Softcat to recruit in public sector push

VAR Softcat is stepping up its efforts in the public sector with plans to recruit more than 60 new employees over the next 18 months to support its growth in IT infrastructure and software sales to the arena.
In a conversation with Channel Pro, Softcat managing director Martin Hellawell recently outlined the company’s business plans, stating the public sector was a strong focus for the company. He described the CITHS framework as “a catalyst to start going after public service business. There’s a huge opportunity in that market still... we’re heavily recruiting there.”
Hellawell also revealed Jamie Burke as the firm’s new public sector head. Says Burke: “We’re looking to recruit and invest in more intelligent, hard-working and enthusiastic people – with or without experience of public sector IT solutions.”
Burke is former head of public sector sales at Equanet. Before joining Softcat last month, he headed up the team that transformed the public sector business at competitor Insight UK. Burke is joined at Softcat’s public sector team by Andy Bruen, who formerly held a senior position at Becta, the Government’s technology advisory for education.
The VAR also says it will continue with its ongoing graduate intake programme to support sales to the corporate sector. “We take them straight out of university and mould them,” explains Hellawell.

Softcat has always been vocal about its high levels of staff retention and satisfaction, and was a recipient of The Sunday Times ‘Best Small Company to Work For’ award. The firm’s turnover was £145m last financial year. Says Hellawell: “The main reason [for the growth] is that we manage to hang on to all our staff... The staff enjoy the company and being here.”