This month Parallel Group celebrates their four-year anniversary. It’s been incredible to see the growth of the business, which started amid the global COVID pandemic and to see how it has grown into a thriving business that continues to go from strength to strength.
We caught up with Gavin Auckland, the Parallel Managing Director, to look at some of the achievements over the past twelve months and to talk about the business’ future plans.
“Over the past year, we’ve achieved some incredible milestones. There are so many that it’s nice to sit and reflect on how far we’ve come as a business. Last August, as we celebrated our third anniversary, we launched a brand new website that I believe completely reflects who we are and what we stand for – the new site has made it easier for our clients to connect with us and understand the value we can bring to their businesses – the feedback from both customers and industry peers has been fantastic, and this was a great step for our business.
We can’t not mention winning the Reseller of the Year award at the Print IT Reseller Awards in December 2023 – this was a massive highlight and is a real testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. It’s one thing to believe in what you do, but it’s another to be recognised by the industry for your efforts.
Speaking of the team, the Parallel team has seen significant growth in the past twelve month, including welcoming our new Operations Director – Wendy has brought huge amounts of experience and is doing an amazing job of taking control of our operations and driving this side of the business,
In addition to expanding the team, Parallel also opened a new office in Cardiff to expand our reach further. Opening these offices across the UK is an important part of our growth strategy and allows us to better serve our customers across the UK. But we’re not stopping there – our Parallel HQ will be moving into a new space in November, allowing us to grow the team further and bring our operations and offices together under one roof.
Another area that has become increasingly important to us is supporting the community. This year we’ve had the privilege of supporting The Muscle Help Foundation with their Muscle Dreams initiative, which has seen the development of our Managed Print For Muscle Dreams programme. This donates a percentage of every MPS contract to this incredible cause that provides experiences for children with muscular dystrophy. We’ve also sponsored numerous sports teams, including Evergreen FC, a young boxer, a tennis club and two gymnastics clubs. Additionally, we’ve made a donation to fund a place for a young musician at a specialised music school to enable a young person to pursue their dreams. To top it all off we are about to announce that we have become a Regional Partner of Watford Football Club which we are really excited about!
Our support for the YMCA Leicestershire has also been a highlight. We participated in their Big Sleep Out and sponsored their charity golf day, contributing to their mission of supporting vulnerable individuals in the community. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see the impact of our contributions and to be part of something that makes a real difference.
Another exciting development is the upcoming launch of Parallel Logistics this autumn. This new branch of the company comes off the back of realising just how effective our deployments of Managed Print Services have been. We’re taking that expertise and offering it to the wider market, ensuring more businesses can benefit from our approach.
Sustainability has always been a core value for us, and this year, we’ve continued to make strides in this area through our partnership with PrintReleaf. I’m proud to say that our customers have reforested over 35 million printed pages, resulting in 4,249 trees being planted in forests worldwide. This initiative is a perfect example of how we can make a positive impact on the environment whilst delivering our best-in-class Managed Print Services.
Growth has been a consistent theme for us. Over the past year, we’ve doubled the number of machines in the field, added new customers to our MPS contracts, and expanded our team in technical services and sales. We’re also looking forward to bringing on a new Sales Director by the end of the year, which will further strengthen our leadership team.
Within the wider market, we’ve noticed that the remote working born during COVID is now starting to reverse with the return of staff to offices. We’ve seen print volumes rise once again, proving that the market is always evolving. It’s an exciting time to be in this industry, and we’re ready to embrace whatever comes next.
As we get ready for our fourth-anniversary party in August, where the entire team will gather to celebrate our journey, I can’t help but feel incredibly proud. Our staff have been the backbone of this business, helping to build it from the ground up. The success we’re experiencing today is a direct result of their hard work, passion, and commitment.
Looking ahead, we have ambitious growth plans, including potential acquisitions that will further solidify our position in the market. Our progress has been remarkable for a business that started in the middle of a global pandemic.
As we celebrate this milestone, I want to thank our incredible team, our loyal clients, and our supportive partners. Here’s to four years of success and to many more years of growth and innovation ahead!”
