CompanyNet is a leading UK Microsoft Gold Partner. We joined the partner programme at the very beginning, and have maintained our status continually since then. We are proud to uphold the high standards required of a multiple Microsoft Gold Partner.
We currently hold Gold status for Cloud Productivity, Collaboration & Content, Cloud Platform and Data Analytics. In addition, we hold Silver status for Security, App Development, App Integration and Project & Portfolio Management. Our team is continually working towards building our portfolio of Gold standard Microsoft Partner accreditation and qualifications.
Read on to discover more about the Microsoft Partner programme, or browse our site to find out more about CompanyNet.
- 1. Microsoft Gold Partner Programme History
- 2. Microsoft Gold Partners UK Programme
- Areas we Serve
- 3. Microsoft Partners London
- 4. Microsoft Partners Manchester
- 5. Microsoft Partners Scotland
- 6. Microsoft Partners Edinburgh Scotland
- 7. Microsoft Partners Glasgow Scotland
- 8. Microsoft Gold Partner Reviews
- Let's talk
1. Microsoft Gold Partner Programme History
In 1992, Microsoft launched the Microsoft Certified Partner Programme, known today as the Microsoft Partner Network. The network is the largest partner programme in the world, with more than 64,000 partners building and selling solutions based on Microsoft technologies.
The Microsoft Partner Programme was initially conceived as a method to support their Partners and provide a level of quality and assurance to Microsoft customers. As such, members of the programme have to complete rigorous technical exams and customer surveys, all of which are designed to increase the user experience of Microsoft’s business customers.
Member Partners benefited from the programme by being recognised as an Official Microsoft Partner, which let them differentiate themselves from other companies who did not specialise in the Microsoft Technology stack.
Microsoft Gold Partners – or rather the Gold Partner competency – was first introduced in 2001, and again looked to raise the bar in terms of quality and assurance, with additional requirements being placed on partners.
The new Gold Competency required existing Microsoft Partners to have a number of employees technically certified as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and as Microsoft Certified Solution Developer. Additionally, Microsoft Gold Partners had to maintain at least three verifiable references for projects that went live in the previous 12 months.
Types of Microsoft Partner
The Microsoft Partner Network is constantly changing and evolving to meet customers’ needs, and Partners now align themselves to competencies, which are defined as:
1.1. Applications & Infrastructure which has 5 subsets as follows:
Application Development
App Integration
Cloud Platform
Dev Ops
Datacenter
1.2. Business Applications
Cloud Business Applications
Enterprise Resource Planning
Cloud Customer Relationship Management
1.3. Data & AI
Data Analytics
Data Platform
1.4. Modern Workplace
Collaboration & Content
Communications
Cloud Productivity
Enterprise Mobility Management
Messaging
Project and Portfolio
Security
Small & Mid Market Cloud Solutions
Windows and Devices
Adoption & Change Management for Teams
Microsoft Partners can attain either a Silver or Gold Standard in each of the above competencies which are awarded based on a combination of technical and commercial standards.
2. Microsoft Gold Partners UK Programme
CompanyNet was formed in 1996 as a specialist Intranet/Extranet provider. We were an early adopter of Microsoft SharePoint technologies and have worked with every version. After successfully delivering a corporate intranet for oil giant Burma Castrol, CompanyNet was bought by Castrol and became a core part of their in-house Innovation Team.
In 2000, Burma Castrol was purchased by BP Amoco, and the CompanyNet management team bought the business back from BP. We have remained an independent business ever since.
Continuing our intranet and extranet work, CompanyNet became more involved in the Microsoft Partner UK Network, having joined in 2001. Following a series of successful intranet projects, CompanyNet was awarded our first Gold Competency in 2003, for Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft Dynamics 365.
These competencies allowed us to successfully deliver our first Enterprise IT Service for The Coca Cola Company.
CompanyNet’s early success as a Microsoft Gold Partner in the UK included a significant project to deliver business critical services for The Walt Disney Company in 2005. Disney still uses the original application more than 15 years later, and remains a loyal CompanyNet customer.
As a Microsoft Gold Partner, CompanyNet continues to deliver successful projects throughout the UK from our base in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Microsoft Gold Partners UK Competencies
From our initial Gold Award for SharePoint and Dynamics 365 CRM CompanyNet have maintained and built on our Microsoft UK Competencies and currently retain:
Microsoft Gold Cloud Platform
Microsoft Gold Cloud Productivity
Microsoft Gold Collaboration and Content
Microsoft Gold Application and Development
Microsoft Silver Data Analytics
2.1 Our Core Microsoft Services
As Microsoft Gold Partners we deliver projects throughout the UK which are broken down into three main groups:
Managed Services
Office 365 Managed Services
Manged Cloud Services
Managed IT Support Services
IT Strategy
IT Strategy Consulting
IT User Adoption
IT Change Management
IT Governance
Office 365 Implementation
Office 365 Migration and Adoption Services
Adoption & Training
Business Intelligence
Business Process Automation
Programme Management
Solution Design & Delivery
Remote Working
Mobile App Development
New Product Development
Evergreen
Information Management
Data Migration
Perform
Extranets & Portals
Intranets & Kira
Office 365 Provisioning
Office 365 Security
Information Protection/DLP
Areas we Serve
3. Microsoft Partners London
As a Microsoft Gold Partner, we have access to over 40 Microsoft Technology Centres (MTC) around the world. MTCs are highly experiential technology suites which let our Consultants perform live demonstrations of the power of the Microsoft stack.
