Awards and accreditations

• BASDA
• Intellect
• ISO 9001: 2000
• TickIT Guide Issue 5
• Microsoft Certified Partner
• Beacon South West
• ICAEW

Read related newsletter articles (PDFs):

• 2006
• Quarter one
• Microsoft Certified Partner
• Beacon South West
• 2004
• Quarter three
• Microsoft Certified Partner
  
• 2003
  
• Quarter Three
• ISO 9001: 2000

BASDA *
Coldharbour status: Member since 1997

BASDA is the Business Application Software Developers Association, representing almost 200 of the world's leading business software suppliers.  Working with governments and policy-making groups in the UK, Europe and worldwide, BASDA is the acknowledged voice of the business software industry.

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Intellect *
Coldharbour status: Member since November 2001

Intellect is the trade association for the UK hi-tech industry.  Members comprise organisations both large and small from the UK's information technology, telecommunications and electronics sectors.  Intellect works in three significant areas:

1. Helping member companies to be top performers.
2. Providing insights into members' markets and supply chains.
3. Working with Government and regulators to create the most favourable business environment. 

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ISO 9001: 2000 *
Coldharbour status: Accredited since September 2000.

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world's largest developer of standards.  ISO is a global network that identifies what international standards are required by business, government and society, develops them in partnership with the sectors that will put them to use, adopts them by transparent procedures based on national input and delivers them to be implemented worldwide. 

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TickIT Guide Issue 5 *
Coldharbour status: Accredited since September 2000

TickIT is about improving the quality of software and its application.  Almost every business depends on the correct manipulation of information by computer systems. Software is the key to the successful operation of these systems - poor quality software can severely affect efficiency and competitiveness.

To meet customers' quality expectations, software suppliers, including in-house developers, need to define and implement a quality system which covers all the essential business processes in the product life cycle. TickIT guides the developer to achieve this objective within the framework of  ISO 9001.

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Microsoft Certified Partner *
Coldharbour status: Microsoft gold certified partner

Microsoft® Certified Partners are independent companies that provide the highest levels of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and hands-on skills. Microsoft Certified Partners encompass a broad range of expertise and vendor affiliations and their real world perspective can help prioritise and effectively deliver technology solutions.

To qualify for the Microsoft Certified Partner program, organisations must have at least two dedicated, full-time employees who are current MCPs. The only way to become Microsoft-certified is to pass a series of rigorous exams required for certification in eight different areas:

• Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers design, install, support, and troubleshoot information systems. MCSEs are network gurus, support technicians, and operating system experts.
• Microsoft Certified Database Administrators implement and administer Microsoft SQL Server databases.
• Microsoft Certified Solution Developers use development tools and platforms to create business solutions.
• Microsoft Certified Professionals are expert in at least one Microsoft operating system, development tool, or desktop application.
• Microsoft Certified Professionals with a specialty in site building plan, build, maintain, and manage Web sites using Microsoft technologies and products.
• Microsoft Certified Professionals with a specialty in Internet technology install and configure server products, manage server resources, plan security, and perform other Internet-related duties.
• Microsoft Certified Trainers teach others about Microsoft products using Microsoft official curriculum at Microsoft authorized technical education centers.

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Beacon South West *
Coldharbour status:  Beacon Company since 2006

Beacon South West brings together some of the South West's most forward thinking and ambitious companies to promote success and spearhead the growth of the region.  Beacon South West is building a portfolio of South West 'Beacon' Companies, to which other business can look for leadership and examples of significant business performance.  Beacon Company status is an award given to those companies who can demonstrate outstanding achievement across a range of criteria.  For Beacon Companies this represents a unique opportunity for recognition and further development designed to achieve even higher levels of performance.  Supported by the South West of England Regional Development Agency, Beacon South West members will play an important role in cultivating the enterprise excellence that exists in the region.

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ICAEW *
Coldharbour status: Accredited since February 2006

Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) Accreditation Scheme

The ICAEW IT Accredited Partner Scheme has been in existence for some 15 years.  It was originally established by the ICAEW in response to the demand from members for access to reliable and properly evaluated software products in the accounting market.  The scheme now lists over 50 software package that have satisfied robust technical evaluation criteria and are supplied by companies which are financially sound and which offer strong customer support.  These are key considerations both for accountants in industry and those in public practice who not only have to purchase software for their own use but also advise clients on their software needs.

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