News: Rotherham Hospice opens innovative charity shop

Rotherham Hospice has opened the doors to a brand-new charity shop in Manvers, the first of its kind in its retail lineup, featuring a fresh, innovative design that fundraisers believe will redefine charity fashion shopping in the area.

The only adult hospice in Rotherham for the people of Rotherham, Rotherham Hospice is an independent charity and requires a staggering £3m per year to allow them to continue to carry out this invaluable service.

The August grand opening at the Onyx Retail Park was marked by a special ribbon-cutting ceremony. The honour of cutting the ribbon went to Jonathon, the first volunteer in Manvers.

The hospice describes the new shop as a "bold step forward in our retail strategy" and has been designed as a pilot for a new look and feel that could then be extended across existing stores. The concept is also paving the way forthe Rotherham Hospice's first-ever superstore at Great Eastern Retail Park in Parkgate, which is expecting to opening in Autumn 2024.

Rothbiz reported in March that a planning application had been submitted that would enable a vacant unit on the retail park to be brought back into use. Rotherham Hospice wants to operate a large charity shop from the 7,900 sq ft Unit 5, which was previously home to United Carpets.

Advertisement
Mat Cottle-Shaw, CEO of Rotherham Hospice, said: "The opening of our Manvers shop marks the beginning of an exciting few years for Rotherham Hospice. This shop is the first manifestation of our ambitious strategy, shaped by the valuable insights gained from our recent community survey. Our goal is to enhance and expand our retail offerings, starting with Manvers and continuing with the launch of our superstore in Parkgate later this year and other locations across Rotherham.

"The positive feedback we’ve received already is truly encouraging. One of our first customers was thrilled with their shopping experience, saying: “I walked in thinking I wouldn’t be able to afford the clothing, but the prices are amazing! It’s wonderful to see secondhand clothes that are presented so nicely and still affordable.”

"Our new shop in Manvers isn’t just about offering a unique shopping experience; it’s also a crucial part of how we fund the vital services we provide. Charity shops like ours generate 30% of the income needed to keep Rotherham Hospice running. By shopping with us, you’re directly supporting the compassionate, high-quality care we provide to patients and their families.

"We invite everyone to visit our new shop, discover some great fashion finds, and support our mission. Your purchases make a real difference in the lives of those we care for."

Rotherham Hospice website

Images: Rotherham Hospice

Read more...

News: Data centre achieves PCI DSS compliance

IT infrastructure company, Onyx Group, has been certified as compliant to Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) at its Yorkshire Data Centre in Rotherham.

Stockton-based Onyx opened its Yorkshire facility at Pioneer Close, Manvers in 2012 where it delivers Cloud hosting and backup, colocation, IT support and security. The £2m investment has been certified to v3.0 level 1, which means Onyx customers hosted systems can be involved in a variety of payment channels in the certain knowledge they are locating their hardware in a fully audited and certified facility.

PCI DSS was developed in 2004 by major credit card companies to encourage and enhance cardholder data security and facilitate the broad adoption of consistent measures globally. Today any company that stores, transmits or processes cardholder data must comply with the requirements.

2014 saw online retail sales break through the £100 billion barrier for the year for the first time in history. A growth of 14% on the previous year, the figure demonstrates the increasing need to protect critical cardholder information, reassuring both organisations and customers alike.

PCI DSS is no small undertaking and achieving it puts Onyx in a small number of companies that can help customers to more easily attain compliance for their end to end business systems. The site is also ISO27001 Information Security Management accredited and features other support their retail and e-commerce customers such as vulnerability assessments, Anti-Virus, Web-Filtering, Firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems.

Neil Stephenson, CEO of Onyx Group, said: "As a company we are committed to offering our clients and businesses throughout Yorkshire the very best in terms of cutting edge security and resilience. Achieving PCI DSS was the next step in our ongoing strategy to offer businesses superior I.T. services and is indicative of the continued investment that we are making to our infrastructure and the Yorkshire region.

"With our Yorkshire Data Centre passing the rigorous compliance assessment, we can now help to remove the burden associated with meeting such high standards, allowing our customers to focus on what is most important to them; their business."

Onyx Group website

Images: Onyx Group

Read more...

News: Symphony orchestrate Onyx partnership

Symphony, one of the UK's largest suppliers of fitted kitchen, fitted bedroom and fitted bathroom furniture, has boosted its business continuity procedures by teaming up IT infrastructure company, Onyx Group.

