Andy Harrison

Current

• The only oneat my own business (Self-employed)

Past

• Business Development Manager at The National Computing Centre
• Software Sales at Gandlake

Education

• Burnley Grammar School

Recommended

2 people have recommended Andy

Connections

14 connections

Industry

Events Services

Andy Harrison’s Summary

I have held increasingly challenging IT sales-related positions since 1995, my career prior to that being of a much more technical nature, particularly software development and support. This technical grounding proved to be extremely useful in helping me to migrate to the commercial side of IT via Pre-Sales, after which I established myself in the more usual disciplines of Account Management, Business Development etc.

My former technical skills were honed on large ICL Mainframe systems which I used to my advantage to quickly establish a strong Government portfolio (Local and Central). I consolidated this experience and have since managed accounts across a wide variety of recognised verticals including Finance, Utility, Retail, Manufacturing and latterly IT Suppliers.

As a move to facilitate a more flexible way of working, I initially took up the challenge to bring some formal sales and marketing rigour to a number of small, privately owned companies.

I now enjoy something of an idyllic situation living in rural mid-Wales running a number of small projects of my own (rather than full-on career break) due to domestic issues demanding a temporary geographic relocation that made mainstream IT sales-related work logistically untenable.

Andy Harrison’s Specialties:

The ability to build and retain personable, working relationships. Tenacity. Attention to detail. A good sense of humour.

Andy Harrison’s Experience

• The only one

  my own business (Self-employed)

  (Self-Employed; Myself Only; Events Services industry)

  December 2004 — Present (4 years 1 month)

  Independent event organiser.
  
  Retained primarily by the MoD's Disposal Services Authority to help promote their work (see www.edisposals.com).
  
  Also developing a series of presentations for parents to explain how the use of technology affects the lives of their 11 to 16 year old children.

• Business Development Manager

  The National Computing Centre

  (Non-Profit; 201-500 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

  February 2002 — December 2004 (2 years 11 months)

  I was specifically invited back to NCC, having worked there once before, to establish and manage a new line of business: to attract vendors of IT products & services to become members of NCC.
  
  Starting from zero, I established cumulative recurring revenue of £100,000 per annum promoting an entirely new concept; that of NCC’s unique vendor independent position. Working in partnership with the vendor members, my role was to promote their though-leadership to the NCC membership and the wider UK IT industry generally. The role was a fine balance of new business development and existing account management.

• Software Sales

  Gandlake

  (Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Computer Software industry)

  November 1997 — February 2002 (4 years 4 months)

  I was brought in to establish a presence in the North of England for this privately owned software house to compliment their largely Southern based activities. I was expected to win new business accounts whilst maintaining and re-establishing relationships with otherwise "remote" customers.
  
  I contributed 15% of all new business software sales in my first year and 30% in the second and third years. I also helped recruit a local technical specialist to support the new northern-based sales activity.
  
  I regularly co-ordinated several projects at one time, from “initial encounter” through to close. I was required to attend clients' sites and to brief Gandlake Support & Development and other Sales & Marketing staff of client’s requirements.
  
  I represented Gandlake nationally at IT Manager and senior technical level, and was a regular speaker at national and international conferences and exhibitions.

Andy Harrison’s Education

• Burnley Grammar School

  Maths, Physics 1979 — 1981

Additional Information

Andy Harrison’s Groups:

•    NCC Alumni

Andy Harrison’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• new ventures
• expertise requests
• reference requests
• getting back in touch