In early 2014 we were awarded the opportunity to work with the London Irish Rugby Club. We were required to implement an IT infrastructure to support the club’s purpose-built facilities at their new headquarters and training ground in Hazelwood, Sunbury.
State-of-the-art IT solutions were required to underpin the rugby team’s brand new training facility, and to keep pace with the complex project of re-housing both the amateur and professional London Irish clubs.
The London Irish team demanded high-end technology for performance monitoring and improvement. Meanwhile, the offices needed the right infrastructure and tools to enable productivity, efficiency and collaboration for the massive job of coordinating professional and amateur players, coaches and supporters.
Richard Watton, Operations Manager at London Irish explains:
We needed an IT provider that really understood our needs, our culture and our ambitions. Not only that, Hazelwood was a fast-paced and complex project – we were looking for a partner that would be agile enough to meet the inevitable changes to specification and timing and Leading Edge have provided that.
The new infrastructure involved the design and installation of specialised Wi-Fi configuration as well as new cabling solutions to support the facility’s network. We also moved the 60 or so staff running the club from primarily desk-bound machines and systems to new hardware. This involved transferring all data to a cloud-based environment using key Microsoft tools.
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The final solution met and exceeded the clients’ expectations. The unified communications system ensures staff can work efficiently between the training facility or at the rugby club’s ground in Reading’s Madjeski Stadium, and can access key information while on the move. Our IT infrastructure has provided a streamlined and progressive working environment as well as peace of mind to the London Irish team.
When asked to explain the difference the new IT infrastructure has made to London Irish, Richard explains;
The challenge is no longer about how to repair, but how to maximise. We know we’ve got room to grow with a stable platform for the future.
We consider ourselves fortunate to have LeadingEdge as part of the team. Why? Because, like us, they know what they’re doing and take pride in what they deliver.
With this project they took time to get into the detail, they listened and understood the ambition. Their strategic approach enables them to consistently articulate the benefits, constraints and implications so that our decision making is properly informed.
We know we can trust LeadingEdge to give us what we actually need, rather than use it as an opportunity to sell and charge. I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.
