• Manor 1st Racketball Team
• Manor 1st Squash Team – Nottinghamshire League
• Manor 1st Squash Team – Derbyshire League

Keen sports enthusiasts Todd McQuilkin and James Healey, from Air-IT, both play for the Manor men’s 1st Racketball team.

Manor 1st Racketball Team

The new sponsorship deal will see Air-IT’s logo feature prominently on all team shirts. The deal also includes a large 10 foot advertising banner in partnership with the Manor Club and England Squash and Racketball Association. The advertising banner promotes Air-IT’s services in conjunction with racket sports and is located in the Club foyer behind the main championship courts.

Additionally, Air-IT has sponsored the development of a new Club website, which is currently being designed by our partner Purpose Media, ready for launch in February.

Advertising Banner

Air-IT are also part of the organising committee and main sponsor of a Racketball competition being held during September.

The Air-IT Midland Open Racketball championship will take place at Manor Club on Saturday 8th September 2012. This will be a one day graded competition open to a range of standards and will include categories for Men’s A, Men’s B, Women’s, Over 40s, Over 50s.

The competition will be sanctioned by England Squash and Racketball allowing participants to claim ranking points towards their National UK racketball ranking. There will be a range of prizes on offer with a total cash prize fund of £2,000. Please watch this space for further details as they become available.

Air-IT has been closely associated with Squash and Racketball in the Midlands for many years. We are currently in the final year of a 3 year sponsorship deal with the Nottinghamshire Squash Rackets Association. This includes sponsorship of the Nottinghamshire Squash League, the prestigious County Cup and a results-based web site.

Last year we sponsored the UK-Racketball Series held at the Manor Club during April and have previously sponsored the David Lloyd Aspley Squash Team.

Ever felt frustrated when your computer is running slow?  Over time your computer’s performance can deteriorate and regular maintenance is necessary to keep it running at its best.

The following tips will help address this and will enable you to improve your PC’s speed and overall performance.

1: Remove Files Which Are No Longer Needed

Every time you browse the Internet or otherwise use your computer, temporary files are generated. They are usually only needed once but in most cases they don’t disappear on their own. Instead, they can gather over time and affect your computer’s performance.

While it is possible to remove these files individually, it’s much easier and quicker to use Windows inbuilt Disk Cleanup tool to remove these files.

You can find Disk Cleanup in the Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup.

Try to do this regularly to keep your computer’s disk drive clean.

2: Uninstall Unnecessary Programs

By getting into the habit of uninstalling unused and unneeded programs, you can keep your computer a lot less cluttered. In turn, your PC’s performance could improve.

You can uninstall a program from your computer in this way by using its Add/Remove Programs feature for Windows XP or the Programs and Features in Windows Vista/7, both are found in the Control Panel.

3: Empty the Recycle Bin

When you click “delete” on a file, it doesn’t go away for good. Instead, it stays in the Recycle Bin. As items pile up in the Recycle Bin, your computers performance can be affected.

You can choose to empty the Recycle Bin by Right Clicking on the Icon on the Desktop and then Choose the Empty Recycle Bin option. This small but important task can make a huge difference.

4: Perform a Disk Defragmentation

Windows can be inefficient when it comes to storing files. It usually splits them up, and stores them into whatever hard drive space is available. The more spaced apart the pieces of a file are, the harder your computer has to work to make them run.

The Windows Disk Defragmentation system tune-up utility works to piece all of those files back together again. You can set it up to run automatically, or run it manually when you require. By doing so, you’ll be able to keep your computer running at its optimum.

To run Disk Defragmenter go into the Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter.

When it comes to keeping your computer running at its best, regular maintenance is the best way to go.

By using the basic system tune-up tools listed above, you should be able to keep it running at its optimum level for a lot longer. Even if your computer has been performing slowly for some time, by performing these tasks you should see a marked improvement.

The aim of the survey was to evaluate the effectiveness of our Help Desk services in order to identify any areas where we may improve future service levels.

All participants of the survey were entered into a prize draw for a Sony Cyber-shot digital camera. We are pleased to announce that the lucky winner was James Luxton, Operations Manager at Planet Payroll.

Kevin Birch, Air-IT Account Manager for Planet Payroll presented James with his prize at our Head Office, in Nottingham, earlier this month.

