Q2
West & North Yorkshire Business
12
WEST & NORTH YORKSHIRE NEWS
Staying strong In the same way that Brexit dragged on for a lot longer than most of us expected, we have also now experienced this with the pandemic. Eighteen months on, and the difficult political, health, economic and business decisions are still being grappled with. Back in March 2020, I’m sure that many of you, like me, thought it would be all over by that summer – if only! I know that the local authorities for the geographical areas that we cover have done a great job in administering and delivering the government grants associated with keeping the economy going since March 2020 – and that is appreciated. It still remains to be seen, however, what the full damage will be to economic as well as the public health of the nation – we can but hold our breath on that. Finding a balance between acknowledging the difficulties our members are facing and highlighting good news and success stories can be tough, but I hope to do that here. As always, this magazine will provide you with some of the latter, and it (plus the website and social media channels, of course) will signpost you to information and guidance on support available to all types of company – whether starting up, growing, facing challenges or adapting the business in response to recent events. So, I say to our members and to the wider business communities of West & North Yorkshire – keep going, keep doing what you’re good at doing, and we’ll get through these difficult situations. Don’t forget to contact the Chamber whether you want to bring us good news or you need signposting to advice and information. Nick Garthwaite Chair of the Board West & North Yorkshire Chamber
Digital transformation BT has been awarded a multi-million-pound contract with leading housebuilder Avant Homes supporting the digital transformation of its business during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The partnership has already seen BT deploy new technology to allow agile working for Avant Homes sales and customer service workforce during the last 12 months. The investment also allows the developer to further improve its customer journey for new reservations and viewings. For the next phase of the partnership, BT is providing a cloud-based solution that simplifies the management and operations across Avant Homes’ five regional offices located in Scotland, the North East, Yorkshire, and the Midlands, as well as its group head office operation and all development locations. The solution includes 5G mobile access for all Avant Homes employees offering fast, reliable Internet. It uses EE’s Rapid Site technology to set up a virtual office or contact point from almost anywhere. The managed service combines BT’s leading fixed network, with EE’s award-winning mobile network to deliver operational efficiencies for the housebuilder whilst empowering its employees with ultrafast connectivity. Peter Adams, Avant Homes group business systems and transformation director, said: “Our continued upwards trajectory and ambitious growth strategy requires the ongoing review of our processes and technology to ensure we are operating effectively at all levels. “By implementing these new communication solutions, we can enable better ways of working and communicating internally and externally. The joined up digital system provided by BT means we can enhance our customers’ experience whether they are meeting with us at a development, on the telephone or via video call. Furthermore, using 5G mobile technology allows our people to set up a virtual office from any location, allowing more flexibility and convenience. We look forward to seeing the positive impact these new systems will have as we integrate them across the business.”