Symphony Group’s head office on Park Spring Road in Barnsley will have access to Onyx Group's workplace recovery facility in Rotherham in a move that strengthens their business continuity strategy.

Working with Onyx will mean that Symphony Group can maintain its office operations in the event of an emergency situation occurring at its existing facility. The company currently employs more than 600 people at its main manufacturing site in Barnsley and has a distribution site at Templeborough in Rotherham.

In the event of an incident rendering their head offices unavailable, Symphony can now re-locate staff to Onyx Group's recovery site, allowing them to use the desks there as if they were sat in their own office. By replicating their existing data across to the new site, they will have full access to their existing software systems and telephones lines.

The facility at Manvers offers access to a 250-seat workplace recovery centre and a 320 rack state-of-the-art Data Centre. From this site Onyx can deliver Cloud hosting and backup, colocation, IT support and security.

Ruth Rew, group IT manager at Symphony Group, said: "Having the support from the Onyx Group gives us great peace of mind. The service they offer means that if a situation occurred where we couldn't access our office, we could be easily relocated to Onyx's site in Rotherham.

"Onyx's Rotherham facility is ideally placed for our staff to access quickly if needed. Having access to their Workplace Recovery Centre means that any transition is seamless as our staff would be able to use our existing software and telephone lines, allowing them to continue their jobs as normal, just at a different site.

"Our partnership with Onyx enables us to get our business up and running as quickly as possible in times of emergency or disaster in order to support our nationwide network."

Neil Stephenson, CEO of Onyx Group, added: "We are proud to be supporting one of the UK’s most well-known manufacturers with their disaster recovery procedures.

"Companies can clearly see that our data centre is ideally located to offer assistance to businesses across Yorkshire, whenever they need us. Located with a superb transport infrastructure means that we are well connected, as well as being accessible during bad weather and not in an area liable to flooding.

"We are pleased that our services can give companies vital reassurances that they can continue operating no matter what happens to their facilities."

A Stockton-based company, Onyx Group celebrated its 20th anniversary last year and saw turnover approach £20m in 2013, an increase of 13 per cent on the previous year. It recognised a need to still have a local presence in key regions across the country and operates from ten sites. Onyx opened its Rotherham facility in 2012.

Onyx Group website
Symphony Group website

Images: Onyx Group

Read more...

News: Onyx hosting Big Data event

IT infrastructure providers, Onyx Group, is hosting an event at its Rotherham data centre to show businesses how best to get the most out of data.

"Big Data: Intelligence and Infrastructure" is being organised by the Onyx Group, in partnership with Rotherham company Biz-ICT.

The aim of the free event on September 9 is to address the subject of Big Data and Business Intelligence, putting the power to exploit the vast amount of data that flows through a business back into the hands of the senior management team.

Neil Stephenson, chief executive of Onyx Group, said: "This event will provide South Yorkshire businesses with a unique opportunity to discuss the impact of "Big Data" and to view the modern infrastructure we have available at our site in Rotherham.

"Most organisations have many years of historical data that is both strategically and tactically valuable. The wider question is how to manage that Big Data for the long-term benefit of the business.

"We understand that many companies lack the internal capability to manage big data themselves, so this event will address the issues many businesses are concerned about. Our session in Rotherham will present the benefits of real-time business intelligence and explore the bigger picture around big data infrastructure, now and for the future.

"Delegates will hear and get practical advice with a modern approach to big data that illustrates how organisations can furnish themselves with the power to exploit the vast amounts of information that flows through their business, without the need for in-house business intelligence experts or expensive systems."

Stockton-based Onyx opened its Rotherham facility at Pioneer Close, Manvers in 2012 where it delivers Cloud hosting and backup, colocation, IT support and security.

Also based at Manvers, Biz-ICT is an accredited Microsoft SharePoint specialist, providing integrated collaboration and business process applications, such as human resources, training, health and safety and intranets.

Mark Walsh, managing director of Biz-ICT, said: "We are pleased to join forces with Onyx Group for this event. At Biz-ICT our senior management team has 25-years’ experience in designing, delivering and supporting software solutions for businesses.

