When Jon Place, managing director of IT support specialists Integrity Technology, launched the business back in 2010, he knew he wanted to shake things up within the industry and thirteen years later, his vision continues to pay dividends.
Providing commercial IT & Microsoft 365 support, repairs, network installations and upgrades, data backups and remote working solutions, the South Tyneside based business has grown considerably in recent years, now employing six members of staff and working throughout the north east and beyond.
Having worked within the IT industry since 1994 for many leading tech businesses, Jon had ambitions to create an IT support company that cut out the techie jargon, spoke in plain English but perhaps more importantly, didn’t lock customers into problematic contracts.
With his experience within the industry, Jon was acutely aware that many IT companies regularly tie customers into long term contracts which can be a huge risk for small and medium sized businesses, particularly if the client then receives sub-standard service.
Deciding on an alternative model of offering rolling monthly agreements with no short or long-term tie-in, the service has certainly been a hit with their vast array of clients, many of whom have worked with Integrity for many years.
Jon is acutely aware that his clients can simply walk away at any point, however, by continually providing a first-class service, he is confident that customers will continue to use Integrity’s services and that has certainly been the case.
The business has experienced a raft of great client wins with names including Hard Rock Café, Sweeney Miller Law, Ramage Transport and Findley Roofing and have also invested in a new easy to navigate website. Commenting on his successful business model, Jon explained, “From day one, ethics and morals have been an integral part of the business, I wanted to offer a no-nonsense transparent approach to our clients and that included the ‘no contracts’ model.
As a small business owner myself, I know it can be very off-putting to have to sign in to long term contracts, with our service, we take all of the risk and the client doesn’t have anything to lose. To put it simply, if our service isn’t good enough, our customers can leave. Thankfully, due to the hard work, experience and commitment of the Integrity team, the exact opposite has happened. We’re proud to have supported our customers for many years and have found the business model attracts clients initially as they know unless we’re providing the service they expect, they can go elsewhere.
Taking that risk back in 2010 when I launched the business has definitely proven to be a good decision and something which I’m sure our current and future clients will continue to enjoy.”