ANS enhances UK business with AI initiatives & growth

ANS is advancing its mission to prepare UK businesses for an AI-driven future following a year of significant achievements and strategic developments.

The company reported a 7% revenue growth in 2024, underpinned by pivotal appointments and strategic initiatives. Among the key personnel changes, Kyle Hill was promoted to Chief Technology Officer, and Chris Huntingford was appointed as Director of AI. Hill brings his extensive expertise as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional for Business Applications, while Huntingford will lead AI initiatives to drive innovation within organisations.

Collaboration with Microsoft was a cornerstone of ANS's success in 2024, earning the title of Microsoft UK Services Partner of the Year. Additional accolades included the Prolific North Large Tech Company of the Year and Greater Manchester Tech Business of the Year, underscoring ANS's influence in the northern tech landscape.

ANS expanded its capabilities with several key partnerships, securing "Ready" status in the Microsoft Copilot Jumpstart Initiative. This allows ANS to offer enhanced workshops and improved access to customer funding, fostering innovation and productivity for businesses. Moreover, their Azure VMware Solution specialisation will assist customers in transitioning from on-premise to the public cloud, offering customised cloud infrastructure solutions.

Continuing its streak of excellence, ANS was named part of the prestigious Microsoft Inner Circle for Business Applications for the eighth year. This highlights their ongoing success with Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform solutions. Furthermore, their acceptance into the Microsoft Dynamics FastTrack Portfolio Partner programme places ANS among the 32 partners in EMEA, providing them with direct access to Microsoft resources and accelerating project delivery.

Beyond business achievements, ANS demonstrated a strong commitment to making technology accessible to all sectors of the community. This year, initiatives included projects like reducing Calisen's carbon footprint and utilizing AI solutions for charities such as Facial Palsy UK. In 2024, ANS's workforce, mainly based in Hulme, Manchester, contributed 116 volunteering days and raised over GBP £100,000 for various charitable organisations.

The company's dedication to nurturing tech talent was marked by the 10th anniversary of the ANS Academy, an OFSTED-accredited apprenticeship programme. Distinguished for its impact, the Academy was recognised in the HR Excellence Awards 2024 and won the Channel Champion Awards, reaching 12,000 young people annually.

Richard Thompson, CEO at ANS, stated, "Our growth this year in the AI readiness space has been phenomenal. We are committed to maintaining this momentum in 2025 and are focused on preparing UK businesses for AI-driven innovation. Businesses that fail to stay curious about AI capabilities risk falling behind. So, we must make sure organisations of all sizes can access AI and maximise its benefits in an ever-changing landscape."

Adding to this, Kyle Hill, CTO, remarked, "It's an exciting time to be part of the tech movement at ANS that is bringing companies and the community alike onboard for AI-driven transformation. We're already making significant strides at ANS by aligning technology and processes with customer needs. As we enter a new year, I've no doubt that we'll go even further turning future visions into reality and revolutionising business operations for our customers."

ANS continues to focus on equipping UK businesses with AI-enabled tools to remain competitive and forward-thinking, emphasising its strategic mission into 2025.