in maximum revenue from incentive programme rewards. “By combining SaaS technology, data intelligence, and deep ecosystem expertise, Vortex 6 helps technology partners unlock greater financial value from vendor relationships while strengthening their ability to deliver high-quality technology solutions to customers.” Peter Olive, CEO Taking a closer look at its solutions in practice, Vortex 6 has delivered great success with emerging partner Keller Schroeder, who were striving to improve both their Cisco partner status and overall profitability through Cisco rebates and incentives. After missing out on income due to incomplete submissions, Keller Schroeder adopted V6 Cisco 360 Director to considerably enhance its partnership performance. Vortex 6’s team quickly identified a major upcoming deal where the partner was only receiving 55% of the potential rebates and incentives income, with their experts walking Keller Schroeder through the entire Cisco Secure Networking Solution Specialisation application that they had been missing, V6 ultimately led them to successful approval and a significantly higher rebate recognition. It is thanks to this level of support that Keller Schroeder’s initiative with Vortex 6 resulted in a 5x ROI, and partnership that is still going strong to this day. As Jason Smith, the director of strategic partnerships at Keller Schroeder, said of the experience: “One call with Vortex 6 changed everything. They helped us bridge the compliance gap that had been holding us back from bigger incentives. Their support continues to be fast, focused, and always makes an impact.” Ultimately, Vortex 6 support partners operating across global technology ecosystems and is designed to bring clarity and strategic insight to one of the most complex areas of the IT industry. More on the quality solutions behind this award-winning company can be found by visiting the web address below. Contact: Jim Cannon / Peter Olive Company: Vortex 6 Web Address: https://vortex6.com/ Vortex 6 Peter Olive
Marketing’s cheat code, The Genius Group (TGG) is a multi-award-winning marketing agency based just outside Manchester – and the UK’s premier lead generation firm. Comprising business growth experts, brand strategists, visionaries, innovators, and lead generation specialists, TGG is the intelligence behind multi-million-pound companies, having generated more than £3 billion for its clients since 2019. Creative Director Claire Niebel was on hand for more about TGG following its recognition here in our IT Awards 2026. Website Traffic Generation Specialists of the Year 2026 Over the last seven years, The Genius Group has evolved from a boutique marketing agency in Altrincham into a global digital powerhouse recognised internationally as a brand specialist, premier lead generator, and a software/ technology innovator. The story of TGG begins with visionary cofounders Chris Niebel and Mark Shephard, who launched the agency with a close-knit team of six. Today, TGG stands a thriving collective of over 55 experts, as well as a trendsetter in digital strategy, performance marketing, and website traffic generation. At its core, TGG provides comprehensive digital solutions for its clients, ranging from developing custom software and CRO research through to bespoke lead generation for law firms. Across all of these services, the team work towards the overarching mission of the agency, which is simply to make the complex clear. TGG is relentless in its approach, guided by both the belief that great ideas deserve even greater scale and the proprietary technology it has masterfully created to tilt the market in the favour of its clients. The marketing-led creative team and creativeled marketing team behind TGG are both known for staring fires when it comes to their leads, generating hundreds of fresh, tested, refined, and real-time optimised adverts each week, all at speed and a tremendous volume. Leads are the bread and butter of TGG, with every step of its lead generation process managed and optimised down to a T. Exclusive Experian partnerships and government-grade cybersecurity help position TGG as the global leader in this space. “TGG. Once in a Lead Generation.” There is so much more to TGG, with its Genius Lab comprising creative, compliance, marketing, and development departments, all of which help it to turn ideas into scalable realities across platforms such as Meta, Google, TikTok, and Shopify. The synergy across all of these teams results in TGG’s risk-free, results-driven model, which sees a cost-per-lead approach favoured over simply charging for an ad spend. This sees TGG take full ownership of the entire process. Claire explained: “To stay ahead, we pour resources into proprietary tech like Valid8 and our custom data-mining tools. This edge lets us achieve conversion rates up to three times the industry average, with our Shopify health and beauty stores ranking among the world’s top 1% of e-commerce sites.” Valid8 is even one of the brands comprising the wider Genius Universe, alongside the likes of GeniLegal, the UK’s first complete secure case and client management software solution, and Reverse Life, the UK’s number one liquid bottle collagen [CN1.1]brand. TGG excels when it comes to deliver premium traffic for clients in challenging industries like legal services and health and beauty, and this is only set to increase with its use of AI. The agency is currently weaving Claude and other advanced AI LLMs into its daily workflows, not to replace people, but to supercharge the ability of its teams to deliver leads and innovate at lightning speeds. Chris added: [CN2.1]“We’re already at the forefront of automated lead qualification and SEO content. Our focus is expanding specialised lead generation for PCP claims and the health and wellness sector.” She continued: “By harnessing AI-driven automation and personalised marketing, our advanced systems pinpoint high-intent consumers – no tedious forms required. This seamless approach is redefining the future of lead generation.” Beyond this, TGG remains committed to pivoting alongside shifts in the market and evolving algorithms, with its in-house CRO and data teams, guided by co-founder Chris, looking to dominate the field by spending smartly and maximising ROI through creative optimisation. TGG’s growth is set to be enhanced by spotting untapped opportunities in such competitive spaces like PCP claims, where it can apply its proven strategies. Finally, the future is also all about giving for The Genius Group, which is as passionate about supporting communities as it is lead gen. To this end, more than £100,000 has been donated to causes such as Prevent Breast Cancer, the Barrie Wells Trust, Mustard Tree, and more. Claire shared in closing: “Our vision is to be recognised as a marketing leader that drives real, positive social impact.” For more on these award-winning website traffic generation specialists in Manchester, visit TGG’s website link below. Contact: Claire Niebel Company: The Genius Group Web Address: https://www.genius.co.uk/
