Howell Technology Group Limited

HCI Hybrid Cloud Professional Services

Established in 2005, HTG is a leading HCI VMWare VxRail and Nutanix Consulting Partner which is a customer-focused boutique IT consultancy that offers a range of disruptive digital technology solutions utilising best in breed products. This encompasses HCI Enterprise cloud solutions, AHV virtualisation, networking, IT security and professional services.

Features

• Nutanix HCI Implementation and Consultancy
• Nutanix Enterprise Cloud, AHV, Prism, Calm, Beam, Flow, Frame
• Enterprise Architecture Design and migration
• Private, public and hybrid cloud solutions
• Nutanix Upgrade and Project Recovery Services
• Team of Nutanix Certified Professionals and Nutanix Consulting Partner
• Strategy and Approach, cloud readiness and cloud adoption strategy
• Proof of Concept (POC) design and build experience
• Business Transformation - Quick provision of demo environments
• Integration Services, Zero Client, BYOD, Windows 10 migration

Benefits

• Understand assessment, strategy, implementation and operation
• Technical assurance and industry-standard best practices employed
• Reach high user experience levels whilst adhering to IT requirements
• Security cleared, independent, experienced IT-accredited consultants
• Extensive public and private sector experience
• User profile assessment against best practices
• Troubleshooting and stabilisation of failing IT infrastructure
• Reduction in downtime and poor user experience
• Deliver value for money and technical stability
• Comprehensive documentation

£450 to £2,525 a unit a day

• Education pricing available

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Skills Framework for the Information Age rate card

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at david@htg.co.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 13

Service ID

659202884079721

Contact

David Maginnes
03304609828
david@htg.co.uk

Planning

• Planning service: Yes
• How the planning service works: HTG would work with the buyer in the early stages of the project to create a project plan to validate the duration and resource requirements driven by: • Adequate provision has been made to assess the realism of timeframes. • Risks, issues, constraints and dependencies have been reflected in the plan and appropriate mechanisms are in place to ensure these are reviewed regularly. • Dependencies have been clearly identified and an explanation of why the dependency exists and the impact of not achieving the dependency is available. • Resource management and availability plans have been established, validated and incorporated into the project plan. • Provision has been made for contingency which reflects the level of risk associated with the end deliverable.
• Planning service works with specific services: Yes
• Hosting or software services the planning service works with:
  • Nutanix
  • VMware VXRail
  • Azure Stack

Training

• Training service provided: Yes
• How the training service works: HTG will provide standard training, which would include:- one to one training, classroom training as well as all documentation. HTG would also provide handover documentation to support the end client moving forward.
• Training is tied to specific services: No

Setup and migration

• Setup or migration service available: Yes
• How the setup or migration service works: HTG would work with the buyer in the early stages of the migration to create a project plan to validate the duration and resource requirements driven by: • Adequate provision has been made to assess the realism of timeframes. • Risks, issues, constraints and dependencies have been reflected in the plan and appropriate mechanisms are in place to ensure these are reviewed regularly. • Dependencies have been clearly identified and an explanation of why the dependency exists and the impact of not achieving the dependency is available. • Resource management and availability plans have been established, validated and incorporated into the project plan. • Provision has been made for contingency which reflects the level of risk associated with the end deliverable.
• Setup or migration service is for specific cloud services: No

Quality assurance and performance testing

• Quality assurance and performance testing service: Yes
• How the quality assurance and performance testing works: HTG ensure quality assurance by following multiple industry standards. HTG can carry out assurance or provide independent assurance based on client requirements. HTG utilise third-party products that enable us to benchmark, load test and plan capacity for even the most complex environments. The end-user experience and user productivity are key in any Cloud/Digital workspace environment. HTG can provide performance insights that enable you to: Predict the performance impact of necessary updates and upgrades - Know the maximum user capacity of your current infrastructure - Understand the end-user perspective on performance.

Security testing

• Security services: Yes
• Security services type:
  • Security strategy
  • Security risk management
  • Security design
  • Cyber security consultancy
  • Security testing
  • Security incident management
  • Security audit services
• Certified security testers: Yes
• Security testing certifications:
  • GBEST
  • CHECK
  • CREST
  • Tigerscheme
  • Cyber Scheme

Ongoing support

• Ongoing support service: Yes
• Types of service supported:
  • Buyer hosting or software
  • Hosting or software provided by your organisation
  • Hosting or software provided by a third-party organisation
• How the support service works: HTG is a specialist partner with all major cloud hosting providers such as Microsoft, Citrix and VMware Cloud services. As an MSP and CSP, we provide dedicated 1st line monitoring and triage resource, weekly/monthly reporting, advanced troubleshooting/ problem management, and independent platform assurance along with Pre and Post-Sales Support. HTG follow ISO27001 and ITIL service management processes to support customers in aligning IT services with the needs of the business. HTG also have an established help desk, providing support Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm. However, this help desk can be made available to support the additional needs of the client. - HTG is also certified in all our software services technologies which include Microsoft, Citrix, Nutanix, VMware, ThinPrint, ThinPrint, IGEL, ControlUP, Lastpass and Veaam. This provides access to our highly qualified consultants along with access to our well-established escalation paths into all of these organisations and community users groups that we are proactive in.