Left to right – Kevin Birch, Account Manager Air-IT and James Luxton, Operations Manager, Planet Payroll.

Planet Payroll has been a valued client of Air-IT’s for a number of years now. As a BACS approved bureau the company has over 20 years of experience in providing payroll services to blue chip clients and smaller businesses wishing to outsource their payroll needs. For further information about Planet Payroll please visit their website.

The results from the Help Desk survey have been extremely positive. Almost all clients were satisfied with our current response and resolution times (95% & 94%) and their overall experience of using the Air-IT Help Desk (95.5%). Everybody that took part in the survey was willing to recommend our services, which further indicates that we are meeting and exceeding current needs.

The survey did highlight some key areas for improvement which we are currently in the process of implementing.

In order to make sure that we deliver a consistently high quality IT support service we are continuously monitoring and evaluating our services. The recent Help Desk survey has been a part of this process and will be used as a benchmark for future improvements.

Once again congratulations to James Luxton at Planet Payroll and thank you to all clients that participated in the survey.

We look forward to working with you all during 2012.

Christmas and New Year Opening Times 2011/12

Our opening times during the festive period are as follows:

Dedicated Help Desk

Our Help Desk is manned from 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday and should be used as your first point of contact when reporting any daily IT support issues.

Help Desk 0845 868 5434

Client Access Portal

Support requests can also be submitted directly to the Air-IT Help Desk using our new electronic ticketing system via the Client Access Portal. If you do not have logon details for the new Client Access Portal and would like an account setting up, then please contact our Help Desk.

Client Portal Logon

Should you encounter any critical support issues during the festive break then please contact the Help Desk or submit requests using the Client Portal in the normal manner. All support calls will be monitored whilst we are closed and any emergencies will be dealt with accordingly.

Our mission statement hasn’t changed since the day our company was formed, yes some of the wording may have been tweaked but in essence it is still the same. It is extremely important to all our staff and is at the heart of our company ethos.

In today’s competitive market businesses demand that their IT systems are working 24/7 and without this they would not survive. Over the last 6 years we have been providing IT support services that I truly believe are unmatched in Nottingham and the surrounding areas. Our record speaks for itself “we haven’t lost a single client to a competitor in the last 5 years”

This is a fact that we are all very proud of and every day we remind ourselves of this to make sure that we do not become complacent.  In today’s economic climate businesses are constantly looking to reduce their costs and IT is always high on the agenda. So we have to satisfy their needs by offering competitive pricing for our hardware and IT solutions and provide a quality service with sound advice; I truly believe that we achieve this.

All our staff are extremely honest and reliable and we are continually working on improving our communication with clients. We are not perfect and if we do make a mistake then we will always correct it and put procedures in place to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Over the last year we have invested heavily in our business management software which has automated our processes, making us more efficient and responsive to client needs. Our clients expect us to invest in our service offering, as we are their IT department.

Proactive support with industry leading monitoring technology, automated ticketing system, client portal, and a dedicated UK Help Desk with technicians that fully understand our clients network are all standard in our support packages.

I believe in our people and never lose site of the fact that without them we would not have got where we are today. We spend most of our waking life at work and it’s important that we enjoy what we do. We are all good friends and regularly take part in company social activities. This is important to us and this deep understanding on the way we want to work is portrayed throughout the company and to all our clients.

Our Account technicians have been with some of our clients since the day they came on board. They not only understand their IT infrastructure but also fully appreciate their company values and understand how they like to operate. Without fail our team takes great pride in knowing that the relationships they have built up over the years has played a major role in our client retention and customer satisfaction.

It doesn’t end there and without fail our team always treat our client’s network as if it were their own. They fully understand the importance that IT plays in helping a modern day business operate more efficiently. When things go wrong, which they can do in IT, they will give whatever time is necessary to make sure our clients have minimal disruption and maximum up-time. Over the years I have lost count the number of times when in an emergency our team have worked throughout the night to make sure that our client is up and running for the next day’s business.

Our industry is fast moving and it is almost impossible for a business to keep up to speed with the continual advances in technology. That is why we make sure that all our technicians have the latest exams and certifications. As a business we are continually updating our own knowledge base by taking part in industry discussions, attending Microsoft meetings and visiting technology shows. We use this knowledge to help our clients stay at the forefront of Microsoft technologies making sure that their IT works for them to improve their efficiency, reduce costs and increase productivity. We believe we are in for the long haul and strive to build long lasting partnerships with our clients and total honesty is paramount in helping us achieve this goal.

