Duncan Laker

Based in Stroud, now with a team of 20, Welcome Telecom has an outcome-focused approach to providing telecoms solutions for businesses, with the minimum of hassle. They are particularly good at connecting multisite businesses, and setting up business continuity systems. Welcome Telecom has acquired some household-name clients, and performs better than far larger competitors! MD Duncan Laker is also justifi ably proud of their customer service, believing “all customers are lovely”, and all deserve the same touch.

Duncan attended as a delegate to Sterling’s business show in Bristol with a view to meeting people and possibly developing working partnerships.

Now a Sterling member, he not only exhibits but also sponsors the shows. He has been impressed with how Sterling’s team “really think about what people want to get out of it, and make it happen. That’s why it works for me.” As everything is giving him “a decent ROI”, Welcome Telecom has now hosted a golf event which was Powered by Sterling. As he puts it, “with Sterling you meet serious people.”

It was at that fi rst show, in a speed networking session, that Duncan met Liam Pearce, an IT expert. Rapidly realising the mutual benefi ts of their services, Liam is now a partner business, referring people to Duncan for their telecoms needs. The referrals work the other way too! Other similar partnerships have also developed. Such partnerships enable Welcome Telecom to focus on their core business.

Summing up Sterling, Duncan declares “it proves that 2 + 2 = 5, or even more!”

Liam Pearce

Liam Pearce’s IT business is growing, especially since 2012 when he set up as Pearce IT; the clients he supports are growing too! With 20 years’ experience in IT, he still gets a kick out of seeing his solutions really benefi t clients, such as when the online backup system kicked in to rescue a company after a calamity, getting them working again within 24 hours.

Liam joined Sterling’s Gloucester group, looking to increase brand awareness and be accessible to people, and loves the “ethos” of Sterling. Members are from businesses that “want to grow and want to engage” and Sterling helps them do this. Liam’s “longest lasting contacts and referrals are made from introductionsthrough Sterling members”.

Liam’s special concerns are business continuity systems and connecting multisite operations, just like Duncan Laker of Welcome Telecom. They met via speed networking at a Bristol Sterling business show, fi nding their businesses dovetailed. Now Liam refers those of his clients that need VOIP to Duncan, and also looks after Welcome Telecom’s own IT requirements as well as those of its clients.

In Liam’s view, being a member of Sterling is “something to be proud of, something prestigious, …almost like an accreditation”.

“ They really think about what people want to get out of it, and make it happen. That’s why it works for me.”

“ Everything I do with Sterling gives me a decent ROI.” Duncan Laker

“ I love the ethos of Sterling.” Liam Pearce

Duncan Laker now a member, not only exhibits but also sponsors shows...

Liam PearcePearce ITwww.pearceit.co.uk Sterling Network Groups’ memberand Sterling Business Shows’ exhibitor

“Sterling members are businesses that want to grow and want to engage. Sterling is welcoming, especially to businesses new to the area.”

Duncan Laker Welcome Telecomwww.welcometelecom.co.ukSterling Network Groups’ member, Sterling Business Shows’ exhibitor and sponsor

“I’d really given up on exhibiting before I discovered Sterling.”

“ ...with Sterling you meet serious people.” Duncan Laker