News

Ingram Micro and Circular Computing partner on

News Body text remanufactured laptops

Circular Computing is partnering with Ingram Micro on carbon-neutral, remanufactured Dell, HP and Lenovo laptops.

Unlike refurbished IT equipment, which depending on the provider can be inconsistent and unreliable, remanufactured laptops go through a rigorous 300-step process and quality control procedure to ensure they meet the needs of enterprise users and have been proven to perform at 97 percent of equivalent new devices.

For every remanufactured laptop Circular Computing sell, 316kg of CO2 emissions and 190,000 litres of water is saved, and 1,200kg of mining minerals is prevented versus the equivalent sale of a new machine. The resource and emissions savings businesses can achieve by opting for remanufactured IT, are significant.

In fact, research shows that UK businesses could save £7.7 billion over the next nine years by buying remanufactured laptops instead of brand-new devices. The move would also see carbon emissions reductions of nine million tons and 5.4 trillion litres less water usage – 10 percent of the volume of the North Sea – over the same period.

If all businesses in the UK elected to move to remanufactured devices, the reduction in emissions by 2030 – when progress against the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be reviewed – would be equivalent to taking 193,002 cars off of the roads for a year.

Michael Farrah, Senior Commercial Director at Ingram Micro said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Circular Computing, not only so we can offer our customers bestin-class remanufactured laptops, but also so we can offer a genuinely sustainable solution for the provision of IT equipment. Sustainability is high on the agenda in the IT industry and we feel that this partnership can be a significant contributor towards improving sustainability and re-enforcing the benefits of the circular economy.”

Kingston FURY Released!

Kingston FURY, a division of Kingston Technology Europe Co LLP has begun shipping its high-performance memory:Kingston FURY Renegade, Kingston FURY Beast, and Kingston FURY Impact.

Kingston FURY Renegade DDR4 RGB allows you to crank up your frame rate, keep your streams broadcasting smoothly and plough through your highlight reel editing. Offering speeds up to 4600MHz paired with quick CL15-CL19 latencies. The dynamic RGB lighting is powered by Kingston FURY‘s Infrared Sync Technology to provide smooth, synchronised lighting effects. With its own black heat spreader and matching black PCB Kingston FURY Renegade DDR4 also provides ultra-fast speeds up to 5333MHz, paired with quick CL13-CL20 timings. Both are Intel XMP certified with profiles that are optimised for Intel’s latest chipsets. Available in single module capacities of 8GB – 32GB and kits of 2, 4, and 8 with capacities up to 256GB

Kingston FURY Beast DDR4 RGB and Kingston FURY Beast DDR4 provide powerful performance boosts for gaming, video editing, and rendering with speeds up to 3733MHz and CL15–19 latencies. Those looking for a cost-efficient upgrade will have the option of the smooth and stunning lighting effects of Kingston FURY Beast DDR4 RGB. Available in single module capacities of 8GB–32GB and kit capacities of 16GB–128GB. Or the stylish low-profile heat spreader design of Kingston FURY Beast DDR4, available in single module capacities of 4GB–32GB and kit capacities of 8GB–128GB. Both feature Plug n Play automatic overclocking at 2666MHz and are Intel XMP ready and ready for AMD Ryzen. DDR3 kits also available.

Tech Data and Suunto embark on new consumer sports and fitness venture

Tech Data has signed a European distribution agreement with Suunto, a global specialist in connected sports watches, dive computers and precision instruments. According to recent IDC research, the European wearable market saw strong year-on-year growth in Q1 2021 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.9 percent from 2020 to 2025. This growth is especially fuelled by increasing consumer interest in technology products that connect and integrate with leading third-party sports and leisure applications. Tech Data is expanding its portfolio of specialised mobile and consumer electronics lifestyle solutions to enable its partners to address this emerging opportunity.

Covid-19 recovery has derailed progress towards Net Zero by 2050

Three quarters of UK businesses support the government’s Net Zero by 2050 target. Yet, recovery from Covid-19 derailed plans and sustainability initiatives for 50%, and only one third (36%) have plans in place and are on track to make the deadline, new research has found.

The survey of over 250 senior decision makers with responsibility for green initiatives across public and private sector organisations by circular ICT solutions provider, Stone Group, found that many are making headway with sustainability initiatives despite pandemic disruption and economic uncertainty. For 32% of respondents, sustainability is a big focus and they have lots of green initiatives already in place, and 45% said they’re beginning to take sustainability more seriously with a growing number of green initiatives being introduced.

Just 19% of respondents said they were talking about sustainability and plan to do more when they can, and only 4% said they weren’t yet making any progress, despite a few initiatives being encouraged. Despite Covid-19 recovery pushing sustainability further down the list of business priorities, 42% of respondents claimed that the shift towards remote working has had a positive impact on their carbon footprint.

However, for the UK to meet its Net Zero by 2050 target, more urgent action is required from organisations to bring their plans and initiatives back on track. Given the UK government’s new ambitious climate change target to cut emissions by 77% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels, bringing the UK more than three quarters of the way to Net Zero by 2050, UK public and private sector organisations need to be contributing now to make these ambitions achievable.

The research found that the sustainability initiatives currently being prioritised by respondents are recycling (50%), smart building technologies (39%), and green order fulfilment initiatives (33%). Sustainable IT asset disposal came some way down the list, as a top-three priority for just 29%.

