Benchmark North prides itself on complete and total support of ALL your ICT requirements. That’s right; all of your requirements. With over 12 years experience focused on ICT in education, our team has witnessed first hand the exponential growth and demand of ICT and has been developing all the necessary skills to be able to offer you their knowledge and expertise for today’s climate and for technologies on the horizon.
We believe that Benchmark North has now evolved so far beyond providing just ‘ICT maintenance’ to its clients. Our aim is to develop and support every facet of ICT that is relevant in YOUR establishment. Our broad range of skills includes cover of these key areas; Software, Hardware, Server technologies, Interactive Whiteboards, Projectors & AV Systems.
You can choose any of the following from our portfolio of contracts:-
- 3 hour visit every 3 weeks (with emergency call-outs/off-site repairs included)
- 3 hour visit every 3 weeks (with off-site diagnostic checks included)
- 3 hour visit very 2 weeks (with emergency call-outs/off-site repairs included)
- 2 x 3 hour visits every 3 weeks (with emergency call-outs/off-site repairs included)
- 3 hour visit every week (with emergency call-outs/off-site repairs included)
- 1 day (6 hours) visit every week (with emergency call-outs/off-site repairs included)
Yearly Contracts
In becoming a valued Benchmark North client you will have access to the following support as a minimum:
- School wide support – A contract with Benchmark North is for TOTAL support, there are no hidden extra costs that are not explicitly stated. We will cover unlimited amounts of ICT equipment; this includes server support (unlimited number of servers) and importantly your Admin network. Although it is beyond our scope to support some issues relating to your admin network (i.e. Sims.Net) we will endeavour to help you out as much as possible with any issues you may have.
- Regular Visits – At the start of your contract, and in negotiation with yourself, you will receive a schedule identifying the dates on which your appointed technician will visit the school. You will keep the same technician for as long as you wish; this helps to build a solid relationship between you and Benchmark North. We carefully select our technicians so that they not only possess the expertise to undertake the work required, but have the necessary personal and social qualities to enable them to liaise with any member of staff with maximum efficiency. Primarily this contact time is used to help support and develop your ICT infrastructure but we also use this time to advise and make recommendations, for your consideration, on any particular area of your ICT needs.
- “Home computer” support – Do you find you have problems with your personal computer/laptop? With a Benchmark contract you and your staffs’ home computers are covered. All we ask is that they are brought into school when your visit is scheduled and your technician will be only too happy to have a look.
- A Team of Experienced ‘Techies’ – Imagine having a whole technical team at your disposal, merely a phone call away. You can call us as often as you like, for the price of a phone call, you can speak to one of our team about any issues or concerns you may have regarding your ICT. If problems arise in-between your scheduled visits that we cannot solve over the phone, our aim is to get a technician out to you within 24 hours.
- A Dedicated Sales Team – Need to add to your ICT inventory? Replenish your stock of consumables? No problem, our dedicated sales team can find exactly what you are looking for, or even recommend better suited equipment for your needs. You’ll receive a quote via e-mail, fax, post or all three! You choose which is most convenient.
- Web Hosting – With our contract, at your request, we can provide web hosting for your very own website, this can include as many POP3 e-mail accounts as you wish. For a small charge, we can even register your own domain name.
Now you’ve heard about all the great benefits of becoming a valued Benchmark North client, how do we deliver this support? For further information download our sample contract.
Sample contract for 2009 – including EMERGENCY callouts
Sample contract for 2009 – excluding EMERGENCY callouts
Two Yearly Contracts
Why not sign up for a 2 year contract and make a saving? Each contract provides the same level of support as the one year service but the overall cost will be slightly lower.
If you wish to discuss the price of any contract, please contact Lynn Halliwell on 01942 492479.
Testimonials
Here are comments we have received from some of the schools that have been pleased with the service and support we provide:
Willow Grove Primary School, Ashton-in-Makerfield
“We joined Benchmark in July 2005 and found them to be very competitive in relation to contract prices. They offer an excellent service and are able to provide technical advice when needed, other than at their scheduled visits. We have also purchased hardware and software from Benchmark and are very pleased with the overall service offered. We are happy to continue our contract with them and would recommend Benchmark to other School Business Managers who are looking for a maintenance contract”.
D E Smith, School Business Manager
Platt Bridge Community Primary School, Platt Bridge, Wigan
“We have increased our contract time to a weekly visit due to the size and nature of the school. The technician is both approachable and friendly and continues to provide a service to the highest standard”.
Michelle Frost, Business Manager
R L Hughes Primary School, Ashton-in-Makerfield
“Benchmark has always been prompt and efficient whilst servicing our contract. On occasions, when needed, we have requested extra support and our requests have always been dealt with quickly and efficiently”.
Mrs L J Carroll, Headteacher
Millbrook Primary School, Shevington, Wigan
“Our technician is very reliable and knowledgeable and talks in a language we can understand. He is approachable and always completes the tasks left within the time. We have come to rely on his obvious high level knowledge”.
Karen Tomlinson, Deputy Headteacher
Castle Hill St Philip’s CE Primary School, Hindley, Wigan
“Excellent. Our technician is really good, helpful and extremely capable. Wouldn’t be without him”.
Mrs Jill Brennan, Headteacher
St Oswald’s RC Primary School, Ashton-in-Makerfield
“Technical support is an essential part of the maintenance of the school’s ICT structure. The technician works alongside the ICT Co-ordinator to maintain equipment and the network, install new software and provide advice and solutions to ICT issues”.
Mrs P A Carter, Headteacher & Julie Hassan, ICT Co-ordinator
Abram Bryn Gates Primary School, Abram, Wigan
“I have always found Benchmark to be a very supportive company. They are thoroughly professional and really do “listen” to the “customer voice”. As an advisory company they are excellent. Advice is given in the context of what is best for the customer not as a sales pitch. Communication is good and as well as the usual contracts they provide, they have a superb emergency back up service. We will continue to use Benchmark for the foreseeable future.”
Mr S C Sheekey, Headteacher
Aspull Church Primary School, Aspull, Wigan
“Our appointed technician is 100% reliable. He advises and supports our curriculum work and ensures through regular maintenance that our hardware works effectively thus contributing to our curriculum and raising standards. Their prices are competitive and the company offers excellent value for money.”
Carol Aspinall, Headteacher
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Springfield, Wigan
“We have found Benchmark to be superb. About two years ago we had a server based network installed across the school by another company. Unfortunately, as time has gone on, there have been some issues and problems identified and Benchmark staff have been able to support our ICT technician in sorting out these issues. Regularly having someone with expertise in school to support our ICT Technician has been invaluable and her expertise has grown greatly through working with the Benchmark technician.
Andrew Poskitt, Headteacher
Holy Family Primary School, Platt Bridge, Wigan
Customer service and flexibility is very good. They have been prepared to move our visit times about. Our technician is very good at customer care. Server issues have included ensuring that the software fits within our network.
John Rushton, ICT Co-ordinator
St Jude’s RC Primary School, Worsley Mesnes, Wigan
Our technician is always helpful and eager to work on any problems we encounter.
Mr M Wilkinson, ICT Co-ordinator
