This year' SOS Group are celebrating 20 years of innovation and growth' and celebrating 20 years of supporting local start-ups and large multi-national firms alike to do the same.
Launched in 2002′ the Gateshead-based office technology company has stepped up to meet many challenges and changes over the last two decades’ anticipating new client requirements and embracing technological advances. The firm was set up by directors George Young’ Andrew Skelton and John Behan and was initially based in Felling before moving to the Team Valley in 2006.
John Behan says: “In the early 2000s’ I’d been working in London for a manufacturer and George and Andrew were discussing setting up a company in the North East and the timing worked beautifully for me to come home and join them.
“We’d spotted an opportunity in the market which’ at the time’ was focussed entirely on photocopying and scanning. We started with just the three of us company directors and one engineer and soon began to grow.
“It was an exciting time and we were up and running really quickly. In our first year we worked with the Labour Party to service their Annual Conference. That was a huge step forward for a fledgling firm and pretty daunting’ actually.
“It all went well and we began working with a prestigious international hotel chain regionally the same year’ a client we’re proud to have worked continuously with since then. Now we look after their account on a national basis.”
SOS Group supplies and maintains leading brand digital office equipment and offers a full range of office management services’ including unified communications’ IT support’ document management’ cost consultation and managed print services.
In addition’ the firm’s DDB Workspace Solutions Division supplies a range of furniture’ designed and constructed in the UK’ that helps tackle common issues including posture and lack of space. As well as working with multinationals like Hitachi’ SOS Group prides itself on the expert advice and support they offer to local start-ups. They have also developed a strong reputation in the sporting events sector and recently provided services at competitions including the IAAF World Athletics Championships’ the Special Olympics GB National Games’ British Swimming Summer Championships and World Para Athletics Championships.
Now with 21 staff’ in addition to the company’s Gateshead base’ they have hubs in Bristol’ the Midlands’ London’ the North West and South Yorkshire to facilitate national client cover. John continues: “Business has changed a lot over the last 20 years. The most significant change being around 2006 and the migration into software solutions. We were already looking at an archival retrieval product back then.
“Multifunctional devices’ our copy’ print’ scan’ remains a core part of our client offer but around 2013 we began talking more about IT and comms. Our client contacts are often IT managers because copy’ print’ scan is so often the end point on their network. It’s now completely intertwined’ so it was natural that we’d move into this area’ too.
“We recently achieved the highly-prized IT security accreditation ISO 27001 and this really demonstrates that we have the policies’ procedures and risk controls needed for robust IT security management. “Cyber security is one of the biggest threats to every business in today’s world’ particularly with the increasing shift towards remote working. Accessing files securely and remotely is a key issue and gaining our ISO 27001 is a measure of how securely we treat client data and information. And of our expertise to support clients to do the same.”
During the pandemic’ SOS Group also achieved ISO 9001′ the internationally recognised Quality Management System standard and maintained its commitment to community giving and support.
In fact’ to encourage and support others pursuing their own personal and professional ambitions’ SOS Group have donated more than £250’000 to charities’ talented young individuals and community organisations since their launch. John adds: “Celebrating this anniversary feels all the sweeter given the significant challenges faced by all businesses and community organisations over the last year and a half.
“If we’ve learned anything over the last 20 years’ it’s the importance of embracing opportunities when they come along. Be that new technology or changes to business practice.
“That’s been a key factor for both us and our clients in navigating the challenges created by the pandemic. We’ve always maintained a strong commitment to investing in our own development and supporting our clients and community groups to do the same. We intend to keep doing just that and look forward to celebrating many more anniversaries to come.”
