Computacenter

Computacenter plc is a British multinational information technology services company headquartered in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. It works with public-sector organizations and private enterprises on the sourcing, deployment, support, and management of information technology systems. Its activities span the technology lifecycle: helping customers select and procure hardware and software, integrating infrastructure, operating service desks and support functions, managing workplace and data-center environments, and providing consulting and outsourcing services. The company was founded in the United Kingdom in 1981 by Philip Hulme and Peter Ogden. It initially developed as a technology reseller and services provider during the expansion of corporate computing. Its growth included a move into large-scale retail and distribution, and in 1990 it opened what was described at the time as Europe's largest personal-computer outlet. By the mid-1990s, Computacenter had become the largest privately owned information technology company in the United Kingdom. It entered the public markets through a London Stock Exchange flotation in May 1998. Computacenter subsequently broadened its geographic and operational footprint. In 2006 it expanded service facilities with an international service centre in Barcelona and a customer help desk and remote-management operation in Cape Town. In 2007 it acquired Digica, an outsourcing and managed-IT provider serving corporate mid-market and public-sector customers, and Allnet, a business focused on network integration and structured cabling. These transactions strengthened the company's ability to deliver services beyond product supply. During the late 2010s and early 2020s, Computacenter continued to add specialist capabilities and enter new markets. Acquisitions included TeamUltra, a UK consulting firm, Misco Solutions in the Netherlands, FusionStorm in California, RD Trading, a UK IT-disposal specialist, and Pivot Technology Solutions in Canada. This expansion increased the company's presence in consulting, cloud and infrastructure services, asset disposition, and North American technology supply and support. Computacenter's business model combines technology sourcing with professional and managed services. It serves customers that need large volumes of workplace equipment, enterprise infrastructure, networking, cloud-related services, cybersecurity support, service-desk operations, and the secure retirement or recycling of obsolete equipment. The company also supports sustainability and circular-economy objectives. Its work for Marks & Spencer included helping the retailer meet waste-electrical and electronic-equipment requirements and diverting information technology waste from its head office away from landfill by 2008. The company has been listed on the London Stock Exchange and is identified as a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index in the supplied reference material. Its international operations and acquisitions have made it a significant European IT infrastructure services provider, while its UK roots remain central to its corporate identity. Computacenter has also undertaken public-sector supply work, including a 2021 contract programme for laptops intended for disadvantaged children. The company has faced scrutiny over that procurement process and over a 2023 security incident involving access to a Deutsche Bank server room in New York. Despite these controversies, Computacenter remains an active technology services company with a portfolio covering sourcing, integration, support, managed operations, consulting, and IT asset lifecycle management.

Computacenter was established in the United Kingdom in 1981 by Philip Hulme and Peter Ogden. The company emerged during a period when businesses were rapidly adopting personal computers and networked information systems. It developed a combined technology supply and services model, helping customers acquire equipment while also providing installation, support, and operational assistance. A notable early expansion came in 1990, when Computacenter opened what was described as Europe's largest PC outlet. The business continued to grow rapidly during the following decade. In 1991, The Independent identified it as one of the fastest-growing independent companies in the United Kingdom. By 1994, it had become the UK's largest privately owned IT company. Computacenter floated on the London Stock Exchange in May 1998, transitioning from a privately owned growth company into a listed technology services group. The company expanded its service-delivery infrastructure during the 2000s. In 2006 it established an international service centre in Barcelona, Spain, and a customer help desk and remote-management facility in Cape Town, South Africa. In January 2007, it acquired Digica, which supplied outsourcing and managed IT services to corporate mid-market and public-sector customers. In April of the same year, it acquired Allnet, a provider specializing in network integration and structured cabling. Together, these developments increased Computacenter's ability to deliver infrastructure operations and network services across multiple locations. A further acquisition phase began in the United Kingdom and continental Europe. Computacenter bought TeamUltra, a UK consulting business, in April 2017. In September 2018 it acquired Misco Solutions, based in Amstelveen in the Netherlands. It also expanded in North America through the acquisition of California-based FusionStorm in October 2018. In August 2019, the company acquired RD Trading, known for IT disposal services, extending its capabilities beyond deployment and operation into equipment retirement and reuse or disposal processes. In September 2020, it acquired Canadian business Pivot Technology Solutions, reinforcing its North American platform. Computacenter has served both commercial organizations and government bodies. Its activities include procurement, implementation, technical support, managed infrastructure, service desks, consulting, network services, cloud-related operations, and IT asset lifecycle management. The company has also participated in environmental and social-responsibility initiatives. It committed to the ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact and worked with Marks & Spencer on waste-electrical and electronic-equipment obligations and environmental objectives. Its work helped the retailer send no IT waste from its head office to landfill by 2008. The company's public profile was affected by controversies in the 2020s. In 2021 it won contracts reported at £241.5 million to provide laptops for disadvantaged children. The process was criticized because the contracts were awarded without an open tender, while reporting also noted the political donations of founder and significant shareholder Philip Hulme. In March 2023, a serious security incident occurred at a Deutsche Bank facility in New York after a Computacenter employee allowed his girlfriend to enter a server room and reportedly touch servers. The manager who reported the incident was dismissed in July 2023, leading to further criticism. Computacenter remains an active listed British IT services group. Its evolution has been from a UK computer reseller into an international provider covering technology sourcing, infrastructure integration, workplace services, managed operations, consulting, support, and IT asset disposition. The company is headquartered in Hatfield and operates across Europe, North America, and other international service locations.

