How TDM Group Helped Paye Implement Organisational
Change for Added Business Value
Company profile
Paye Stonework and Restoration is a leading stonework and restoration contractor in London and the southeast. Their team of skilled craftsmen and industry experts deliver projects that protect some of the UK’s most treasured heritage and create social value – from restoring Windsor Castle and instructions at the Palace of Westminster to works at Battersea Power Station and West Smithfield Market.
Their proven track record of delivering projects on time and budget demands a stable and secure IT infrastructure that provides the foundation for collaboration and efficiency across internal teams, subcontractors, and client and project teams.
The challenge
Finding a new IT partner that was business-focused
Paye was at a crossroads with its incumbent IT Managed Service Provider (MSP), which focused on the day-to-day technical aspects of IT – a myopic approach that restricted them to functioning as an IT support service, rather than harnessing technology’s potential to supercharge the business.
Their understanding of how critical a stable and secure IT infrastructure is to achieving business goals was cemented by two seismic events: enforced homeworking when the pandemic struck and a prolonged on-premises server outage that suffocated operations. This disruption was amplified by Paye’s reliance on the creation of satellite site offices that people can access remotely and securely. Their MSP’s narrow service meant they were unable to migrate Paye’s on-premises applications and data to the cloud to prevent an outage from happening again and to elevate their remote working practices.
In the absence of a comprehensive MSP service, Linda Viner, Paye’s Financial Controller, also had to adopt the responsibility of IT Controller. Not coming from a background of managing an IT infrastructure prevented Linda from maximising technology’s potential to drive business innovation and success. Moreover, the additional workload prevented her from performing her core financial responsibilities.
The solution
Dedicated TDM Group IT Business Manager
TDM Group contacted Paye at a time when they were considering changing provider. Their comprehensive Managed Business IT Services (M-BiTS) synced with Paye’s need to augment essential IT support by working with a business-focused partner that viewed technology from a holistic perspective and aligned it with their business strategy.
With an IT Business Manager assigned to them, Paye could count on a dedicated professional who would collaborate with key stakeholders to understand the business’s priorities and how they relate to their overall strategic direction. A vital element of leveraging IT to deliver their business strategy was this manager’s ability to dovetail with TDM Group’s SmartServices department to maintain operational efficiency across multiple sites.
The result
An enriching partnership that adds business value
Partnering with TDM Group and integrating the M-BiTS service into their business strategy has marked an inflexion point for Paye. Underpinning this transformative change is the dedicated IT Business Manager assigned by TDM Group.
Linda explained the profound impact he has on the business: “I refer to this specialist as our IT manager because he takes so much of the load from that side of the business, allowing me to concentrate on my day job. His experience of working in a similar industry, allied with his holistic approach to IT, meant he understood the business quickly and I had the confidence to give him overall IT operational responsibility – not just day-to-day tasks. Some people thought he was directly employed by Paye because he’s around so much.”
The Business Manager’s ability to blend technical know-how and business acumen has provided Paye with a platform to plan and deliver enriching projects – including:
- Migration from an on-premises infrastructure to the cloud by seamlessly introducing the Azure setup.
- Restructuring their inefficient Microsoft 365 licencing, resulting in significant cost savings.
- Introduction of an intranet using Microsoft SharePoint, which went live and was adopted without delay.
TDM Group is also supporting Paye to achieve Cyber Essentials Plus – a government-backed audited cyber security assessment that demonstrates operational security against common cyber-attacks. This is necessary for the tender process with organisations like the Crown Estate and Historic Royal Palaces. Unable to assist, the previous MSP suggested using an external company, which would have caused delays and increased costs.
As well as delivering key projects, Paye’s Business Manager infuses agility into their IT infrastructure. For instance, they have expedited the resolution of tickets by restructuring Paye’s first line support to meet the business’s unique requirements. This resulted in the introduction of a dedicated team to manage their tickets. Now, when an employee contacts the SmartSupport service desk they interact with engineers they are familiar with, who have a deep understanding of the business. This ensures immediate resolution of their concerns with the added comfort of a personal rapport.
“With their invaluable help, I have calculated that the business could save around £65,000 this year, meaning the TDM Group partnership has essentially paid for itself. This is confirmation that by working with an M-BiTS partner, rather than a traditional MSP, Paye is benefitting from a value-added service.”
Linda Viner, Financial Controller at PAYE Stonework & Restoration Ltd
