Adobe Spark Premium – Available Free for Schools Offer
Adobe are the undisputed kings of creative software and their Adobe Creative Cloud CC is the industry-leading suite of applications for graphic design, web development, video production and more.
One of the titles included in the suite is Adobe Spark, which allows for quick and easy creation of graphics (e.g. posters), websites (e.g. online presentations), and videos (e.g. presentations).
Spark has been developed to make producing great work as fast and intuitive as possible, focusing on creativity rather than a steep technical learning curve.
All of which makes Adobe Spark a fantastic fit for education.
What’s even better is that Adobe are now offering Adobe Spark Premium completely free for schools! This usually costs £9.99 per user, per month so is well worth looking into.
If you would like to find out more about the offer and are interested in getting Adobe Spark for your school, here you can find out more information here: Adobe Spark Home
In terms of getting started with Adobe Spark here are some useful tutorials and resources, which walk through how to use the program and a couple of example projects.
Design a stunning web page in minutes with Adobe Spark.
Create and share an animated video in minutes with Adobe Spark.
Is your school using Adobe Spark or any other Creative Cloud programs? Let us know, we would love to hear from you.
New Client Spotlight: Asmodee Games
We would like to give a big Coretek welcome to another of our latest clients – Asmodee Games!
Asmodee (formerly called Esdevium Games) are one of the biggest games suppliers and manufacturers in Europe. They offer a range of board games, card games and toys from Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Final Fantasy to many of their own titles such as Catan and Pandemic.
Their ethos is to “make great games and tell amazing stories.”
Find out more over at the Asmodee Games website: https://www.asmodee.co.uk
If you fancy checking out their complete catalogue, you can find it here: Asmodee Catalogue 2018
Asmodee have been keeping us very busy since we have taken over their IT support!
Their fast expansion, (including acquiring new companies) has resulted in them moving to new larger warehouse premises to be able to better serve their customers. Work on this included full cabling and network infrastructure for the new building. We have also worked with Asmodee to help them migrate their email to Office 365 and move some of their on-premise IT to CoretekCloud.
We greatly look forward to working closely with the team now and into the future as they go from strength to strength.
Coretek are now ISO 9001:2015 accredited!
We have some exciting news – Coretek are now ISO 9001:2015 accredited!
Our company are fully committed to providing our clients with a continually high quality and dependable service. To ensure our service levels remain high, we are externally audited every year by BSI.
This audit consists of going through our company and processes with a fine-tooth comb to make sure that we continue to adhere to the latest standards.
What this means for our clients and potential clients is that you don’t need to take our word that we provide a great service – we have an independent company checking for you.
About ISO 9001
ISO 9001 is widely regarded across the world as the leading standard for quality management. It has been proven that companies that follow the standard offer considerably improved products and services and in addition, make fewer mistakes.*
Furthermore, ISO 9001:2015 is the very latest iteration of the standard so you can be confident that we are measured against the very latest principles.
The regular assessment is put in place to ensure that quality management is inherent and continually improved, rather than a one-off qualification that is achieved and then quickly forgotten.
How to find out more
If you have any questions about the ISO 9001 qualification, please give us a call and we will be happy to share our experience and help however we can.
*Source: BSI Benefits survey – BSI clients were asked which benefits they obtained from ISO 9001:2008
New Client Spotlight: Lydlynch Pre-School
We would like to give a big Coretek welcome to one of our latest clients – Lydlynch Preschool!
Lydlynch are a friendly and highly experienced pre-school based in Totton, Hampshire. The pre-school provides young learners with a caring and stimulating environment where they can grow and learn.
Here are some words from pre-school manager Claire Thompson about what makes their pre-school unique:
“At Lydlynch Pre-School we provide a welcoming, friendly, safe and secure environment that helps children develop social skills, independence and a positive self-image.
We use a ‘key carer’ approach, which means staff members support the learning and development of those identified as their ‘key children’. This approach is implemented through detailed planning and observations of individual children.
All planning reflects the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum to ensure that age and stage-appropriate activities and experiences are always available.”
Find out more over at the Lydlynch Pre-School Website
In terms of IT, our first project was to implement Office 365. This provided access to the Office suite of programs, as well as cloud storage with OneDrive and Exchange Online for easy and reliable email access. Watch the blog for a full case study in future.
We look forward to working closely with Claire and the team over the next few months and beyond.
Coretek are hiring for a IT Systems Consultant 1st/2nd line support – Apply Now!
Do you have a passion for technology and would love to build a career in the IT industry?
Coretek Group are an internationally established IT consultancy specialising in Microsoft solutions providing IT support, managed services and IT consultancy services to a diverse client base including the commercial and the educational sectors. Coretek Group are ISO 9001 accredited.
As a result of on-going growth, we have a requirement for an IT Systems Consultant – 1st / 2nd Line.
This role involves supporting existing customers, monitoring customers systems using Microsoft System Centre, working with our highly technical business team to develop our CoretekCloud solutions, managing client projects, assisting with the installation of hardware and software, general administration and documentation.
With a strong interest in customer service and a high technical knowledge, the ideal candidate will have an excellent telephone manner, customer facing skills, be self-motivated and interested in business development and have an excellent technical background. As this is a 1st / 2nd level support position, previous IT experience is essential and the candidate should be able to demonstrate a passion for building a career in the IT industry and the aptitude to progress into a consultant role.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including; BUPA private health insurance, critical illness insurance, Coretek pension scheme, EMI (share) scheme and of course, company pool table!
Key Activities;
• Provide 1st and 2nd Line IT Support.
