Joseph Holt is an independent brewery based in Manchester since 1849. Over the years, it has evolved and grown to become the modern beer creating brewery it is today, although still surrounded by some of the original history, fixtures and fittings.

The Joseph Holt pub estate currently consists of over 120 houses, which continues to evolve and grow. With a wide range of pubs from busy city-centre inns to countryside food houses and all that go in-between, there’s a pub to suit everyone.

Key pain points

The pub estate contained a large and varied estate of legacy phone systems, which meant an increased cost of maintenance and repairs. These existing systems were continuously failing and finding replacement parts was becoming increasingly difficult to source.

The limited functionality of a traditional phone system wasn’t so much an issue but by embracing the newer features of a modern IP-based system, such as out-of-hour messages and smart call routing, would help make the pub estate become more efficient, along with an improved customer experience.

Proposed Solution

With the upgrade of the UK’s phone network in full swing, the removal of traditional copper and ISDN phone lines is a major restructure. By replacing the current traditional phone system with an IP-based solution, running over an existing data infrastructure for each pub, has enabled Joseph Holt to be ready for the switch-off ahead of time.

With the system being hosted in the cloud, it negated the need for onsite repairs and maintenance as this can all be done remotely with software changes/updates. In addition, it allowed business failover to be completed automatically in the event of a data connection failure

All provided end-user hardware is configured remotely and covered with a 3-year warranty. This provides the customer with fixed costs, less downtime and no requirement for end-user interaction with the system

“The team at Unified World Communications provided excellent customer service from start to finish; explaining the proposed solution and highlighting all the different options available.  The system they provide is easy to understand, which allowed us to establish the appropriate requirements and features for each individual pub. 

Unified World provided an end-to-end solution from design and quotation through to physical installation, along with number porting.  We were kept up-to-date every step of the way.  The project was progressing so well, we put a request in to expedite the roll-out.

Unified World accommodated this and finished the project 4 months ahead of schedule. We now have all of our 116 managed sites connected on the new IP based solution, which are managed remotely and we are benefiting from all the excellent features we have available to us.

I highly recommend Unified World and wouldn’t hesitate to use them again on future projects!”

Kevin Eaton, Audit & IT Systems Manager, Joseph Holt Limited

👉 Ready to modernise your business communications? Contact Unified World* today to discover how we can help.

*Unified World – part of the inTEC GROUP. 

Introduction

The East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce supports a diverse and growing network of businesses across the region. As the Chamber’s reach expanded, so did its communication needs. While their existing telecoms system was still functional, ongoing maintenance costs, line charges, and limitations in flexibility prompted them to explore more modern, unified solutions. After consulting with Unified World (part of the inTEC GROUP), a trusted Chamber member and telecoms provider, the Chamber decided to upgrade to Vodafone One Net Business.

The Challenge

Although the Chamber’s previous phone system was only six years old and fully paid for, it was becoming increasingly costly to maintain. Monthly line charges for an ISDN30 system and ongoing support expenses were eating into budgets.

More importantly, the Chamber needed a communications system that could keep pace with its evolving operations. Staff members were working across multiple sites, from the office to business travel, and required seamless connectivity. The existing system made it difficult to unify calls across different devices, creating inefficiencies and the risk of missed communications.

The Solution

Working closely with Unified World, the Chamber implemented Vodafone One Net Business, a cloud-based unified communications platform. The new solution connected mobile phones, desk phones, and voicemail into a single, streamlined system.

Key features included:

• Unified calling: Calls ring simultaneously on desk phones and business mobiles, ensuring no missed connections.

• Single voicemail system: Clients leave messages in one central mailbox, accessible from any device.

• Smart call forwarding: Reception can transfer calls to mobiles or desk phones using short 4-digit extensions.

• Flexible configurations: An online portal allows each staff member to personalise their setup, tailoring communication preferences to their role.

• Seamless installation: Engineers delivered a smooth transition, with minimal disruption to day-to-day operations.

The Results

The Chamber quickly realised the benefits of their new solution:

• Improved efficiency – Staff could handle calls across multiple devices, reducing delays and boosting responsiveness.

• Greater flexibility – Remote and travelling staff stayed connected just as effectively as those in the office.