QBS becomes first net carbon neutral distributor in the UK

QBS has been independently verified as net carbon neutral.

“We have actually been carbon negative for some time, but now we are officially certified and independently verified. It is all about being totally authentic and avoiding the greenwashing. This achievement is due to the exceptional hard work of the team – our carbon footprint has been certified at a modest 34.2 tonnes,” says Anita Bitard, Sustainability Director, QBS Technology Group.

In June 2021, QBS was independently verified as carbon neutral as defined by the publicly available PAS 2060:2010 specification (the common definition and most scientifically valid definition). Verification was in accordance with the WBCSD/WRI GHG Protocol Standard.

The independent verification and accreditation means that QBS has accurately defined its organisational footprint, agreed boundaries and met all three scopes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with environmental integrity:

Scope 1 – The direct emissions from sources it controls, including its offices and datacentres

Scope 2 – The indirect emissions from the electricity and gas that it consumes

Scope 3 – The wider emissions that it is responsible for through its upstream and downstream supply chain, the commuting and remote working of its employees

APPOINTMENTS This month’s movers and shakers in the tech industry...

ConnectWise

ConnectWise has appointed Regina Marrow as chief information officer (CIO). In her new role, Marrow will oversee the company’s global business and financial systems teams and initiatives.

Prior to ConnectWise, Marrow held technology and transformation executive roles at companies such as Ernst & Young, LLP and Gerdau.

Marrow will be responsible for the company’s business and financial systems, including the strategic transformation of the technologies to support these processes, which is currently underway. This long-term focus on ConnectWise business and financial systems helps support the company’s focus on partner success by becoming more operationally efficient.

Project Audio Visual

Bill Stewart has been appointed as Head of Technical and Support Services at Project Audio Visual. Stewart is focused on transforming the company’s service and support structure with new practices that are specifically designed for the evolving requirements of the hybrid workplace.

With over nine years of experience in technical support, Bill holds over 150 qualifications and training certificates and has supported major brands and fortune 500 companies globally. His specialist skills focus on networking and unified communications applied to modern AV technologies.

Bill’s aim is to redesign Project Audio Visual’s service and support practices to account for the changing nature of corporate environments and the rise of hybrid working. This includes establishing a new Virtual Expert Assist remote support, which replaces the traditional first- and second-line structure.

VIP UK

VIP UK has expanded its Board of Directors with 2 new appointments: Elliott Hodgeon as Sales Director and Elanza Butters as E-commerce & Marketing Director.

Hodgeon has progressed within VIP over the last 5 years, and is keen to move forward in his latest role: “I appreciate the Board’s confidence in me, and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to lead such a great team. VIP is a fantastic company, with great people and it has been a pleasure to be a part of the huge success we have seen in recent years. I look forward to expanding this success in my new role whilst continuing to provide the excellent services and programmes our clients and vendors deserve”.

Joining him is Elanza Butters who has been with VIP for the last 4 years. Elanza will be continuing to lead her department and support our vendors and customers alike, whilst also driving forward our investment in digital platforms and customer led infrastructure. Elanza said: “I am very pleased to be joining the Board and I look forward to playing a part in the continued development and growth of VIP UK, supporting our teams, our valued vendor partners and most importantly our customers”.

Google Cloud

Adaire Fox-Martin has been appointed by Google Cloud as its new EMEA Cloud President.

Based in Dublin, Adaire will lead the Google Cloud Sales organisation for EMEA.

With over two decades of tech leadership experience, Adaire has built high performing teams across Europe, the Americas, and AsiaPacific. Most recently, Adaire was Executive Board Member and President of Global Sales, Services, and Customer Engagement at SAP, where she successfully spearheaded and grew the company’s customer-focused teams. Prior to SAP, she held various leadership roles at Oracle.

Adaire currently serves on the Board of Directors of Equinix, a data center and colocation provider. In 2020, she was named in Fortune Magazine’s Top 50 Most Powerful Women International List for the fourth time running.

Dividebuy

DivideBuy has appointed Heather Goode as Retailer Risk and Risk Oversight Manager, Jarone Macklin-Page as Business Development Manager, and Charlotte Bright as Marketing Manager.

With more than eight years’ experience across the risk arena and roles at BNP Paribas Personal Finance and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, Heather will lead on risk management for both DivideBuy and its retailers. Her expertise in process development and automation will align efficiencies across the critical areas of the business.

Jarone’s joins DivideBuy having worked as an Area Manager for Samsung and as Business Development Manager for Juul.

Charlotte’s expertise in managing traditional and digital marketing channels will support DivideBuy’s overall multi-channel marketing strategy for 2021 and beyond, supporting the business’ retailer acquisition and consumer lead generation goals. She joins DivideBuy having previously worked in marketing communications at JCB.

BenQ UK

BenQ has appointed Ben Whitaker as Education Technology Consultant.

Whitaker begun his career as a teacher in 2007 and subsequently becoming Assistant Principle: Head of Sixth Form. During his 12 years of teaching, Ben saw firsthand the advancement of online resources such as Youtube and the changing role of educators and classroom contact time.

Recognising early on that the education sector needed to embrace digital innovation, Ben became a Google for Education Certified Educator, Trainer and Innovator before joining award-winning #1 in the UK’s performance tables, Burnley College as a Curriculum Manager and Digital Transformation Lead, where he took on responsibility for apprenticeships, adult education, as well as business and digital courses.