Sharp UK are Proud to be Finalists at the UK Business Tech Awards 2024

Who are Sharp UK?

Sharp UK are a single, end-end technology partner for organisations and businesses across the UK. Our expertise covers IT Services, Cyber Security, Managed Print, Audio Visual Solutions and Workplace design.  

We employ over 700 people and have 15 regional offices across the UK, serving commercial, corporate, education and public sector organisations. We enable our clients to create desirable workspaces, find greater efficiencies and improve performance with best-fit, integrated technology. We take a truly collaborative approach, listening and learning so we can tailor solutions to meet the exact needs of our clients. 

As an IT and technology expert, we are in the top 1% of all Microsoft partners worldwide and have achieved three of the six Microsoft Partner Designations: Data & AI, Infrastructure, and Modern Work and are well on our way to achieving the fourth and fifth for Business Apps and Digital & App Innovation.

We are also one of the first companies to have been certified against the new ISO27001:2022  standard, demonstrating our commitment to information security and protecting our clients’ data. Our Cyber Essential Plus accreditation also builds on this

Entering the UK Business Tech Awards 2024

This year we entered three categories in the UK Business Tech Awards: Best Use of Innovation, Cyber Security Company of the Year, and Technology Company of the Year, and we are thrilled to have been shortlisted for all 3! Learn more about why we entered those three categories below.

Best Use of Innovation

Entering this category was a no-brainer. Our industry-first Virtual Showroom was introduced in September 2023. Our new showroom demonstrates our technology in the context of modern and dynamic workspaces. The interactive online tools enable our clients to view and review products, services, and solutions in several captivating 360-degree environments. Featuring 3D product renders, information, and videos for each solution, the Virtual Showroom also has Augmented Reality (AR) for enhanced product evaluation.

Speaking on the Virtual Showroom and shortlist, Stuart Sykes, Managing Director at Sharp UK says ‘We are used to exploring virtual reality environments in a whole host of scenarios and we wanted to bring this level of innovation and engagement to our industry and our clients. The experience helps our clients explore what they can achieve with integrated technology in their workplace and organisation.

It’s a valuable tool for us to use as a Technology Partner. We continue to meet the changing needs of our clients, and to help them make the best-fit IT and workplace technology investments for their organisation.

We are pleased to have been shortlisted for Best Use of Innovation for the Virtual Showroom. A lot of hard work and dedication went into the development of this solution and our team of experts are elated to be recognised for this.’

Cyber Security Company of the Year

Our portfolio of tailored security tools caters to the changing and evolving cyber security landscape. In the past year alone, we have taken significant steps to strengthen our security solutions by introducing three new services: 

• Cyber Essentials as a Service – Fully managed by Sharp, Cyber Essentials as a Service is a solution that allows our clients to maintain year-round compliance for all of their endpoints against the Cyber Essentials requirements, including Cyber Essentials Plus.
• Security Awareness as a Service –  Security Awareness as a Service (SAaaS) is a de-risking, training and education solution to help organisations maintain ongoing cyber security training for their teams all year round.
• Cyber Security Audit – Our Cyber Security Audit service provides a 360 view of an organisation’s IT environment, where we conduct an in-depth review covering 6 key areas to identify high-risk issues which could leave you vulnerable to cyber attacks. These key areas are:

1. Internal Infrastructure Review
2. Microsoft 365 Phishing and Impersonation
3. Dark Web Scan
4. Microsoft 365 Security Review
5. Copilot Readiness Assessment
6. Cyber Essential Gap Analysis

As part of the audit, we highlight weaknesses within the client’s IT environment, address key areas of improvement and provide expert recommendations to help strengthen their IT security. We believe in a holistic and multi-layered approach to Cyber Security. That’s why every new solution that we launch at Sharp UK is built with security in mind.

Speaking on being shortlisted for this award, Simon Jefferies, Director of Technology at Sharp UK says ‘We are thrilled to be nominated for Cyber Security Company of the Year. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team.

Security is at the forefront of everything we do for our clients and requires constant evolution to stay ahead of the modern threat landscape.  We push the boundaries of innovation and continue to evolve our cyber security offerings and solutions, ensuring that our client’s digital environments are not only secure but resilient against changing threats.

This nomination highlights the trust our clients place in us. We are proud to offer  our expertise and help our clients continually develop their security roadmaps.’

Technology Company of the Year

We entered this award to recognise our entire team at Sharp UK. Each team member contributed to Sharp UK and the clients we serve. Our teams never stand still, and our technical experts are constantly reviewing our solutions and support, updating and improving how we do things in line with technology advancements and cyber security threats.

Winning Technology Company of the Year would be a testament to all the hard work and dedication from the entire team at Sharp UK, and just being shortlisted for this award is a much-deserved recognition.

Receiving three shortlists at the UK Business Tech Awards has highlighted our success and continued growth as an end-end technology partner. Winning one (or all three) awards will be a great early Christmas present as well as a big thank you to our entire team of technology experts for their unwavering commitment to our clients – we would not be shortlisted or win awards without them.

We look forward to the ceremony in November and wish the best of luck to all of the finalists!

Website: www.sharp.co.uk

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/sharpuk/