"We are therefore well placed to showcase and demonstrate the benefits of SharePoint to businesses leaders from many sectors who don't need to be IT experts to understand its use. The software solution is ideally suited for infrastructure planning and creating the right platform for them to analyse the performance of their business easily and quickly."

Onyx Group website
Biz-ICT website

Images: Onyx Group

Read more...

News: Onyx Group named official public sector cloud supplier

Data Centre and Cloud specialists, Onyx Group, is celebrating after being named as one of the official Cloud Computing suppliers to the Government. 

Following the launch of the Government's G-Cloud initiative, CloudStore, an online store where public sector organisations can go to buy pre-procured cloud services, Onyx Group has been listed as an official Infrastructure-as-a-Service and Specialist Cloud Services supplier to the UK public sector.

Onyx Group has ten sites throughout the UK including in Rotherham, which offers access to a 250-seat workplace recovery centre and a 320 rack state-of-the-art Data Centre. 

By bringing a broader range of suppliers to the public sector market, the UK Government is hoping to reduce public sector IT spending by £120m. It aims to encourage public sector bodies to purchase commodity, cloud based IT products through their CloudStore and believe the new framework will continue to provide a cost-effective, quicker and clearer way for government organisations to procure cloud services. 

Neil Stephenson, CEO of Onyx Group, is delighted that Onyx has been named as an official supplier and feels the G-Cloud framework is ideal for public sector bodies looking to enhance their IT performance.

He said: "Following a large-scale investment in our Cloud infrastructure, we were always confident that we would be able to meet the criteria required to be listed as an official supplier of Cloud services to the UK public sector. 

"With Public Sector bodies now having the option to purchase and use Cloud services as they need them, rather than being tied to expensive, long-term contracts, they can benefit from a more flexible and agile approach to IT that will allow them to adapt to their ever changing business needs with ease."

Since being named official suppliers to the G-Cloud network for the first time back in 2012, Onyx Group, celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, has continued to expand its public sector portfolio.

Stockton-based Onyx opened its Rotherham facility at Pioneer Close, Manvers in 2012.

Onyx Group website

Images: Onyx Group

Read more...

News: Onyx secures clients in Yorkshire

Stockton business IT provider, Onyx Group, continues to find success in Yorkshire with its state-of-the-art data centre in Manvers, Rotherham.

The company, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, has seen turnover approach £20m in 2013, an increase of 13 per cent on the previous year. However, it has recognised a need to still have a local presence in key regions across the country.

Onyx opened its Rotherham facility in 2012, offering businesses access to a 250-seat workplace recovery centre and a 320 rack state-of-the-art data centre. The firm employs more than 120 staff across the country from ten sites and offices.

By locating the facility in Yorkshire, Onyx Group has put its national expertise within reach of businesses looking to outsource its IT needs in the region. Since launching the new facility, Onyx has expanded the number of Yorkshire companies it is working with, including high profile businesses such as DFS.

A recent KPMG survey of UK businesses showed that 56 per cent cited the need to access skills as influential behind their decision to outsource and 45 per cent of businesses expect to increase IT outsourcing in 2014.

Neil Stephenson, CEO of Onyx, said: "Research shows that high up on the list of business worries is not having the technical knowhow to support the business IT requirements now and into the future.

"One of the key trends that address these challenges is that more businesses are looking to outsource all, or parts of their technology infrastructure to data centres and managed services businesses. A drive to access the best skills and the latest robust technology infrastructure is at the heart of this.

"This is why Onyx has opened its state of the art Yorkshire data centre to support increased demand from the businesses in the county and surrounding areas to outsource and colocate Data and IT systems somewhere close by.

"Local businesses are looking for all the usual benefits associated with outsourcing with the additional element of keeping data and IT systems local. One of the key benefits of outsourcing continues to be cost, however, other key factors include access to a broader range of often scarce skills.

"Skills at the forefront of technology expertise and in specialised areas are in short supply and the average business doesn't always require these skills on a full time basis, but can benefit from accessing them through an external partner."

Onyx website

Images: Onyx

Read more...

News: Onyx Group opens Rotherham datacentre

Onyx Group has officially opened its South Yorkshire datacentre in Rotherham, providing local businesses with a range of innovative and flexible solutions to their data hosting and management needs.

The Manvers centre also offers a comprehensive business continuity service that companies can use in the event of a disruption that can prevent them from accessing their offices.

