Member Article

Tyneside Cinema deal puts Aspire in the picture

One of the region’s leading technology companies is celebrating after winning another major contract in the entertainment sector.

Gateshead-based Aspire have been providing IT solutions for the Customs House in South Shields for two years, but have recently added the Tyneside Cinema to their burgeoning portfolio of prestigious clients.

The contract with the Tyneside, the only full-time independent cinema in Newcastle, is for a number of services including an extensive IT infrastructure refresh; full IT support; a leased internet line and online back-up to Aspire’s dedicated data centre.

The contract is for three years and is worth in the region of £100,000.

Nigel Begg, Managing Director of Aspire, said he was delighted to be working with such a regional institution: “The Tyneside has long been a cultural icon for the region and we’re thrilled to extend our entertainment portfolio with such an important, well-known cinema.”

Tyneside Cinema’s Technical Manager Phillip Scales said: “We’ve been extremely happy with Aspire’s attention to detail and excellent level of service in managing the venue’s IT infrastructure refresh, which was carried out without affecting the Cinema staff end users – a huge testament to how smooth the process has been.

“Having a dedicated Senior Technical consultant at our disposal throughout the installation period has enabled us to be reactive to any issues as they occurred, whilst also helping us to learn and develop our current in-house IT skills.”

So impressed were they by the service they have received, the Tyneside invited 30 members of staff along to a showing of summer blockbuster Godzilla.

Services provided by Aspire for the Customs House also include full IT support; data connectivity; telephone calls and lines and online back-up to the firm’s data centre.

The Customs House contract is worth about £70,000 and was signed in the summer of 2012.

Customs House Executive Director Ray Spencer: “Digital is now a really important part of what we offer here so we need to know we have the IT to support that.

“Aspire go above and beyond of what might be expected. For instance, we were affected by flooding last winter and they rang and asked if they could help in any way. You don’t get that level of service from many companies.

“They’ve responded to everything we’ve thrown at them and always come up with the goods. I know I’m not their biggest client, but they make feel as important as their biggest client and that’s special.”

Tyneside Cinema is one of the UK’s leading independent specialised film and media venues and screens films from across the globe, from award-winning world cinema to the latest Hollywood releases, alongside free guided tours and free daily archive newsreel screenings.

Originally built as a newsreel theatre in 1937, today Tyneside Cinema boasts digital projection and 3D facilities alongside traditional projection. This year the Cinema is embarking on a 1.3m redevelopment, which will create a new Bar Café on the venue’s ground floor on Pilgrim Street including a cabaret-style cinema space, and a cutting-edge video art gallery on the third floor.

Aspire is one of the region’s leading technology companies, specialising in hosted services, data centre solutions, communications and traditional IT support. Its headquarters is in the landmark Heworth Hall in Gateshead but the company also has offices in London.

Last month, Aspire announced record growth for the seventh consecutive year. Sales at the firm increased by 58 per cent last year, from £3.8m to more than £6m and bosses are predicting growth of at least 30 per cent in 2014. Clients include the Labour Party, Barbour’s and Rington’s Tea.

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