Pictured above: John Sewell
A former teacher is about to hand out gold star service to
businesses in Staffordshire after being awarded the local franchise
for highly-regarded IT specialist robertson technologies.
John Sewell is the latest businessman to take up the baton of
the Scottish-based company, which has established a nationwide
reputation for quality and service and has extended its computer
support business out of its Central Belt homelands to win business
across the UK.
John, who will be based in Stafford, will cover the whole
county, excluding the city of Stoke on Trent. His territory will
cover major towns such as Burton upon Trent and Tamworth and he
will also take on Robertson's Shropshire territory which includes
towns such as Shrewsbury and Telford.
The former modern languages and IT teacher said: "This is one of
the most fertile areas in the country for a company such as
robertson technologies, which specialises in helping small to
medium enterprises with effective computer support delivered in
plain English.
"There are more than 30,000 SMEs in the region and I will be
targeting businesses with up to 100 computer screens with the aim
of providing a fast response to clients' problems and eliminating
their technical troubles quickly and painlessly."
Staffordshire is one of the West Midlands' most varied business
landscapes, ranging from the rural economy of the Staffordshire
Moorlands to bustling commercial centres. Sectors range from
farming to finance, from distribution to tourism and from food
production to manufacturing.
Well known for its traditional manufacturing industry and
historic links to the industrial revolution, the region is
currently undergoing rapid change in its economic makeup. It is an
area of contrasts, where long-established companies work alongside
new enterprises, maintaining the region's reputation for innovation
and development.
John, who taught French at schools in Walsall for 12 years,
transferred his skills into IT, heading up a team of five teachers
and five engineers at the Beechdale Federation schools, which
include the Frank F Harrison Engineering College in Walsall.
He said: "I had a very strong and proven track record both in IT
and the exam results we were achieving at the engineering college.
But I always had an inclination to go into business on my own
account, and manage the engineering skills I had been teaching
about.
"I got in touch with robertson technologies at a trade show
after seeing their franchise advertising. I was very impressed with
their professional yet friendly approach and their ability to
answer questions in a simple and straightforward manner.
"The structure of their training and support is an example of
how it should be done and a model for the rest of the franchising
sector. They have a dedicated Franchise Support Manager who focuses
exclusively on the needs of the franchisees, dealing with
everything from initial financial support to appointment setting.
It lets franchisees get on with the establishing their business in
a supportive and understanding atmosphere."
Hamish Robertson said: "It has always been part of our business
model to seek out people who have experience of the world outside
IT and who can manage IT professionals and provide a quality
service.
"John Sewell fits that bill perfectly and I think he will be
well suited to deliver exactly the kind of tailored IT support for
SMEs that the Staffordshire and Shropshire areas have been crying
out for."