Stockton business IT provider, Onyx Group, which specialises in business continuity, datacentre and cloud services, has heavily invested in the site to ensure it can provide the appropriate level of infrastructure, power, security and resilience to businesses that choose to host and secure their data at the facility.

The sheer scale of this datacentre, combined with its business continuity seats, is a unique and attractive offering for businesses in the region. It stands at 22,000 sq ft, providing high capacity data hosting and workplace recovery seats, which will provide space for 320 racks and 500 business continuity positions.

Neil Stephenson, CEO at the Onyx Group, said: "The datacentre will provide great benefits to Yorkshire businesses because it is unique in its approach as it can house all of a company's datacentre and business continuity services under one roof.

"Opening a facility like this is great news for the Yorkshire region as it demonstrates that businesses are keen to invest here and provide support to a thriving, innovative business hub which is fast becoming one of the UK’s key regions for growth."

The datacentre is one of 11 Onyx sites throughout the UK including London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, and Teesside. This includes five datacentres and six workplace recovery facilities.

Onyx Group website

Images: onyx.net

Read more...

News: Onyx Group to expand South Yorkshire datacentre

Stockton business IT provider, Onyx Group has announced plans to expand its Rotherham datacentre, increasing its ability to provide a range of resilient IT solutions to companies across the UK.

Onyx acquired the 22,000 sq ft Manvers datacentre in 2011 to firmly establish its position as a leading UK datacentre services business in the enterprise space.

The expansion follows a large investment deal worth £42m from ISIS Equity Partners (ISIS) in October 2011.

The fit out will develop a further 20,000 sq ft of high capacity data hosting and workplace recovery seats, which will provide space for 250 racks and 500 business continuity positions.

The Onyx datacentre provides local businesses with a range of innovative and flexible solutions to their hosting and data availability needs. It also offers a comprehensive business continuity service that companies can use in the event of a disruption that can prevent them from accessing their offices.

Neil Stephenson, CEO of the Onyx Group, said: "This is great news for the South Yorkshire region as it demonstrates that businesses are keen to invest here, creating more jobs and providing support to a thriving, innovative business hub in what is fast becoming one of the UK's key regions for growth."

The expansion is in recognition of the Digital Region project that is bringing continuous 25mb+ broadband to over 97% of South Yorkshire, including 550,000 homes and 1.3 million people. The project is financed by European, regional, local and private investment of over £90m, including £30m from the European Regional Development Fund.

Onyx Group website

Images: onyx.net

Read more...

News: Onyx acquires new data centre in Rotherham

Stockton business IT provider, Onyx Group has acquired a new data centre in Manvers, Rotherham, strengthening its position in the UK data centre market.

The 22,000 square foot data centre at Pioneer Close is the first major investment by the company in the South Yorkshire region and reflects the continued growth of the group, which has seen it develop from a regional North East firm to a national data centre business.

Neil Stephenson, CEO, Onyx Group said: "Our latest acquisition is a key step in the group's national footprint. It takes us into a new geography, and expands our data centre capabilities across the UK.

"Owning five data centres provides us with a unique advantage over competitors and it enhances our ability in meeting the data needs of larger enterprise businesses."

As part of The Digital Region project, South Yorkshire is the first major region to deploy superfast broadband in the UK, not only bringing improved access to a range of entertainment, business and public sector services, but importantly attracting new investment and new jobs into the region.

Onyx is one of several companies who has realised the potential of The Digital Region, which has been developed in South Yorkshire by Yorkshire Forward, in partnership with the four Local Authorities of Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster and Sheffield City Council, who together have attracted European, regional, local and private investment of over £90m.

Stephenson added: "Expanding into South Yorkshire has been an important goal for Onyx as it is home to a number of high profile, global companies with an experienced and skilled workforce. The region is at the forefront of the Digital Britain agenda and is ideal for start-up high growth companies - it is exactly where we want and need to be."

David Carr, CEO of Digital Region, added: "I am delighted that Onyx has decided to acquire a new data centre in the region as the group adds to the very strong digital business and innovation sector here.

"With the expanding presence of Digital Region's superfast broadband network across the South Yorkshire region, more and more companies will have superfast access to this new data centre and its capabilities. I am delighted to welcome the company into the region and look forward to working with Onyx as they continue to grow."

Onyx website
Digital region website

Images: onyx.net

Read more...