Member Article

IT firm Giraffe Connected Solutions stretches out to Fusion Hive

IT firm Giraffe Connected Solutions Limited has expanded to Fusion Hive, the Stockton-based tech hub.

The business, which specialises in hosted solutions and managed IT services, hopes the move will help it add to its current portfolio of clients.

Currently, the company works with businesses in the charities, legal, financial services, telecoms, public relations, manufacturing and retails sectors.

“The core of what we do is providing IT support for businesses of all sizes, including contracts, one-off projects and consultation,” explains systems administrator Neil Sotheby, who was born in Billingham but now lives in Thornaby.

“We also specialise in security server work, including Linux servers such as Ubuntu, as well as firewalls, routers and general networking.”

Neil says Giraffe is different from most IT firms in that engineers answer all calls themselves, instead of having receptionists taking down details and passing them on.

“We’re totally committed to enabling our clients to get on with running their businesses and if they’re having a problem, we want to know about it,” he says.

“We even give out our mobile numbers to clients, and if people need advice or help at the weekends or in the evenings, we’re always willing to help. I think our clients appreciate that.”

Fusion Hive, which is backed by Teesside University, is set on three floors and is equipped with facilities designed to attract technology business.

“It’s in an up and coming business area with lots of development going on,” says Neil, who has been with Giraffe since 2012.

“Endeavour Partnership, Visualsoft and Thirteen have recently moved to new buildings close by and it feels like an exciting place to be with a real buzz about it.

“When I came to look at the building I was surprised at how nice and modern it is. It has a feel of something Google might have built. Lots of people try to achieve that and fail, but they’ve really pulled it off here.

“For us it feels like starting again and we’re all very excited about it.”

As well as Neil, Giraffe’s team includes network administrator Scott Reed, from Eaglescliffe, and support engineers Gary Hall and Michael Long, both from Middlesbrough.