• Help co-ordinate support requests through to 3rd line technicians
• Assist the Coretek Business Services team with day to day operations
• Work closely with our customers to provide professional IT consultancy
• Work alongside the current team to develop and enhance Coretek’s service solutions
Key Skill requirements;
• Good understanding of core networking concepts
• Excellent fault finding and diagnostics skills
• Excellent customer skills
• Valid UK driving license
• Ability to work well in a team
• Excellent diagnostics thought process
• Must be able to provide “Exceptional Customer Service”
• Excellent telephone manner
• Hands-on experience working with Microsoft Technologies such as Windows Server 2008 R2 to Windows Server 2016, Windows 7 to 10, Office 365 and Azure
• Degree in IT or related subject or Microsoft certification
• Experience working with server/desktop hardware
Do not miss this opportunity become a key player in a progressive, fast-growing company specialising in Microsoft solutions. Please do not apply if you do not fulfill the above criteria. Closing date for applications will be Friday 4th May 2018.
Please email applications to hr@coretek.co.uk
Salary £16,034 – £23,049 depending on qualifications and experience.
Introducing our Cloud Expert – Matt Hibberd
Introducing our Cloud expert – Matt Hibberd! He takes centre stage in this months ‘Meet The Team.’ Read on to find out all about Matt…
What is your role at Coretek?
Senior Systems Consultant / Engineer.
How long have you worked in IT for?
Approximately 10 years.
What is something that not many people know about you?
I am an amateur musician and play both guitar and bass guitar (not at the same time though! That would be something special!)
What is your favourite film?
The Back to the Future trilogy!
How do you spend your spare time?
I enjoy walking and cycling and like to get out and about with my camera.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Flight.
What is your favourite food?
Indian.
If you were an animal, which animal would you be and why?
Tiger (there’s little chance of getting eaten by anything else).
What is one thing that you could not live without?
My car.
What have you always wanted to do, but never done?
A skydive.
Welcome to our Preferred Partners
Following on from our news last week about our Preferred Partners, we are now able to introduce you to the first of our preferred partners!
Our goal from the outset has been to build an exciting network of businesses who will really help provide additional value for our clients. As you already know, we offer a range of IT and cloud services to our clients but thanks to our new preferred partners, we are now able to offer an extended range of business services too! This includes marketing and PR, video production, accountancy and business advice.
We will be putting out a varied range of content over next few months aimed at helping small and medium businesses reach more clients, work more efficiently and much more.
Initially, we will be putting out content via our blog and social media channels but plan to extend this to events and workshops in the future.
Pure Brand Media
Pure Brand Media are a highly-respected UK video production, audio production, PR and marketing agency run by broadcast journalists.
The company was established in 2006 by Jane Danser who is the current Managing Director. Jane has over 20 years experience in national and local media. They were amongst the first in the country to offer a bespoke audio news release service for UK businesses.
Smith Newmans
Smith Newmans are a team of highly experienced accountants, tax and business advisers based near Winchester. They offer a range of services such as VAT and bookkeeping to business and personal tax, payroll, annual returns and self-assessment.
Smith Newmans specialise in helping small and medium-sized businesses grow their business, mitigate risks and maximise opportunities.
For any more information about our partners and their services please contact us by phone on 0800 304 7444 or by email at enquiries@coretek.co.uk.
What’s new from SecureInternet?
For those who are wondering how progress is going with our fast and secure internet solution, SecureInternet, this blog post is for you!
As we first announced at the end of 2017, we are going to be launching an internet package that will provide lightning-fast speeds with comprehensive security included as standard.
The solution is currently being put through its paces by one of our school clients. One of the important factors is to ensure that all hosted services still work through the new line. This is particularly important for educational clients, as access to hosted services such as SIMS is vital as these are the key tools that admin staff and teachers use on a daily basis.
In addition to this, we have been carrying out line speed tests to determine that our lines provide the rapid upload and download speeds that our clients have been asking for. Finally, we have been carrying out comprehensive security tests so we can guarantee a safe web browsing experience for all users.
Testing of the solution has gone extremely well so far and we are now in the final stages. Based on testing so far, we are working towards a launch date around May 2018.
If you are interested in finding out more, you can register your interest by calling us on 0800 304 7444 or email us at enquiries@coretek.co.uk and we will make sure to notify you as soon as SecureInternet goes live!
We will be exhibiting at this years Farnborough Business Expo – Find us at Stand 45!
We will be exhibiting at the Farnborough Business Expo this year!
The Farnborough Business Expo is an event for all businesses in and around Farnborough. If you are looking to start up your own business or grow your current business, there will be a lot to interest you. The day will involve many exhibitors showcasing their businesses, keynote speakers and networking opportunities.
We will be on stand 45 near the centre of the main exhibition hall. Come along and visit us on the day. Our team will be there to answer any questions you may have and you can get involved in our competition that could land you the chance of winning some very exciting prizes!
You can get your tickets here and you can find out more about the event on the website.
The event will take place on the Thursday the 26th of April 2018 at 10am-3pm at The Village Hotel, Farnborough.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Introducing: Our Preferred Partners
Here at Coretek, we have some exciting news! To be able to extend the range of services that we can offer to our current and future clients, we are proud to have aligned with a carefully selected group of preferred partners.
Throughout the next few months, we will be putting out a varied range of content aimed at helping small and medium businesses reach more clients, work more efficiently and much more.
Initially, we will be putting out content via our blog and social media channels but plan to extend this to events and workshops in the future.
Watch this space for more information on our preferred partners coming up very soon.