I’m very proud of what we have achieved since our company was formed. We have challenging times ahead that’s for sure, however, I truly believe that by working in close partnership with each other we will get through these difficult times together.

On that note I’ll finish off and hope that by reading this you will have got a better understanding of Air-IT, our values and our people. But don’t leave it there, if you think we could be the IT partner you are looking for, then please give me a call. Let us come over for a chat or better still, visit our offices, meet the team and come and see how we operate.

Our Mission Statement

“Our goal is to bridge the gap between our clients and their ICT needs. We offer the key to successful ICT solutions and treat our client’s network as if it were our own.

We aim to provide clients with stable, secure and reliable ICT solutions.

Excellent communications and total honesty are paramount in helping us achieve this goal.”

This will provide clients with their own secure web portal and puts a wealth of information at their fingertips allowing them to:

• Create, submit and review the progress of support requests/tickets.
• Become part of a collaborative companywide project team.
• Search our extensive knowledgebase.
• Access our remote support portal

Electronic Ticketing System

Our new electronic ticketing system will enable clients to submit support requests directly to the Air-IT Help Desk via the client portal.

When a client submits a support ticket, it goes directly into our Service Management system, where we track and schedule all of their work. Clients will then be able to log in to their portal account at any time and find up-to-the-minute information about the progress of their support requests.

Alternatively, clients can contact our dedicated Help Desk directly by telephoning our support line, by email or by using our remote support portal and instant chat software for immediate connection to a technician. In such cases our Help Desk team will automatically log their support ticket which they will be able to review and monitor through their portal account.

Our new client portal and electronic ticketing system will enable us to improve our service levels by operating more efficiently and becoming more responsive to our clients support needs.

A valuable addition to the team, Ben will be working alongside our other technicians providing on-site support to our clients in the field.

Ben has previously spent 5 years in the RAF, as an Aerospace Systems Operator, working on a wide range of computer systems used for tracking aircraft and flight safety.  During his time in the British Forces Ben completed two operational tours of Afghanistan – Big Respect!

With a strong background in the technology sector Ben has accomplished a range of industry recognised qualifications. He has recently completed his Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist (MCTS) qualification in Windows Server 2008 and is currently studying towards his Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) to become a fully certified IT support professional.

A keen sportsman and adventure sports enthusiast, in particular Skiing, Ben is also a qualified amateur boxing official. An ardent supporter of Nottingham Forest, Ben also joins our increasing number of disillusioned fans here at Air-IT.

We would like to wish Ben every success in his new position and welcome him on-board as a valued member of our expanding Air-IT support team.

The exhibition is one of the biggest of its kind in the region and attracted over 125 exhibitors from a diverse range of business to business products and services providers.

Air-IT attended last year’s exhibition at the EMCC, in Nottingham which provided a fantastic opportunity to network and showcase our IT support services to a large range of businesses within the region.

This years’ exhibition was opened by the Lord Mayor of Derby and was sponsored by the Federation of Small Businesses. During the event there was a series of practical business related seminars carried out throughout the day. There was also a Start-up East Midlands Competition which had a 1st prize of up to £10,000 of combined cash, products and services.

The exhibition proved a great success for Air-IT and we would like to thank everyone who visited our stand and we hope to see you all againat any future events we attend.

Josh has passed his essentials exam which is the first part of his Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) A+ certification, an industry standard qualification which validates the skills and knowledge necessary for a career as an IT support technician.

Josh will be completing his practical assessment in the coming weeks to achieve his full CompTIA A+ certification. The qualification will prove Josh’s competence in areas such as installation, preventative maintenance, networking, security and troubleshooting.

Jake has completed his CompTIA Network+ certification, adding to his previous CompTIA A+ qualification achieved earlier this year.

The CompTIA Network+ certification is designed to test the competencies of network technicians. The qualification has proved Jake’s skills and knowledge in networking technologies including: network design, hardware setup, configuration, installation, troubleshooting, security and management.

The qualification has expanded Jake’s technical skill set and understanding of networking infrastructure and will enable him to successfully support clients should they encounter any problems with their networks.

