Cooper Parry teams up with Microsoft on new offer

A business advisory firm has teamed up with a global IT giant to help companies run their day-to-day processes and operations more efficiently – for a £1.

Cooper Parry, is working alongside Microsoft to help businesses and organisations access and implement Microsoft Dynamics NAV – an ERP software.

The software, used by thousands of businesses across the world, helps companies to integrate its finance, manufacturing, logistics, customer relationship management and supply chain systems.

Cooper Parry is now selling the licences for £1 for 3 users to all new customers as part of a winter campaign it is promoting with Microsoft. The offer, which finishes on 23 December, aims to help businesses get started with Microsoft Dynamics NAV, and is open to any organisation that has not previously purchased it.

Andrew Geer, Partner at Cooper Parry IT Solutions, said: “This promotion has been designed to help businesses run their processes more efficiently through the use of technology.

“This software will equip companies with a complete system to help them in the day-to-day operations of the business.

“Teaming up with Microsoft is part of our aim to help clients align their IT strategy with business objectives, resulting in improved business performance and a fast return on their IT investment.”

A few months ago, Cooper Parry strengthened its IT offering after it entered the Microsoft Top Ten UK Dynamics NAV Partner list - the only business advisory firm to have made the list.

It recently won its largest IT contract yet with one of the UK's biggest haulage firms.

The deal with Pall-Ex,will see Cooper Parry run the operations and supply chain of the firm's haulage network via the internet.

Pall-Ex said the new system was crucial to the long-term success of Pall-Ex in UK and Europe and would help improve customer service, transport management and extend its network.

Cooper Parry teams go the distance

COLLEAGUES AT BUSINESS ADVISERS Cooper Parry took part in a six week Pedometer challenge as part of the firm's HR led wellbeing programme.

The firm gave out free pedometers and invited teams of five to take on a challenge to clock up enough cumulative mileage to reach the South of France before the end of the six week period.

Eighteen teams took part across their three offices in the region and progress was plotted on Google maps each week.

The winning team– ‘Steptacular’ – were from the Nottingham office and walked 1,598.52 miles between them over six weeks which took them into Italy, beating their nearest rivals from the Leicester office, ‘Phil’s four foxes’ by 169.55 miles.

Team Captain, Carl Olpin said “We were fully committed to the task right from the start – it was good fun.”

Fellow team mate, Jennifer Manning-Ohren said, "We've shared a lot of banter along the way; it’s amazing how far you can get under your own steam and when there’s office pride at stake!”

They reached their weekly step total by teaming up after work at various locations across the county using head torches and reflective gear. They also walked in to work and arranged week-end walks.

Carl Olpin, Rob Brighton, Joanne Straw, Katie Cuthbert and Jennifer Manning-Ohren made up the winning team.

Jeremy Bowler, Chief Executive at the firm said, "We set this challenge as part of our 'wellbeing' programme. It has been by far the most successful internal event we have staged. It is great to see teams working together, not just in the workplace, but outside of that too. This team led most weeks and were able to achieve consistency of form, which made the difference.”

The winning team members were each given £50 worth of vouchers for their efforts.

Cooper Parry has been working hard to promote a healthy workplace and launched a wellbeing programme twelve months ago.

To date, the initiative has included, intranet and blogs focusing on all aspects of wellbeing, including advice on nutrition and stress management together with fitness tests. The firm invited a team from New Balance to visit their offices to do gait testing and give advice on running and the use of correct footwear. The firm also encouraged participation with and free sessions for British Military Fitness Groups. The firmed arranged for local masseurs to visit each office and gave free massage and relaxation sessions and practical advice on how to de-stress in the workplace. They have also made available a selection of fruit which has been given out to all team members at least once a month. They also implemented the firm’s Wednesday Walks – where team members were encouraged to leave their desks and do a planned walk at each office location at Wednesday lunchtimes.

Cooper Parry is a leading employer in the region, known for its emphasis on being active in the community, promoting the benefits of adopting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle in combination with helping the environment. They organise two corporate relays each year in Nottingham and Derby.