Service scope

• Service constraints: No

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: UK Mon-Friday 8am-6pm excluding public holidays ; ; Priority - Response - Update frequency; 1 (Critical) - 30 Minutes - 1 Hour ; 2 (High) - 1 Hour - 2 Hours; 3 (Medium) - 1 Hour - Daily; 4 (Low) - 1 Hour - Every 2nd Day; ; Outside of working hours TBD
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: Yes
• Online ticketing support accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AAA
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support: Web chat
• Web chat support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support accessibility standard: WCAG 2.1 AAA
• Web chat accessibility testing: N/A
• Support levels: HTG offer a tiered helpdesk service which is available 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays and public holidays. This service operates with a standard two hour response SLA, with optional Gold/Silver/Bronze tiering that aligns with the required client needs. Pricing for the service is variable based around the specific support model and technical requirements of the client environment.

Resellers

• Supplier type: Reseller providing extra features and support
• Organisation whose services are being resold: Citrix, Microsoft, VMware, IGEL, ControlUP, LastPass, Veeam, Exclaimer, Nulia, Decisions

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Conforms to BS7858:2019
• Government security clearance: Up to Developed Vetting (DV)

Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001: Alcumus ISOQAR Limited
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: 17/10/2016
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: N/A
• ISO 28000:2007 certification: No
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• Other security certifications: Yes
• Any other security certifications:
  • Microsoft Gold Security Partner
  • Microsoft Advanced Specialist Security Partner
  • Microsoft Certified Security Solutions Partner

Social Value

• Fighting climate change:

  Fighting climate change

  HTG’s expertise lies in migrating existing IT systems to the cloud. We know this is one of the most high-impact ways to move towards net-zero IT. It eliminates the need for on-premises infrastructure, which is costly, resource-heavy, time-inefficient, and a huge contributor to carbon emissions via energy consumption. After an organisation switches to the cloud, HTG can help to re-purpose old devices, as well as provide access to companies that specialise in recycling technology while ensuring data destruction as needed. In terms of any remaining hardware, idling PCs, laptops and other devices consume enormous amounts of energy. We can set up devices to automatically power off when not in use. We partner with providers who manufacture devices with environmentally friendly methods and are committed to delivering digital workspaces and assets in a sustainable way. Microsoft is on track to being carbon negative within the decade and is currently carbon neutral. We provide expert advice around sustainable IT policies and training along with best practices for repurposing existing devices or BYOD. We work with clients from the early stages of migration, through to optimising use of digital workspaces and devices over the long-term with environmentally friendly automation. HTG’s commitment to enabling remote working is our secondary tool for fighting climate change. Saving fuel by cutting commutes, reducing energy consumption within workplaces and reducing the need for business travel, carbon emissions within any business will be significantly reduced. We also recognise small, conscious decisions within our own business practices contribute to the fight against climate change. Within HTG’s own offices, we are largely paper-free, and frequently remind employees to switch off lights when they leave rooms. We also use local suppliers of products and services as much as possible to reduce our carbon footprint and operate in a sustainable manner.
• Covid-19 recovery:

  Covid-19 recovery

  HTG are committed to addressing the impacts of COVID-19 in a sustainable way that embeds positive practices into our business and the businesses we work with. We continue to grow as an organisation which means we can offer secure employment pathways in a region that was heavily impacted by COVID-19. We currently have a number of employees who have joined us via apprenticeship schemes, and we are dedicated to maintaining this route as a credible means of training, retraining and developing our employees. Working in a sector that is reliant on emerging technologies means that there is a fairer playing field for those that are either new to the world of work or decide to change careers, as historical IT experience is not necessarily relevant or valuable. Therefore, we provide a compelling career path for those that may have had their employment prospects negatively impacted by COVID-19. HTG’s mission to provide businesses with the IT infrastructure to operate safely and effectively from anywhere supports the unprecedented shift to remote and hybrid working practices post-COVID. Whilst HTG could easily have transitioned to a remote-first organisation, we recognise the value in having a physical office, and the benefits this brings to our local community. We also recognise the importance of in-person connection and collaboration for mental wellbeing. We empower our employees to choose to work wherever and whenever it suits them best, and this level of trust and autonomy unquestionably reduces stress for our employees. We encourage our team to make healthy and sustainable lifestyle choices, offering a suite of benefits that, not only, financially incentivise practices like cycling to work, using public transport and eating healthily, but allow them access to private medical practitioners, that facilitate early intervention and reduce the burden on the NHS.
• Tackling economic inequality:

