Block Solutions eyes new markets

Healthcare success gives Cisco-focused VAR the foundation to direct aim on the commercial sector

Pickering: healthcare is a challenging vertical but we have continued to win major projects

Cisco specialist VAR Block Solutions intends to export its ‘single-minded’ approach to the healthcare sector into the commercial market.

Block’s most recent annual results showed a 105 per cent rise in revenues to £4.3m, while its Cisco sales virtually doubled in the vendor’s fiscal year.

Managing director Jon Pickering revealed he hoped to attain Cisco Silver partner status in December and Gold within six months of that.

He added that the VAR was “pushing hard” into the commercial sector after growing its healthcare business four years running.

“Our single-minded ap -proach to the healthcare market has paid dividends and it is one we are taking into any new vertical,” he said. “This year we are also building out our managed services propositions with the intention of doubling revenues for this area of the business.”

Terry Espiner, regional sales manager of healthcare solutions at Cisco, described the healthcare space as “a key vertical” for the vendor.

“Cisco continues to work closely with a number of partners which have specialist capabilities in this area,” he added. “Block is one of these, and the growth in sales reflects the effort from both sides put into making the relationship work.”

Pickering added: “Healthcare is a challenging vertical in which to operate, however we have continued to win major projects.

“Our track record and reputation has led to a significant increase in engagements with NHS organisations throughout the UK. We are seeing a greater emphasis on the business case, but this plays to the strengths of vertically focused partners such as Block.”

Block expects to be Cisco’s most qualified UK Premier partner upon achieving six advanced specialisations with the vendor at the end of this month, added Pickering.