• Reduced costs – By replacing ISDN30 lines and cutting maintenance charges, overall telecoms expenditure decreased.

• User empowerment – With a simple online portal, each team member could customise their phone setup with minimal training.

• Reliable support – The professionalism of Unified World’s team ensured a painless transition.

According to Roger Edworthy, Internet Services Manager at the Chamber:

“The installation of the new system was incredibly smooth, and the changeover had minimal impact on the business. I would be happy to recommend the system and Unified World, particularly to those businesses that require a flexible approach to their telecommunications.”

By adopting Vodafone One Net Business through Unified World, the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce has created a more agile, efficient, and cost-effective communications system that supports its growing operations.

For businesses seeking a flexible and future-ready telecoms solution, Unified World offers the expertise, support, and technology to make the transition seamless.

👉 Ready to modernise your business communications? Contact Unified World* today to discover how we can help.

*Unified World – part of the inTEC GROUP. 

Regal Gaming is among the largest operators of amusement, gaming, and leisure equipment in the UK. With around 400 employees, the firm wanted to improve disaster recovery and cut IT costs by using the cloud to power its email, storage, and collaboration tools for its highly mobile workforce. Unified World Communications (part of the inTEC GROUP) and Vodafone recommended the Microsoft Office 365 productivity suite to replace its existing on-premises messaging technology.

Regal Gaming business needs

Regal Gaming, one of the UK’s largest operators of amusement and gaming machines, serves regional brewers, pub companies, and free-trade customers nationwide. With 200 mobile staff, the company needed an enterprise-grade collaboration solution accessible anytime, anywhere.

Previously, Regal Gaming relied on an aging on premises infrastructure with multiple versions of Microsoft Office and Windows XP, which was nearing end of life. The system struggled with email reliability, storage limitations, and growing IT administration demands.

Managing Director Mark White explains:

“Disaster recovery for email was a principal concern. We also wanted our employees to work flexibly with larger mailboxes, without upfront costs for a new productivity suite.”

To address these challenges, Regal Gaming moved its IT platform to the cloud, improving business continuity, storage capacity, and enabling video conferencing to reduce travel costs all while simplifying IT management and reducing administrative overhead.

Solution

Unified World Communications, in partnership with Vodafone, reviewed Regal Gaming’s requirements and recommended Office 365 with Exchange Online a cloud-based solution managed by Microsoft and Vodafone.

Office 365 provides 25GB inboxes, enterprise level security, mobile access, voicemail, unified messaging, and archiving. Regal Gaming also uses Windows Azure Active Directory and Active Directory Federation Services for single sign-on, alongside Windows Server 2012 to support distributed and mobile workforces.

According to Martin West, Head of IT Services at Unified World Communications:

“This was a complex solution because Regal Gaming has many sites across the UK with engineers working remotely. Rather than invest heavily in on-premises servers, Office 365 offered the flexibility and high-quality service the business needed to stay competitive.”

The upgrade began in June 2013, with 300 mailboxes migrated in just six weeks. Regal Gaming has also trialed Lync Online for video conferencing and plans to roll out SharePoint Online for 400 employees.

Benefits

Regal Gaming has moved its email, storage, and collaboration tools to the cloud with Office 365, reducing risk and improving disaster recovery compared to its previous on-premises system. The shift avoids a six-figure server investment and lowers ongoing IT support costs.

Improved Productivity
Employees now benefit from 25GB mailboxes and the flexibility to work from home, on the move, or directly with customers. Office 365 ensures continuity at no additional cost over the old system.

Lower, Flexible Costs
With a monthly per-user payment model, Regal Gaming avoids major capital expenditure and can scale licenses to meet seasonal demand. Office 365 also guarantees 99.99% uptime with enterprise-level security.

Future-Proofing IT
Microsoft manages all updates, enabling Regal Gaming to access the latest tools without extra costs or added IT overhead. Gaming Equipment Firm Ensures Disaster Recovery with Cloud Productivity Suite.

“We’ve reduced the cost of deploying email and collaboration tools, and, because Microsoft manages all of the upgrades, we’re set to spend less on future in-house IT support.”

Mark White, Managing Director, Regal Gaming

👉 Ready to modernise your business communications? Contact Unified World* today to discover how we can help.

*Unified World – part of the inTEC GROUP.