Member Article

Newcastle-based Calibre lands £250k North East IT contracts

IT services firm Calibre Secured Networks Ltd has won over £250k worth of work to deliver infrastructure, network support and maintenance services to schools across the North East.

The contracts will see the firm, based at Newcastle Science Central, provide technology at Westpark Academy in Darlington, Gosforth’s Newcastle School for Boys, Sandhill View School in Sunderland, and Dubmire School in Houghton-le-Spring.

Upon completion, expected at the year’s close, the new services will provide thousands of pupils with improved and safer access to smartphone and tablet-based IT services as well as online study aids.

This will enable them to use their own laptops, mobile phones and tablets in school while teaching staff will be able to manage and control access to content to ensure it is appropriate and safe to view.

The installations will be built around advanced secure network technology for the education sector, notably Cisco-owned Meraki wireless technology.

Karen Nelson, Managing director, said: “Our range of quality services will ensure the schools will be able to meet the education needs of students well into the future.

“The flexible solutions we deliver offer excellent value for money and see us working in partnership with education leadership and management teams to deliver advanced and fully supported technologies at the core of the new systems.”

Christine Dobson, bursar at Newcastle School for Boys, where Calibre will be undertaking a complete IT infrastructure overhaul, said: “Calibre’s Steve Nelson impressed with his enthusiasm and ability to recommend highly beneficial, on-the-spot solutions.

“He and his team have designed a cost effective solution that not only feels different but is future proof and will improve IT access and learning for both pupils and students when they return for the new academic year.”