IT Awards 2026/ 10 Best Tech Sustainability Consultancy 2026 & Client Satisfaction Excellence Award 2026 Sumillion is a UK-based IT solutions provider specialising in sustainable procurement, lifecycle management, and cloud and infrastructure services. It strives to help clients procure, manage, and optimise their IT environments in a way that is efficient, secure, and environmentally responsible. We spoke with Director John Rose to find out more, as Sumillion is named in the IT Awards 2026. “Ultimately, Sumillion’s goal is to demonstrate that an IT provider can deliver highperformance, cost-effective solutions while maintaining a strong commitment to environmental and social responsibility.” At its core, Sumillion strives to operate as more than a reseller. The company serves as a partner to its clients, supporting them through the full lifecycle of their technology estate. Alongside this, the company provides consultancy around sustainability, helping organisations understand and reduce the environmental impact of their IT. It works with a diverse portfolio of client across the public sector, mid-market, and enterprise space, including schools, multi-academy trusts, local authorities, and private sector businesses. A defining aspect of Sumillion is its commitment to sustainability. The company provides its clients with tools to measure and manage their environmental impact. This includes carbon reporting, sustainability dashboards, and guidance on reducing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions within their IT estate. This is increasingly becoming a requirement and not just a preference, particularly within public sector procurement, where transparency and accountability are essential. This commitment is reflected internally; rather than being treated as a separate initiative, sustainability is embedded across every level of the business. From procurement decisions to logistics, internal operations to client solutions, environmental and social considerations are built into how Sumillion operates. Its circular IT approach focuses on extending the life of devices through refurbishment and reuse, reducing e-wate, and ensuring responsible recycling at end-of-life. “Sustainability and ethical business practice aren’t separate strands of what we do at Sumillion. They are built into how the business operates day to day,” John told us. “We prioritise doing the right thing over the easiest option, whether that relates to environmental impact, client outcomes, or internal culture. Transparency is central to how we operate, particularly in areas such as carbon reporting and supply chain accountability. We believe that claims around sustainability must be backed by data, audits, and measurable outcomes.” Alongside environmental sustainability, social impact is also a core element of Sumillion’s model. Through its Green Partnership programme, the company works with clients to fund and support projects in Ghana, including clean water wells, school libraries, ICT labs, and vocational training programmes for women. These initiatives are delivered in partnership with To Live In H.O.P.E., a UK-based charity dedicated to supporting underserved communities in Ghana. With each project, Sumillion aims to create long-term, sustainable change within these communities. “This isn’t a campaign or a one-off initiative, it’s just how we run the business,” said John. “When you step back and look at what that has helped deliver, it becomes very real.” Sumillion commits at least 10% of profits each year to charitable and sustainability-led projects, which, over time, has amounted to more than £600,000 invested in education, clean water, and community development. More than 85,000 people now have access to clean water through wells Sumillion has supported, and over 50,000 books are now in circulation across schools in Ghana. Now, Sumillion is working alongside the Bank of Ghana on the development of a central library project that will provide a long-term educational hub for the community Alongside this, the company will continue to directly invest in developing skills and opportunities for these underserved communities. The Sumillion takes great pride in its work to build vocational training opportunities for young woman in Ghana, including practical skills such as electrical training. This work is targeted towards creating real pathways into employment and independence, setting young women up for continued success. For the significant impact it has made through sustainable and social initiatives, integrating environmental responsibility into every aspect of its operations, Sumillion has been named the Best Tech Sustainability Consultancy 2026. Reflecting on Sumillion’s sustained success, John shared: “We are not a large organisation, and we don’t have unlimited resources. What we do have is consistency, and a decision made early on to build a business that gives back as it grows. When you look at what has been achieved, from water infrastructure to education and vocational projects, it really does come down to steady, long-term commitment; hopefully, a blueprint for others to follow.” Contact: John Rose Company: Sumillion Web Address: www.sumillion.com
Subscribe to SME News for quarterly content & updates View the latest issues of our quarterly digital magazine which features business profiles and features of leading industry insiders who are thriving in the small business sector. Subscribe Now!
smenews.digitalRkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUyMDQwMA==