Cisco’s top UK partners have welcomed changes to its channel programme, with interest already being shown in the new managed services Master accreditation.

The vendor held its partner conference in Boston last week and unveiled plans to introduce its third Master accreditation, with managed services joining the unified communications and security badges.

Tom Kelly, managing director of Gold partner Logicalis, confirmed his firm’s intention to go for the new certification.

“Logicalis will definitely be looking to achieve the Master Accreditation,” he said. “Managed services account for an increasing percentage of our revenues.”

Solutions director Chris Gabriel revealed the VAR was Cisco’s first UK Advanced Technology Partner for datacentre unified computing.

“We have invested heavily in the past six months,” he added.
A broadening of Cisco’s Mana-ged Services Channel Programme (MSCP) has also been announced.

Richard Eglon, marketing manager for Gold Partner Comms-care, said: “Demand for managed services is much higher as many end users cut back on internal IT staff.”
But one reseller, who wished to remain anonymous, cautioned against vendors seeking to level the playing field too much, adding: “Otherwise why spend a lot of money becoming a Gold Partner?”

Cisco also announced a revamp of its Value Incentive Programme (VIP) including an extension to the technologies covered by the scheme.

The vendor will now provide rebates around three areas: collaboration; virtualisation; and borderless network, including telepresence.

Kelly said: “Logicalis is also a fan of VIP because the programme proactively rewards partners that invest and deliver.”