CRN Channel Awards - Finalist Q&A with Ben Allcock VP UK&I, B2B at TP-Link

Ben Allcock talks being finalists at this year's CRN Channel Awards

Why do you think awards like the CRN Channel Awards matter?

CRN has a long-standing reputation in the IT channel and consistently delivers outstanding events. These awards are not only a celebration of excellence but also a chance to reconnect with colleagues, peers, and partners while recognising the achievements that drive our industry forward.

What would winning this award mean to your company?

Our team has worked incredibly hard and made significant progress over the past year. Winning this award would be a fantastic achievement for TP-Link, offering well-deserved recognition for the dedication, innovation, and passion our people bring every day.

What would you say is your company’s proudest achievement over the past year?

2025 has been a transformational year, with many milestones to celebrate. We’ve significantly grown our team, expanded our NDC and commercial office, and achieved strong business growth. Most importantly, as a team, we have laid the foundation for continued success. Success powered by a team that is truly passionate about our business and strives for excellence in everything they do. That is what I am most proud of.

What have been the biggest challenges of 2025 so far and how have you overcome them? How have your people helped with that?

Rapid growth and expansion have been both our biggest challenge and greatest opportunity. We’re scaling our team and building our infrastructure to keep pace with demand, particularly in B2B. What turns this challenge into an opportunity is our people: everyone is aligned, supportive, and driven by the same shared vision. That unity turns challenges into momentum, and it’s what excites us about the future.

How do you think the industry has changed over the past year and what changes do you think it still needs to make?

Consolidation through mergers and acquisitions has reshaped the market, making it more important than ever to deliver services that minimise risk and complexity for customers. Across the supply chain, the focus is firmly on reducing costs, improving service quality, and streamlining processes. That will remain essential as the industry evolves.

What do you see as the main opportunities for the industry in the coming year? How do you plan to capitalise on those opportunities?

With economic pressures and customers becoming more risk averse, partners will need to improve efficiency, manage costs, and strengthen cash flow. At TP-Link, we’re well-positioned to support them. We have a large UK sales, marketing, and support team, a state-of-the-art NDC, and strong stock availability. We back this with excellent pre- and post-sales support, dedicated account management, free training and accreditation, marketing support, healthy margins, and next-day shipping for our distribution partners. By combining local presence with reliable service, we can help partners navigate uncertainty and grow with confidence.