How does a small business stay modern, agile, and secure in a fast-changing digital world?
For Barconwood, a signage and point-of-sale display provider, the answer lies in their 12-year partnership with ctm. From transitioning to cloud systems to solving day-to-day technical challenges, ctm’s proactive support has been a key part of Barconwood’s success.
As Barconwood gears up for leadership changes, Director Caroline Boyden explains how ctm’s flexible, personalised, and budget-conscious approach has helped the company thrive and laid a strong foundation for the future.
"ctm are excellent — I can’t fault them. We trust them completely to keep us modern, secure, and up to date in our ability to meet our clients’ needs. They are hugely better than other IT partners we’ve worked with.” Caroline Boydon, Director
Before ctm, Barconwood struggled with unreliable IT support. As Caroline explains:
“Our previous IT support was hard to reach and didn’t resolve issues properly. I knew more than they did, so I ended up troubleshooting myself — even minor things like printer problems. It took up a lot of my time.” Caroline Boydon, Director
That changed when ctm came on board. Caroline was clear about what she needed: an IT partner to handle everyday operations and allow her to focus on more critical business tasks.
“From our first meeting, Rupert, ctm’s Managing Director, instilled me with confidence they could deliver,” Caroline recalls. “So we gave them a trial — and we’ve never looked back.”
Initially brought in to provide helpdesk support, ctm quickly became the go-to for all things IT at Barconwood, modernising their IT infrastructure and ensuring robust cybersecurity.
A key benefit of working with ctm is their proactive approach and ability to see the bigger picture, regularly suggesting solutions to keep Barconwood’s systems up-to-date and resilient.
“As technology evolves, ctm always take the initiative to discuss the next upgrade and how best to implement it for us. They spend time understanding our needs and budget, planning for the future, and staying on top of updates and equipment.” Caroline Boydon, Director
One major milestone was the shift from onsite servers to a fully cloud-managed system. This allows more flexible staff working arrangements while ensuring continued operational efficiency.
“Moving to the cloud has had a huge impact on our flexibility and scalability,” says Caroline. “ctm put everything in place so we could work remotely, seamlessly.”
More recently, ctm upgraded Barconwood’s security defences by installing Microsoft Intune. “Cybersecurity is so complex now that it’s hard to keep up,” Caroline reflects. “But ctm explained why we needed a more secure system and ensured it was affordable for us. Because we trust ctm, we were confident in accepting their recommendation.”
ctm consistently provides solutions that meet Barconwood’s specific needs. When Barconwood switched to Sage for their accounting system, ctm resolved server hosting issues, which was a challenge because Sage wasn't easily compatible with typical cloud setups.
"ctm worked through the problem extensively to find a solution. They also integrated our CRM with Sage, collaborating with both of our third-party software partners to ensure everything worked together," Caroline recalls.
Barconwood has stayed with ctm for over a decade thanks to the trust and transparency that define their partnership. Caroline values the continuity within the ctm team and their customer-focused approach.
“ctm have earned our trust by always explaining things clearly, listening to our needs, and delivering every time. In 12 years, I’ve never had cause to doubt them.” Caroline Boydon, Director
The team’s accessibility and responsiveness have also been key. "The whole team is very easy to contact, including Rupert. I like that we’ve worked with some members for years — they’re not only good at their jobs but also cheerful and polite."
Tom Stedman, Barconwood’s Account Manager, highlights ctm’s efficiency and ability to simplify technical jargon:
“Whenever you call ctm with an issue, they always sort it very quickly and efficiently. You never have to chase them. And they’re very good at explaining technical things in idiot-proof terms.” Tom Stedman, Account Manager
As Barconwood’s leadership team prepares to pass the baton to the next generation, ctm’s ongoing support ensures the business is set up for long-term success.
“ctm will play an important role as we transition to new leadership. They know everything about how our business operates — they understand our needs, our idiosyncrasies, and exactly how to help us.” Caroline Boydon, Director
Barconwood’s 12-year partnership with ctm is a testament to the value of a long-term relationship built on trust, innovation, and continuity. Through proactive and tailored support, ctm has guided Barconwood through IT challenges, implemented modern solutions, and ensured their business remains secure and flexible.
“I absolutely recommend ctm without hesitation. They’re the best IT company I’ve ever worked with.” Caroline Boydon, Director
