As a not-for-profit providing great value, low-cost homes for the people of Cambridge, Hundred Houses depends on reliable technology to efficiently manage properties and support tenants. But by 2017, its IT setup was outdated, inflexible and poorly supported — slowing work and frustrating staff.
Since teaming up with ctm Information Technology, the organisation has modernised its IT from the ground up. ctm now manages its Microsoft 365 cloud environment and day-to-day IT support — giving Hundred Houses the flexibility, security and reliability it needs for staff to work smarter whether in the office, at home, or out and about.
”The impact of ctm’s services on our day-to-day business has been absolutely huge. It’s made us far more resilient.”Shaun Lindsay, ICT Manager
Before partnering with ctm, Hundred Houses’ IT setup was unreliable, restrictive and poorly supported, making it difficult for staff to work efficiently or resolve issues quickly.
“Previously, our IT systems were hosted in a third-party data centre, which was managed remotely — and very poorly”, says Shaun Lindsay, ICT Manager. “Staff were reluctant to call the support desk because they had no confidence in them.”
The impact was felt across the organisation. Downtime could last more than a day, housing officers couldn’t access systems while visiting tenants and managing data securely was a growing challenge.
“We were looking for a more reliable, responsive and future-proof service”, says Sean Kent, Executive Resources Director.
“As a sector, we’re now much more reliant on data and technology. We hold far more customer information and make increasingly data-driven decisions, so developing our services and keeping that data secure is really important to us.”Sean Kent, Executive Resources Director
When the old IT contract neared its end, Hundred Houses turned to ctm. From the outset, they were impressed by ctm’s blend of technical knowledge, straightforward advice and integrity. Priding themselves on delivering a personalised, trusted service to their tenants and staff, the Hundred Houses team valued finding the same ethos in ctm.
“Trust is crucial in any partnership, and we had a high degree of trust in ctm from the start because of their capability and integrity. Rupert had a pragmatic approach and was happy to say when something was more than we needed —that’s refreshing and built trust.”Sean Kent, Executive Resources Director
Once the partnership was established, ctm worked closely with Hundred Houses to plan and manage the migration from its legacy hosted environment to Microsoft 365, ensuring business continuity throughout.
“ctm have a very proactive, can-do approach,” says Sean. “They understood our needs really well and helped us explore options. The migration went about as smoothly as it could.”
The shift to Microsoft 365 gave Hundred Houses a cloud-first, flexible, secure environment that better supports staff working in the office, in the community or at home.
“It’s really important that our housing officers and surveyors can take technology out on the road because it makes them more efficient,” Sean says. “They don’t have to come back to the office to do the paperwork; they can do it on the go.”
Hybrid working has also become seamless thanks to reliable systems and quick, helpful support.
“The support ctm provides, whether people are working at home or in the office, has enabled us to offer a better working experience for everyone. Whenever someone has an issue, they are always very responsive.”Sean Kent, Executive Resources Director
A recent boardroom upgrade with dual 75-inch screens and a 360° camera has also improved hybrid meetings. “ctm were pivotal in delivering this,” says Shaun. “Our board are extremely happy with what we’ve managed to achieve together.”
ctm ensures Hundred Houses’ IT infrastructure stays up to date, secure and efficient, through hosting services, day-to-day support and targeted upgrade projects. The improvements have boosted both resilience and business continuity.
“In the past, our servers could be down for a day or two. Now we don’t experience downtime at all. Any problem is resolved very quickly. I’ve never worked with another company that works so fast,” Shaun says.
“ctm have restored our confidence in IT support. Our staff actually like calling them, because it feels like working with a partner, not just a supplier.”Shaun Lindsay, ICT Manager
As technology and threats evolved, Hundred Houses expanded its partnership with ctm to include cybersecurity support — now a key priority for their board.
“Our existing relationship with ctm gave us a lot of confidence in them as a cybersecurity provider” says Sean.
ctm have also supported Hundred Houses in maintaining Cyber Essentials certification. “The first year I did it on my own, the next year with ctm’s support, and this year I’ve let ctm drive it with my assistance,” Shaun says.
Both Sean and Shaun describe the relationship with ctm as more like an extension of their team than an external supplier — marked by openness, shared problem-solving and mutual respect.
“ctm have restored our confidence in IT support,” says Shaun. “Our staff actually like calling them, because it feels like working with a partner, not just a supplier.”
“I've worked in IT for 30 years, with many different organisations, both huge and small. And ctm have been exceptional in their service provision.”Shaun Lindsay, ICT Manager
Sean agrees. “All ctm staff have an integrity about them, and they deliver what they say they will. If something takes a little longer than expected, they’re proactive in explaining what’s happening and when I can expect an update.”
Ongoing dialogue with ctm’s executives also supports Sean at a strategic level. “I value having regular catchups with Rupert to talk about what’s happening in the marketplace, what ctm’s plans are, and align that with ours — to see where IT can help us accelerate our goals.”
“Trusting your suppliers and partners is utterly critical, and ctm have demonstrated their ability to earn that trust time and time again.”Shaun Lindsay, ICT Manager
Hundred Houses plans to keep evolving with ctm’s support — continuing to strengthen security, adapt to changing technology, and deliver personal, reliable service to tenants.
“I have no hesitation in recommending ctm. Their service is one of the best I've come across in any sector, but particularly in the IT sector — they are top-notch.”Sean Kent, Executive Resources Director
