Press Release | 21 Mar 2024

Vodafone Business launches new IT Hubs channel to offer experts and budding entrepreneurs the chance to run their own IT franchise

Vodafone is looking for more than 300 franchise partners across the UK to set up Vodafone Business IT Hubs in their local areas.

  • Vodafone Business has launched a new channel called Vodafone Business IT Hubs, offering new local franchise opportunities for budding entrepreneurs and IT experts alike. 
  • Vodafone is looking for more than 300 franchise partners across the UK to set up Vodafone Business IT Hubs in their local areas. 
  • Each Vodafone Business IT Hub will have a local territory in which it will offer an outsourced one-stop-shop for IT and communications managed services.

IT experts and entrepreneurs across the UK are being invited to become their own boss, thanks to a local franchise opportunity from the newly launched Vodafone Business IT Hubs channel.

Vodafone is looking for more than 300 franchise partners across the country to setup IT Hubs in their local areas, forming part of a new strategic drive from Vodafone to help SMEs better manage and get the most from their IT solutions.

Almost a quarter million SMEs have enhanced their digital skills thanks to Vodafone Business

Participating small businesses are now more able to take advantage of the many opportunities that new tools and technologies have to offer.

As an IT and comms managed service, each IT Hub will have a local territory in which it will offer an outsourced one-stop shop for IT and communications support, including help with hardware and applications, alongside connectivity and security. The target market for the hubs will be SMEs* who are resource-limited and don’t have their own internal IT support function available.

Research by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) found that many SMEs needed support for their IT requirements; 37% believed they lacked the capacity to manage multiple ICT suppliers, contracts, and licences. A quarter (25%) felt their current digital tools were not resilient enough to help protect their business from online threats including phishing, ransomware, and password hacking.

Vodafone Business IT Hubs will be limited companies trading under the Vodafone brand, and will employ their own local technicians, account managers and engineers. They will sell a portfolio of Vodafone products and services alongside selected products from world-class partner vendors, enabled by an industry leading platform, with IT software, services, and resources.

‘The best day of my life’: gym owner gets hench with Vodafone Business’s V-Hub

Apex Gym, the passion project of small business owner Amelia Lawes, has received much needed digital strength training from Steven Bartlett and the Vodafone Business V-Hub.

Miryem Salah, Chief Data Officer & Head of Vodafone Business IT Hubs, said: “We know that business owners need to prioritise serving their customers and growing their business; in a busy world this doesn’t always leave the time or the resource to keep on top of their IT estate or manage multiple suppliers.

“At the same time, we know there are IT experts sat at their desks across the UK who have a dream of setting up their own businesses, but need some support to get started. That’s where we come in.

“We can offer our franchisees the capability, scale and confidence that comes from working with a large global brand, as well as finance and marketing support, while they can offer the technical skills and local knowledge to build a successful business that supports the local SME community.

“We’re excited to start this journey with our new franchisees in 2024 and beyond. I’d urge anyone with an interest to get in touch.”

People interested in taking on a Vodafone Business IT Hub franchise opportunity can learn more on the Vodafone UK website. 

-Ends-

Notes to Editors

*Between 20 – 150 employees

About Vodafone UK

Vodafone UK is a technology communications company that connects people, businesses and devices to help our customers benefit from digital innovation. Our services span mobile, fixed-line connections, home and office broadband, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

We have a strong track record as a tech pioneer, making the UK’s first mobile phone call, sending the first text message, and making the UK’s first live holographic call using 5G in 2018. We were the first to start carrying live 5G traffic from a site in Salford, Greater Manchester and now have 5G in locations across Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain as well as the UK. Meanwhile, our 4G network coverage currently reaches over 99% of the UK population.

Today, Vodafone serves more than 18 million mobile and fixed-line customers in the UK. Vodafone is the largest provider of full fibre in the UK – our superfast broadband services are now available to nearly 12 million homes across the UK.

Sustainability is also at the heart of what we do: as of 1 July 2021, 100% of the grid electricity we use in the UK is certified to be from renewable sources.

For more information about Vodafone UK, please visit: www.vodafone.co.uk.

Vodafone UK Media Relations

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