IT support partnership

Name: iTek Computer Solutions
Price range: $$

Friends of the Lake District

Supporting technology that helps protect Cumbria's landscape

Friends of the Lake District has spent more than 90 years protecting one of the UK’s most treasured landscapes. Since 1934, the charity has played an important role in conserving the Lake District while championing the interests of the people and communities who live and work there.

Since becoming Friends of the Lake District’s IT support partner, iTek has worked closely with the charity to modernise its technology, strengthen its infrastructure and provide the reliable day-to-day support needed to help the organisation focus on its work. Today, that relationship continues to grow, both through ongoing IT support and a wider partnership as iTek’s Charity of the Year.

The brief

Friends of the Lake District was looking for an IT support partner that could provide responsive support, practical advice and help bring its IT infrastructure up to the standard needed to support the organisation’s work.

Alongside day-to-day IT support, the charity wanted to improve network stability, modernise key systems and introduce technology that would better support communication and collaboration across the organisation.

Our solution

The partnership began with a full audit of the charity’s IT infrastructure, covering both on-premise and cloud systems. The findings formed the basis of a tailored support plan and an ongoing programme of improvements.

Alongside responsive helpdesk support and proactive remote monitoring, iTek migrated the charity’s email systems to the cloud, implemented cloud-based file storage and collaboration, and introduced a hosted softphone solution to improve communications across the organisation.

Further improvements have included strengthening the charity’s infrastructure through ongoing monitoring and support, helping provide a more reliable IT environment.

“Through consistent clear communication, considered advice and quality service provision, we have delivered the support solution Friends of the Lake District needed and been able to make comprehensive improvements to their IT systems. We are delighted to be enjoying such a strong partnership and look forward to continuing to develop and improve their IT.” – Ben Mitchinson, Managing Director

The outcome

Today, Friends of the Lake District continues to benefit from improved network stability, cloud-based email and collaboration, hosted voice and proactive IT support. The organisation also has an ongoing programme of technology improvements supported by iTek.

iTek continues to provide:

Managed IT support
Proactive remote monitoring
Cloud email and collaboration
Hosted voice
Network infrastructure support
Ongoing IT consultancy

Beyond IT

Our relationship with Friends of the Lake District now extends beyond technology.

As iTek’s Charity of the Year, the partnership includes fundraising, volunteering and practical conservation work to support the charity’s activities across Cumbria. Throughout the year, the iTek team will take part in fundraising challenges, matched by the business, alongside volunteer give-back days including hedge planting, woodland restoration, dry stone walling and Cumbria Litter Pick events. Clients will also have the opportunity to get involved in a number of these conservation days, helping make a positive contribution to the landscapes and communities we all value.

Supporting local organisations has always been an important part of who we are, and we’re proud to continue working alongside Friends of the Lake District, both as its IT partner and as a supporter of the important work it carries out across the region.

“iTek listen to our business needs and provide appropriate and effective solutions which aid the efficiency of the charity. Improved network stability and iTek’s ability to resolve issues at operational and structural levels in a timely manner have made a huge difference right across the organisation.

Prior to working with iTek, we had poor infrastructure, ageing hardware and an unstable network. Since we gave iTek a chance to take over our contract, we haven’t looked back.”

Stuart Clayton

Head of Finance and Operations at Friends of the Lake District

Interested to know how we can help?

We provide IT support and managed services to businesses across Cumbria, Lancashire, the North West, and the North East, including Lancaster, South Lakes, and Barrow.

Our clients span a wide range of sectors, including construction, legal, automotive, and accountancy, as well as many others that rely on secure, dependable technology to keep their businesses running smoothly.

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