1. 2023Deutsche Bank server-room security incident

   A security incident involving unauthorized access to a Deutsche Bank server room in New York becomes the subject of public reporting and criticism.

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2. 2021Laptop supply contracts for disadvantaged children

   The company wins contracts reported at £241.5 million to supply laptops for disadvantaged children in a procurement process that later attracted criticism.

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3. 2020Pivot Technology Solutions acquisition

   Computacenter acquires Canadian business Pivot Technology Solutions, expanding its North American presence.

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4. 2019RD Trading acquisition

   The acquisition of RD Trading adds specialist IT disposal and asset-lifecycle capabilities.

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5. 2018Misco Solutions and FusionStorm acquisitions

   Computacenter acquires Misco Solutions in the Netherlands and California-based FusionStorm, broadening its European and North American operations.

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6. 2017TeamUltra acquisition

   The company acquires UK consulting firm TeamUltra.

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7. 2007Digica and Allnet acquisitions

   Computacenter acquires Digica and Allnet, expanding managed IT, outsourcing, network integration, and structured-cabling capabilities.

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8. 2006International service facilities expand

   The company adds an international service centre in Barcelona and a customer help desk and remote-management facility in Cape Town.

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9. 1998London Stock Exchange flotation

   Computacenter becomes a publicly traded company through a flotation on the London Stock Exchange in May.

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10. 1994Becomes the UK's largest privately owned IT company

    Computacenter reaches the position of the largest privately owned IT company in the United Kingdom.

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11. 1991Recognized as a fast-growing independent company

    The Independent lists Computacenter among the fastest-growing independent companies in the United Kingdom.

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12. 1990Large PC retail outlet opens

    Computacenter opens what was described as Europe's largest PC outlet, demonstrating its early scale in computer distribution.

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13. 1981Computacenter is founded

    Philip Hulme and Peter Ogden establish Computacenter in the United Kingdom as the personal-computing market begins to expand.

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A large-scale IT infrastructure partner combining technology sourcing, systems integration, managed services, support, consulting, and asset lifecycle management for enterprise and public-sector customers.

• Technology sourcing and procurementIT procurement

  Computacenter sources workplace devices, enterprise hardware, software, and related technology for large organizations. The service can include vendor selection, procurement coordination, logistics, configuration, and deployment planning. It is a core part of the company's model because sourcing is connected to downstream implementation, support, refresh, and disposal services.

• Workplace and end-user computing servicesManaged IT services

  These services support the technology used by employees and other end users, including computers, peripherals, software environments, service desks, and device lifecycle processes. Computacenter can help customers deploy standardized workplace technology, provide technical assistance, and manage refresh or replacement programmes across large user populations.

• Infrastructure and data-center servicesIT infrastructure

  Computacenter implements and manages infrastructure environments used by enterprises and public-sector bodies. The scope includes servers, storage, data-center operations, infrastructure support, and related implementation work. These capabilities allow customers to combine equipment supply with ongoing operational management rather than purchasing infrastructure as a standalone product.