Jake is entering the final months of his fast track Microsoft Advanced IT Apprenticeship Scheme. He is currently studying to complete his Windows 7 configuration exam and will become a Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist (MCTS) before moving onto to the final set of exams to become a fully certified MCITP.

1. Utilise full screen capabilities.

This works great for viewing photos at their maximum size in Windows Explorer, utilising screen space which is usually filled by the toolbars at the top of the screen and the taskbar at the bottom.

To do this, Open the photo you wish to view in Windows Explorer. In Windows 7 and Windows XP, click the F11 key at the top of your keyboard.

The photo will enlarge to its maximum size and the title bar and taskbar will become hidden. To undo full-screen mode and return the window to its normal size and view, press the Esc (Escape) key at the top of your keyboard.

2. Pin a program or items to the Windows 7 taskbar

In Windows 7, you can pin shortcuts for favorite or frequently used programs, folders, and websites to the Jump Lists for each of those programs to the taskbar.

To pin a program shortcut to the taskbar, do one of the following:

• If the program is already running, right-click the program’s button on the taskbar to open the program’s Jump List, and then click Pin this program to taskbar.
• If the program isn’t running, you can pin it to the taskbar by clicking Start, find the program’s icon, right-click the icon, and then click Pin to Taskbar.
• You can also pin a program by dragging the program’s shortcut from the desktop or Start menu to the taskbar.

3. Customise the Quick Launch Bar in Windows XP

In Windows XP, the customisable Quick Launch Bar also gives you convenient shortcuts to your favorite programs, folders, and files.

If the Quick Launch Bar isn’t already visible to the right of the Start button , you’ll need to turn it on. To do that, right-click an open area of the taskbar. Hover your mouse pointer over Toolbars, then click Quick Launch. The Quick Launch Bar appears on your taskbar.

To add a program shortcut to the Quick Launch Bar, click the Start button, click All Programs, then click and drag the application you want to the Quick Launch Bar. Release the mouse button and the application’s icon appears in the Quick Launch Bar.

To add a folder or file shortcut to the Quick Launch Bar, open Windows Explorer, navigate to the folder, subfolder, or individual file you want, click and drag the folder or file you want to the Quick Launch Bar. Release the mouse button and the icon for the folder or file appears in the Quick Launch Bar.

To remove a shortcut from the Quick Launch Bar, right-click on it, click Delete, and then click Yes when asked if you’re sure you want to delete the shortcut. Note: Although the shortcut is removed from the Quick Launch Bar, the actual application, folder, or file has not been deleted from your computer.

4. Arrange windows on your desktop

In Windows, you can arrange windows side by side, which can be especially helpful when comparing two documents or when moving files from one place to another.

Windows 7 

1. Drag the title bar of a window to the left or right side of the screen until an outline of the expanded window appears.
2. Release the mouse to expand the window.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with another window to arrange the windows side by side.

To return a window to its original size click the Maximise button in the window’s title bar and the window expands to full size.

Windows Vista and Windows XP

In Windows Vista and Windows XP, it’s easy to display any two (or more) windows side by side on the desktop, all equally sized.

• Press and hold the Ctrl and click two or more of the window buttons on the taskbar that you want to open.
• Release the Ctrl key, right-click, and then do one of the following:
• Windows Vista users, click Show Windows Side by Side.
• Windows XP, click Tile Vertically

5. Organise your files into groups

Windows offers a variety of options for organizing folders and files in the ways that work best for you.

Windows 7

The easiest and most effective way to organize files in Windows 7 is to use file arrangements in your libraries.

You can arrange files in the Music library by artist if you’re looking for an album or song by a particular band etc.

To arrange a library do the following;

• In the taskbar, click the Windows Explorer button
• In the navigation pane (the left pane), click a library (such as Music).
• In the library pane (above the file list), click the Arrange by menu, and then choose a property. In the Music library for example, you can choose Artist to quickly arrange your music collection by artist.

Windows Vista

Open a folder that contains several different subfolders/file types. Right-click on an empty space on the window, point to Group By, and then click your grouping choice.

Windows XP

Open a folder that contains several different subfolders/file types. Right-click any empty space on the window, point to Arrange Icons By, and then click Show in Groups.