Softcat wins place on lucrative higher education framework

Purchasing agreement is first of its kind allowing institutions to buy software under national scheme

Softcat is one of just a handful of VARs selected by the Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC) to be a supplier for a pioneering new education software purchasing agreement.

Worth as much as £60m a year, Softcat joins the likes of XMA and Insight Direct UK, providing software licence reseller services to more than 100 higher and further education institutes across the UK.

The new framework contract will help educational institutions get the best value for their software licensing over the next three years, and SUPC retains the option to extend the framework for a further year.

Nick Berry, Softcat’s education business development manager, said: “This contract is hugely important to Softcat as part of our continued investment in and commitment to working with higher education institutions.

“Softcat has in excess of 20 specialist account managers who are dedicated to working with higher education institutions. They are trained to the highest level on Microsoft, Adobe, VMware and other software products in order to provide the best advice and support on education licensing agreements. We look forward to working closely with SUPC member institutions and assisting them in providing best-value software licensing solutions for both staff and students.”

Andy Bruen, Softcat’s public sector frameworks manager, added: “We are delighted to have been awarded a place as a supplier on the software contract. It reflects our historic association and strengths in selling software. Inclusion on more and more national university contracts is allowing Softcat to have more meaningful cross-product conversations with university customers, helping to deliver considerable value-add in our relationships.”