• Network integration and structured cablingNetworking2007

  Network services include the integration of networking equipment and the physical structured-cabling work required to connect offices, campuses, and data-center environments. The Allnet acquisition strengthened this area by adding a business specializing in network integration and structured cabling.

• Cloud and managed IT servicesCloud and outsourcing2007

  The company provides managed and outsourced technology operations for customers that want external support for infrastructure, applications, service management, or cloud-related environments. Its managed-services portfolio developed partly through acquisitions such as Digica and is intended for both commercial and public-sector users.

• IT asset disposal and lifecycle managementIT asset management2019

  Computacenter helps customers manage technology from acquisition through deployment, refresh, retirement, and disposal. Its acquisition of RD Trading added specialist IT-disposal expertise. The offering is relevant to data security, compliance, reuse, recycling, and the reduction of electronic waste.

• 2008Marks & Spencer IT waste and Plan A support

  United Kingdom

  Computacenter supported Marks & Spencer's waste-electrical and electronic-equipment obligations and environmental objectives. Its work helped the retailer divert IT waste from its head office away from landfill by 2008.

  Outcome. The referenced material states that zero IT waste from the Marks & Spencer head office was sent to landfill by 2008.

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• Renault Sport F1 Team sponsorship

  International

  Computacenter sponsored the Renault Sport F1 Team, associating the brand with international motorsport and the team's Formula One activities.

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• 2021Supply laptops for disadvantaged childrenOther

  Public bodies sought to provide computing devices to children facing disadvantage.

  What changed. Computacenter won contracts reported at £241.5 million to supply laptops. The awards were made without an open tender, according to the supplied reference material.

  Aftermath. The procurement process became subject to public and media criticism.

  Reported contract value. £241.5 million (2021)

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• 2020Acquire Pivot Technology SolutionsM&A

  Computacenter aimed to expand its North American presence and service capacity.

  What changed. The company acquired Canadian business Pivot Technology Solutions.

  Aftermath. The acquisition reinforced Computacenter's Canadian and wider North American platform.

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• 2019Acquire RD TradingM&A

  The company was extending its services across the full IT asset lifecycle, including equipment retirement.

  What changed. Computacenter acquired RD Trading, a UK IT-disposal specialist.

  Aftermath. The deal added secure disposal and lifecycle-management expertise.

  Source
• 2018Expand through Misco Solutions and FusionStormM&A

  Computacenter was broadening its European and North American technology services footprint.

  What changed. It acquired Misco Solutions in the Netherlands and California-based FusionStorm.

  Aftermath. The acquisitions strengthened its continental European and US operations.

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• 2017Acquire TeamUltraM&A

  The company sought to strengthen its consulting capabilities in the United Kingdom.

  What changed. Computacenter acquired UK consulting firm TeamUltra.

  Aftermath. The acquisition added consulting capability to the broader infrastructure services portfolio.

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• 2007Acquire Digica and AllnetM&A

  Computacenter was expanding beyond hardware and software supply into outsourcing, managed IT, networking, and physical infrastructure services.

  What changed. The company acquired Digica in January and Allnet in April 2007.

  Aftermath. The transactions broadened its managed-services, outsourcing, network-integration, and structured-cabling capabilities.

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• 2023Deutsche Bank server-room access incidentControversy

  A Computacenter employee allowed his girlfriend, described in reporting as a Chinese citizen, into a Deutsche Bank server room in New York. She was reportedly seen physically touching servers. The manager who reported the incident was dismissed in July 2023, prompting criticism of the company's response.

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• 2021Criticism of laptop procurement processControversy

  Computacenter won contracts reported at £241.5 million to supply laptops for disadvantaged children. The procurement attracted criticism because the contracts were awarded without an open tender. Coverage also discussed the political donations of founder and significant shareholder Philip Hulme.

  Source

• 2020Computacenter expands North American capabilities through Pivot Technology Solutions

  Computacenter acquired the Canadian technology services business Pivot Technology Solutions, strengthening its North American sourcing and services platform.

  M&A
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• 2019Computacenter acquires RD Trading

  The company acquired RD Trading, a specialist in information technology disposal, adding further capability in secure equipment retirement and IT asset lifecycle management.

  M&A
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1. Computacenter
2. Computacenter official website