Nikal is a dynamic private property development and investment company, with a portfolio of award-winning projects spanning the UK and abroad. With headquarters in Manchester, they transform and regenerate buildings from all eras, providing new workspaces, living spaces and entertainment complexes for businesses, tenants and tourists alike. Notable projects include Salford Quays’s Soapworks, Birmingham’s HIVE, Hull’s Freedom Quay apartments and Blackpool Central – which will include restaurants, new hotels and residential apartments, as well as space for concerts, road shows and themed Christmas markets.
When Nikal originally contacted us back in 2003, they were a growing business looking for software support and help with their IT processes. Fast-forward 16 years and we’ve built up a loyal partnership and service level that covers our full spectrum of IT support.
We recently sat down with Stephen Robinson, Finance Director at Nikal, to discuss his interactions with Apex and how this has benefited the business as a whole, and the impact this has had on their operations.
Due to our long-standing partnership, we were interested in what has made them stick with us all these years….
‘’It’s safe to say that we pretty much use every single one of your services: Software support; hardware maintenance and support; offsite storage and security; firewalls; Microsoft products, because as we’ve grown we’ve needed an IT business that is dependable, and you have always certainly been that.
More than this, it comes down to service level. It’s very difficult – it’s a service-based industry. I know there’s hardware and bits and pieces and licences but they’re very much commodities and you can go buy them anywhere really but it’s all about the service. If I can buy something £1 cheaper but I can’t get it to work or it goes down for a period and it causes problems within the business, then it’s not good, so having an IT business with a high level of service is key. It’s absolutely critical.’’
….and how we’ve benefitted their business…
‘’There are a number of benefits. One, is that you’re extremely professional and have a great service level. So, in terms of being operative, we’re operative 100% of the time. If there are any issues, then you respond very quickly. You’re ahead of any service level I could ever expect or select. You’re very, very responsive. We don’t have our own dedicated IT team, so in terms of development –