Each session is highly customised to ensure we demonstrate the business outcomes that are relevant and important to your business.
In London we are proud to have worked with clients such as Mencap and the Dept for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
In London we work from the Microsoft MTC which is based at:
2 Kingdom Street
Paddington
London
W2 6BD
UK
By Train our London office is served by Paddington Train Station which is a short 13 minute walk.
By Tube our London office in Paddington Tube Station which is served by the Circle, District, Bakerloo, and Hammersmith & City Underground lines.
By Road our London office has limited parking, however, there is a nearby Car Park located on Bishops Bridge Road, London.
4. Microsoft Partners Manchester
We have worked in and around Manchester since 2012.
When in Manchester we work from:
Neo
9 Charlotte Street
Manchester
M1 4ET
UK
By Train our offices in Manchester are served by Manchester Piccadilly Train Station which is a short 9 minute walk.
By Road our Manchester office has limited parking, however, there is a nearby Car Park located at Piccadilly Plaza in Manchester.
5. Microsoft Partners Scotland
Having served the business community in Scotland since our inception in 1996 we are fortunate to have a strong customer base.
From our very first customer The Scotch Whisky Association, we have gone on to work with many of Scotlands leading organisations such as Standard Life Aberdeen, Cairn Energy, Hymans Roberston, McPhie, Tesco Bank, Interbev, Sparrows and many public sector clients such as NHS Health Scotland, NCVO, Scottish Housing Regulator and the Students Loan Company.
6. Microsoft Partners Edinburgh Scotland
In Scotland, we operate from our Headquarters in the heart of Edinburgh at:
CompanyNet
Clarence House,
133 George Street,
Edinburgh
EH2 4JS
We are a short 15 minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley Train Station in the city centre.
Clients visiting us in Edinburgh can reach us via:
Edinburgh via Road
Edinburgh via Air
7. Microsoft Partners Glasgow Scotland
In addition to our Edinburgh offices we have a satellite office in Glasgow located at:
75 Bothwell Street
Glasgow
G2 6TS
Located in Glasgow City Centre we are a short 3minute walk from Glasgow Central Station and an 11 minute walk from Glasgow Queen Street.
Clients visiting us in Glasgow can reach us via:
Glasgow via Road
Glasgow by Air
8. Microsoft Gold Partner Reviews
“CompanyNet is exactly what I expect in a partner: good expertise in our business processes; clear understanding of our goals; quick and efficient to provide solutions; proactive; patient and available; always positive in daily work.”
Entertainment Industry, Private Sector
“I’ve enjoyed working with CompanyNet, who brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to implementing Office 365.”
Digital Director, Public Sector
“There was a fair degree of tension at times during the delivery of solution, but I am hopeful that these days are behind us. Recent ‘business as usual’ engagement, following the delivery of our new digital workplace, has been positive. Service has been good, monthly service reports have been provided and feedback to improve these has been taken on board. The monthly newsletters are also informative in terms of highlighting what’s new with Microsoft products and also Kira.”
Head of Service Management, central government
“Andy and Iain always available to engage when necessary. Always willing to work within our often difficult landscape on both cost and time pressures.”
Vendor Manager, public sector
“There was a fair degree of tension at times during the delivery of solution, but I am hopeful that these days are behind us. Recent ‘business as usual’ engagement, following the delivery of our new digital workplace, has been positive. Service has been good, monthly service reports have been provided and feedback to improve these has been taken on board. The monthly newsletters are also informative in terms of highlighting what’s new with Microsoft products and also Kira.”
Head of Service Management, central government
“Accomplished, dedicated and patient. CompanyNet’s project managers, solution designers and architects supported us at every stage of the project. Collaborated with our comms, IT and deployment teams to ensure successful delivery of our Intranet project.
Intranet Manager, charity sector
“The team rose to all our challenges, working hard to develop and put in place solutions, often at short notice. The team understood and demonstrated our values, which made them a pleasure to work with. CompanyNet has a unique blend of expertise and communication skills to facilitate a wide range of projects. All our questions taken care of in an appropriate time frame and there was never a question we felt we could not ask.”
Intranet Manager, charity sector
Whatever we have needed help with, the team have responded quickly and spent as long as we’ve needed to get it resolved.”
Head of Internal Communications, charity sector
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