appiChar and Lasa team up to save the popular IT ‘Suppliers’ Directory’ - www.suppliersdirectory.org.uk

Published 10th September 2008

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate release.

9th September 2008
appiChar and Lasa team up to save the popular IT ‘Suppliers’ Directory’ - www.suppliersdirectory.org.uk

appiChar, a leading IT supplier for the not-for-profit sector, has teamed up with the charity, Lasa, to help ensure Lasa’s popular online Suppliers’ Directory remains a free service.

The Suppliers’ Directory is a searchable directory of ICT suppliers who provide goods and services to the voluntary and community sector in England.

Inspired by the U.S. site Techfinder, Lasa partnered up with NTEN and Compumentor to develop and deliver a specific English version of this resource. The Directory received initial funding from Capacitybuilders’ ChangeUp programme.

Following the close of Capacitybuilders’ funding the future of the Suppliers’ Directory is now under threat; appiChar’s support will provide significant help towards the continuation of this valuable service. Aba Maison, from Lasa’s Information Systems Team said:

“We are absolutely delighted that appiChar has come on board. Without support like this we will be unable to offer the Suppliers’ Directory as a free service to the voluntary and community sector. Support like this is absolutely vital if we are to keep our service open and accessible.”

Ian Ryder, appiChar’s Managing Director, said:

“The Suppliers’ Directory is very important for the charity sector because companies are checked by Lasa before they can be listed. Most directories are paid for by the listed supplier with no form of checking so charities don’t necessarily know if they have a track record in the sector. When we heard funds were needed to keep it running we were more than happy to help. As a company we’re committed to improving IT in the not-for-profit sector.”

What users say:

"Just what we need - I often struggle to find support and being searchable by postcode is excellent too."

"Its good you ask for references at least then I know there has been some kind of vetting and I'm less likely to be ripped off."

The Directory lists over 130 suppliers across England offering over 251 services.
- ENDS -


Notes for editors

appiChar Ltd is a specialist in implementing, managing and supporting the IT infrastructures behind many not for profit organisations. appiChars’ expertise includes:-

• IT support tailored to meet needs and budget.
• Consultancy on a wide range of areas including network design
• Internet security and communications solutions
• Network design cabling and installation
• Training tailored to requirements
• Online Backup designed to save costs and take away the pain of backing up
• Server Hosting outsourcing core servers to a hosted environment

appiChar is a CarbonZero company meaning that CO2 emissions from its day to day operations are offset by planting new trees. For more information please visit our website at www.appichar.co.uk/newpcs.htm. For more images or logos, please contact us.

Ian Ryder
Managing Director
Tel: 0845 456 3970. Email: i.ryder@appichar.co.uk
appiChar Ltd
2 Charlotte Road
London, EC2A 3DH
www.appichar.co.uk


Lasa was established in 1984 and is a second tier development and resource agency providing a range of services to the voluntary advice and legal services sector. Lasa is recognised centre of excellence and innovation for advice related ICT developments, for support and training on welfare benefits law, and for policy campaigning and development work.

Lasa’s ICT support services include consultancy work, IT ‘Healthchecks’, telephone advice, case management software, publications (including Computanews magazine now approaching its 150th issue), the Suppliers’ Directory - http://www.suppliersdirectory.org.uk/,
and a dedicated IT expert information source on the Internet - the ICT Knowledgebase. – www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk which provides a comprehensive source of independent ICT information and advice for community and voluntary sector organisations.

Lasa is also the lead organisation for the Circuit Rider movement in the UK (Circuit Riders are mobile workers who provide ICT support and development to a caseload of small voluntary organisations). See www.lasa.org.uk/circuitriders/index.shtml.

For more information on Lasa visit www.lasa.org.uk or contact 020 7377 2748.


For more information about this story please contact:

Zoe Cumberland
Marketing & Business Development Manager
Tel: 020 7426 4488. Email: zcumberland@lasa.org.uk

or

Tracy Light
Marketing Director
Tel: 07968 123013. Email: t.light@appichar.co.uk