Networking vendor HP ProCurve has unveiled Pervasive Networks as its first UK ‘Services Advantage’ partner.

Pervasive is already one of just two top-level ProCurve Elite partners in the UK, alongside ADA Networks. The new certification will make it the only UK reseller authorised to provide comprehensive pre- and post-sales support to the vendor’s customer base.

Darryl Brick, who was appointed as ProCurve's UK & Ireland country manager in November, said the programme was part of a wider effort to move skilled partners “up the food chain”.

He told CRN: “As we go along we are going to need highly-skilled and empowered solutions partners.

“Pervasive could provide pre- and post-sales before but only to a limited degree and was backing a lot off into HP. This programme enables it to be more empowered. It will get a wide range of assistance, including 24 by 7 support, advanced training and exclusive online access to a range of tools.”

Brick said he would also draw on his previous role as HP’s enterprise server and storage channel sales manager to extend ProCurve’s partner base.

“Immediately I can see the large enterprise-class partners are a developing area we need to take a closer look at because they are selling into the data centre and high-end solutions space,” he said.

“In my first week in the new job I had seven companies call me to say: ‘when you understand what’s happening, we need to talk’. There is a pent up demand and people have never really understood why HP has never got bigger on ProCurve.”

Further reading:

HP ProCurve fills UK vacancy

Weatherall leaves HP ProCurve