Scotland Office Minister says Cloud Computing Has Key Role in Economic Recovery on Visit to iomart

The cloud computing sector has a key part to play in helping Scotland’s economy into recovery by creating employment and giving companies a competitive and cost-effective edge, the Scotland Office Minister David Mundell said today.

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Scotland Office Minister David Mundell MP visits iomart Group plc headquarters (Photo Business Wire)

He was on a visit to award-winning iomart Group plc in Glasgow, one of Europe and the UK’s leading cloud companies, where he learned more about the firm’s role in developing cloud services to help customers handle their data and online presence.

The UK Government is committed to Cloud computing, believing it has brought about a step change in the economics and sustainability of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The cross-government G-Cloud programme is looking at ways to deliver fundamental changes in the way the public sector procures and operates ICT. iomart was accredited as a preferred supplier to the G-Cloud service earlier in 2013.

In the wider UK economy, the UK Government estimates the IT sector contributes around £58bn to the country’s GVA.

David Mundell said: "In the global race for growth, business and government need every competitive advantage possible. We need a strong, thriving and innovative ICT sector across the UK and here in Scotland. Technologies such as cloud computing can have a real impact on competitiveness, creating new ways to deliver services and collaborate as well as reducing costs. iomart is a great example of a company leading the way and providing its clients with the tools they need to get ahead in business.”

Angus MacSween, CEO of iomart Group plc, said: "iomart gets very little government business because of the many hurdles that are put in the way of companies our size so it will be interesting to see whether being part of G Cloud changes that. Ministers need to be more transparent about the process of winning and delivering IT services to the public sector and they need to act on their statements about investing in high speed broadband.”

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About iomart:

iomart Group plc (AIM:IOM) is one of the UK’s leading providers of managed hosting and cloud computing services, specialising in the delivery and management of mission-critical hosting services. It operates through subsidiaries: iomart Hosting, Melbourne Server Hosting, RapidSwitch, Easyspace and iomartcloud www.iomart.com

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