James Thornton Group moves to Aston Science Park
Apr 7 2008 By Steve Pain, Technology Editor
IT training company James Thornton Group has moved to Aston Science Park, looking to benefit from what it describes as the site's "unrivalled opportunities" for growth.
Tim Childe, regional training manager at James Thornton Group’s technologically advanced, state-of-the-art new offices at Faraday Wharf, Aston Science Park, said: "There were three key drivers in our decision to locate James Thornton Group of companies to Aston Science Park.
"Primarily we were attracted by the flexibility and quality of the accommodation available to us, as well as the wide range of facilities, plus the very close proximity to the local infrastructure meant that there simply was no alternative office accommodation choice for us."
The move will strengthen James Thornton Group's national and worldwide reputation. The Microsoft Gold Certified Partner organisation says it will also be able to take advantage of the park's flexibility, enabling it move when necessary into larger premises in the site's incubator building, Faraday Wharf.
Speaking about James Thornton Group’s plans for the future, Mr Childe said: "We have established the group in specific markets and offer unprecedented IT expertise and knowledge through our range of products.
"The group is growing at an exceptional rate, largely due to the fact that we have created a niche sector in terms of IT training provision available to those persons whom are looking at a career change, or simply to update their current levels of expertise as well as a safe and secure learning environment for women trainees.
"This approach is unique for an IT company and we are very proud of being able to offer all our individual trainees guaranteed employment after successfully completing their qualifications with our IT solutions provider-based division, LanIT."
James Thornton Group is comprised of four divisions: James Thornton Student Campus; James Thornton Women in IT; James Thornton Corporate Campus; and, LanIT. These four divisions have been brought together at Aston Science Park and offer a complete one-stop shop facility in terms of IT training and IT solutions.
James Thornton Group is one of less than 400 UK-based IT companies recognised for knowledge and service delivery as a Microsoft Gold Accredited Partner for Learning Solutions.
Tim Childe is only one of 12,924 worldwide Microsoft Certified Trainers and knows first-hand the rigorous processes and criteria that have to be met to become and remain certified.
He said: " It is our continuous commitment to high quality expertise and service delivery that James Thornton Group adheres to and that we found mirrored in the high-tech accommodation and support services offered at Aston Science Park."
Specifically designed to provide unrivalled support, facilities and accommodation for knowledge-based companies, Aston Science Park continues to attract a range of businesses, from seedbed enterprises through to larger SME’s and corporate businesses.
All businesses located on the park can also benefit from the wealth of business and management services available, which includes support from the Business Partnership Unit, the commercial department of Aston University, as well as a programme of regular high value business briefings offering world-class advice and support, the aim of which is to increase the profitability of businesses attending.
With a further seven companies locating to the Park within one month, Dr Derek Harris, chief executive of Birmingham Technology, the managing company for Aston Science Park said: "From the park’s inception in 1983, our objectives have remained constant: our key driver is in creating an environment to nurture and sustain business growth, wealth creation and employment for knowledge based businesses and directly, positively impact upon the local and regional economy.
"Attracting a world-class IT company like James Thornton Group to Faraday Wharf is testimony of the very high quality of accommodation and inter-related support services that regional, national and worldwide businesses can benefit from by locating here."
Matthew Hidderley, marketing and sales manager at Aston Science Park, also said: "James Thornton Group is world-known as only one of a very few elite high class IT companies which is recognised as a prestigious Microsoft Gold Certified Partner learning organisation.
"For James Thornton Group to compete and continue to retain their Gold status, it is vitally important that their choice of accommodation reflects the very ethos of their business and supports them with maintaining this very high accolade achieved by the Group and awarded by Microsoft.
"We are extremely happy that Aston Science Park could step up to the podium and receive James Thornton Group as one of its prized tenants."
says it will also be able to take advantage of the park's flexibility, enabling it move when necessary into larger premises in the site's incubator building, Faraday Wharf.
Speaking about James Thornton Group’s plans for the future, Mr Childe said: "We have established the group in specific markets and offer unprecedented IT expertise and knowledge through our range of products.
"The group is growing at an exceptional rate, largely due to the fact that we have created a niche sector in terms of IT training provision available to those persons whom are looking at a career change, or simply to update their current levels of expertise as well as a safe and secure learning environment for women trainees.
"This approach is unique for an IT company and we are very proud of being able to offer all our individual trainees guaranteed employment after successfully completing their qualifications with our IT solutions provider-based division, LanIT."
James Thornton Group is comprised of four divisions: James Thornton Student Campus; James Thornton Women in IT; James Thornton Corporate Campus; and, LanIT. These four divisions have been brought together at Aston Science Park and offer a complete one-stop shop facility in terms of IT training and IT solutions.
James Thornton Group is one of less than 400 UK-based IT companies recognised for knowledge and service delivery as a Microsoft Gold Accredited Partner for Learning Solutions.
Tim Childe is only one of 12,924 worldwide Microsoft Certified Trainers and knows first-hand the rigorous processes and criteria that have to be met to become and remain certified.
He said: " It is our continuous commitment to high quality expertise and service delivery that James Thornton Group adheres to and that we found mirrored in the high-tech accommodation and support services offered at Aston Science Park."
Specifically designed to provide unrivalled support, facilities and accommodation for knowledge-based companies, Aston Science Park continues to attract a range of businesses, from seedbed enterprises through to larger SME’s and corporate businesses.
All businesses located on the park can also benefit from the wealth of business and management services available, which includes support from the Business Partnership Unit, the commercial department of Aston University, as well as a programme of regular high value business briefings offering world-class advice and support, the aim of which is to increase the profitability of businesses attending.
With a further seven companies locating to the Park within one month, Dr Derek Harris, chief executive of Birmingham Technology, the managing company for Aston Science Park said: "From the park’s inception in 1983, our objectives have remained constant: our key driver is in creating an environment to nurture and sustain business growth, wealth creation and employment for knowledge based businesses and directly, positively impact upon the local and regional economy.
"Attracting a world-class IT company like James Thornton Group to Faraday Wharf is testimony of the very high quality of accommodation and inter-related support services that regional, national and worldwide businesses can benefit from by locating here."
Matthew Hidderley, marketing and sales manager at Aston Science Park, also said: "James Thornton Group is world-known as only one of a very few elite high class IT companies which is recognised as a prestigious Microsoft Gold Certified Partner learning organisation.
"For James Thornton Group to compete and continue to retain their Gold status, it is vitally important that their choice of accommodation reflects the very ethos of their business and supports them with maintaining this very high accolade achieved by the Group and awarded by Microsoft.
"We are extremely happy that Aston Science Park could step up to the podium and receive James Thornton Group as one of its prized tenants."