  Tackling economic inequality

  HTG’s efforts to tackle economic inequality are threefold. Firstly, HTG is based in one of the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in the UK1 and we are very proud of our North East of England roots. We are committed to remaining in the region and providing a local pathway for careers that, historically, may have required a move towards a different region in order to progress. Our presence is also a valuable local commodity as we can invest money in the surrounding community via our offices, the spending habits of our employees and our local charitable endeavours. Our employees also have a commitment to volunteering and we foster relationships with Not-for-Profits in our local community. Secondly, our most-valued contracts are with Public Sector organisations that are, themselves, committed to tackling economic inequality. In 2019-20, one of our clients supported 3,834 people into work, placed 254 people into apprenticeships, helped 208 people to start their own business and ran 6,000+ free, accredited training sessions. They also provide a range of grants for work and business. Finally, HTG are providing services that allow businesses to reap the benefits of using the latest technologies. Our team is made up of experts in their field, including cyber security, and we pride ourselves on building trusted partnerships with our clients whereby we can tailor solutions to meet a range of needs. We take on the responsibility of creating an IT infrastructure that is robust and future-focused. The benefits we offer include enabling remote working; increasing efficiency and productivity; reducing the likelihood of costly data losses and downtime in IT services. Our smart solutions allow our clients to focus on what they do best, in the confidence the service we provide for them is scalable and secure.
• Equal opportunity:

  Equal opportunity

  HTG have cultivated an inclusive culture where people feel safe and comfortable in discussing their uniqueness within the workplace – across the full range of protected characteristics. Our organisational values bond us as a team and create a sense of belonging that we see critical to hold on to, even as we scale. Our flexible approach to working, enables team members to feel supported and empowered to manage their workloads in whichever way meets their needs best. HTG, particularly, see neurodiversity as a powerful asset to our organisational approach. An employee group made up of people who think differently allows us to leverage a range of perspectives that are valued and respected when it comes to considering complex future scenarios and finding solutions to new and challenging problems. In particular, Dyslexics have a higher propensity to exhibit the kind of skills that are essential for our line of work: being detail-orientated, creative, problem-solvers. We offer Dragon voice recognition software as standard so that it is an “opt-out” action rather than someone having to request it. We are committed to increasing the representation of disabled people within our team and are working with Made by Dyslexia and Mind to ensure that we are proactively addressing the needs of those employees who are neurodivergent or have long-term struggles with their day-to-day mental health. Our apprenticeship schemes are a fantastic route for employees from disadvantaged backgrounds or from minority groups to gain skills that increase their employability. We also want to safeguard jobs for disabled people within our local community which is why we partner with SeaChange and AutismAble, two local initiatives that provides sustainable employment opportunities to people with Autism and Learning Disabilities. We are committed to only working with Living Wage employers to eradicate modern slavery.
• Wellbeing:

  Wellbeing

  The health and wellbeing of HTG’s team is of paramount importance to us. Our distribution of work is structured in a way to ensure equity and prevent burnout. Our management style is one where mentoring and coaching is valued over direction and instruction. We pride ourselves on a culture where employees feel comfortable to be their authentic selves within the workplace and work hard to foster relationships that mean the team feel safe to raise concerns or voice struggles without fear of discrimination or judgement. We offer employees the freedom to work from home, as well as take paid and unpaid leave from work when they need to prioritise their wellbeing. We also offer benefits that allow employees access to continued, tailored, professional support free of charge. All our people managers are Mental Health First Aiders in order to enact early prevention and intervention where we see an employee struggling to manage their mental wellbeing. We are committed to promoting the benefits of a healthy lifestyle to our employees and offer a range of benefits to ensure everyone has access to readily available health and wellness choices. We provide complimentary healthy snacks to our employees, run a Cycle to Work scheme, provide Private Medical Insurance to all employees and provide a Wellness Wage, a monthly allowance towards activities that contribute towards an employee’s wellbeing. We recognise that fitness isn’t a one-size-fits-all model so, in a manner consistent to our working practices, we give our team the freedom to make choices that are best for them. Our approach to wellbeing is guided by the 5 pillars of wellbeing recommended by the NHS. Learning new skills is one of those pillars and continued, lifelong learning is a stalwart component of HTG’s DNA.

Pricing

• Price: £450 to £2,525 a unit a day
• Discount for educational organisations: Yes

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Skills Framework for the Information Age rate card

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at david@htg.co.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.