Gateshead’s SOS Group wins £1m contract on NEPA framework
SOS Group, based in Gateshead, has partnered with Epson to be appointed to the NEPA framework.
The NEPA agreement is designed to maximise third-party expenditure within the higher education sector, ensuring SOS Group is compliant in providing print equipment and management solutions.
This is not only for universities and higher educational institutions, but also publicly funded primary and secondary schools, further education, and the broader public sector.
The company, which specialises in copy, print, and scan solutions, is the only Epson NEPA contracted provider in the North East.
George Young, a director at SOS Group, said: “We’re proud to have been chosen by Epson as their NEPA partner for this region.
“To achieve the NEPA approved supplier status has required the fulfilment of a very comprehensive set of service and quality criteria both for us and Epson.
“It recognises the range of print services required and the distinct needs of user groups within higher education, as well as the commitment to deliver efficiencies and value for money for students, government, and the wider public.”
The SOS Group team is fully Epson trained and accredited, allowing clients to achieve significant environmental, productivity, and financial benefits by replacing their printers and photocopiers with heat-free business inkjet devices.
Epson’s heat-free technology offers significant cost-saving and environmental benefits by consuming dramatically less energy than equivalent laser printers, using fewer consumables, producing lower CO2 emissions, and requiring less intervention from engineers.
Mr Young added: “Working with Epson, we’re looking forward to playing our part nationally and improving services within the education sector and wider public sector, helping to reduce costs and inefficiencies.
“Securing the contract is not only testament to the strength of our company credentials, but also our quality of service and our genuine understanding of our customers’ business needs.”
The NEPA contract is anticipated to run until 2029 and was designed with input from the University Print Managers Association, and experts from members and consortia, ensuring it meets members’ print requirements and their strategic planning needs.
Mr Young said: “It has been a hugely positive few months for all of us at SOS Group.
“In addition to the NEPA contract win, we successfully transitioned our ISO 27001 accreditation to 27001:2022, updating the highly prized IT security accreditation we first attained in 2020 and reflecting an increased focus on countering cyber threats.
“In successfully achieving and maintaining this accreditation, we’re clearly demonstrating how securely we treat client data and information, and our expertise to support clients to do the same.
“Cyber security is one of the biggest threats to every business in today’s world, including the education sector, and the move to remote working and change in practice by many organisations has heightened risks still further.”
SOS Group, established in 2002 on the Team Valley, has a client base that includes multinationals and helps deliver internationally significant sporting and political events.