In brief: Daisy upgrades Ellis Brigham; Bennet Verby

LANCASHIRE-based business communications firm Daisy Group has been appointed by family-owned outdoor sports retailer Ellis Brigham to deliver a full upgrade of its IT infrastructure.

Established in 1933, Manchester-based Ellis Brigham is a leading independent outdoor sports retailer with 500 employees at stores across the country.

The group manages thousands of customer transactions each day, both in store and online and needed a new IT infrastructure that would support its continued growth.

Daisy has now been appointed to install a new system ranging from hosting the Ellis Brigham website, providing the connectivity that powers the stores’ EPoS systems to an IP telephony system.

Nathan Marke, chief technology officer at Daisy said: “Ellis Brigham is a fantastic example of a great British brand that is using technology to build on its heritage and deliver an online experience to customers and staff that matches the very high quality of its products.”

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NORTH West accountants  Bennett Verby has agreed a partnership with a human resources consultancy.

Stockport-based Bennett Verby said the agreement with Bury firm People Matters and its founder Niel Cope would expand its human resources division as more businesses look to recruit and develop staff in the post-recession economy.

BV Human Resources currently provides a comprehensive range of employment law, health and safety and HR advice to around 100 small, mediums and owner-managed businesses across the North West.

In the past three months, client numbers have doubled as business owners look once again to invest in their companies and comply with auto enrolment requirements.

The tie-up with People Matters will enable directors to implement an effective outsourced HR strategy in order to develop existing staff and recruit and keep the right people to help grow their business.

Linda Saleh, who leads BV Human Resources, said: “In a climate of greater confidence and optimism directors are reviewing their business structures and working with us across areas such as succession planning, recognition and reward structures, training and development to support growth.

“Businesses that are looking to recruit need to ensure that this is done effectively.  For example, it is imperative that companies have an effective induction process as this if often key to new employees’ success and retention.”