The company created by the merger of ANS and UKFast, has announced it will take the ANS name forward as it unveils its growth plans as the UK’s leading security and digital transformation partner.
The move makes ANS the UK’s largest independent cloud provider, delivering public and private cloud, hosting, security, DevOps, applications and data expertise to its 7,000 customers.
While announcing it is to take the ANS name forward, the tech firm shared its plans to address the rapid market growth opportunity for digital and cloud services by combining two of the best digital portfolios in the UK.
The combined business brings together expertise across private, public and hybrid cloud and capability in digital security for SMB, mid-market and public sector clients.
The merger saw ANS CEO of five years, Paul Shannon, become CEO for the combined firm.
He says: “The milestone represents huge opportunity, both for our team and our customers. By combining the strengths of both businesses under the ANS name, we are creating a world-class digital transformation business, focussed on providing an amazing experience for our customers, team, and tech partners.”
Sharing the firm’s ambitions to become the leading digital transformation partner in Europe, Shannon said: “The breadth and scope of cloud, digital and security expertise inside ANS is industry leading. By bringing together two of the best tech firms in the UK, we are primed to deliver exceptional service to customers, wherever they are in their digital transformation journey.
Central to ANS’s strategy is the development of its training division into one of the largest and most comprehensive digital academies in the country.
Operating from a dedicated on-site training centre, the ANS Academy will build on the established reputations of ANS and ANS in developing world-class digital talent.
The ANS Academy carries forward relationships with exam boards and vendors including Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Pearson Vue, CompTIA, the Linux Professional Institute, Cisco and Red Hat and will continue to be an incubator of leading-edge digital skills in cloud, cybersecurity, eCommerce, web design, customer support and networking.
As one of the largest national tech skills champions, ANS plans to enhance its apprenticeship programme and launch a recruitment drive in 2022 to meet strong market demand for digital technology and transformation skills.
Last year the company’s apprenticeship scheme was graded ‘Outstanding’ in all areas by Ofsted, making it the only technology business in the North to hold the highest rating from the education regulator.
Paul Shannon continued “ANS has a strong track record in attracting and retaining the very best technical talent, something that has never been more important as more organisations embark on or progress their digital transformation journeys.
“We are focused on deepening the skilled resources available to customers who are working with increasingly complex IT landscapes.”
