From warfare to phones – Royal Navy veteran delighted as his Fareham firm Unite Telecoms scoops award

Tim, who served in the Royal Navy as a Operator Mechanic (Warfare) in HMS Nottingham, says he ‘fell into telecoms’ when he left the military – eventually setting up his own firm Unite Telecoms with pal Charlie Carpenter two years ago.

Now the business, which is at Fort Fareham Trading Estate, in Fareham, has been named as one of the best in the industry, scooping the title of Best Broadband Provider at the The Corporate LiveWire South England Prestige Awards.

The firm, which employs 12 staff, also hopes for further recognition as it has been shortlisted in two categories in the English Veterans Awards, due to be announced in October.

Tim, from Gosport, said the success was due to his hard-working team.

Tim, 34, said: ‘Without the team we would be nothing. It is all down to them. Everything we do is about working together, and having the right people in the business. I am absolutely delighted to be recognised, especially in these troubled times.’

Unite Telecoms started in Charlie’s living room in Gosport in November 2018, providing VoIP systems for any size business. They moved into an office in Heritage Business Park in May 2019, before taking up their current 3,000 sq ft office in Newgate Lane in June.

The business has dealt with the challenges of Covid-19 – and says the drive for people to work from home has given them a welcome boost.

Tim said: ‘We have continued to grow throughout Covid. Although we had hard times, like many other businesses, business is now going in the right direction.

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‘It is time to get back to some sort of normality. Businesses cannot afford to lose sales, that’s where we can help. Phone systems do not need to be a box bolted to the wall anymore. The technology has been there for years, we are helping businesses realise there is a better way to communicate with their customers.’

Charlie, who met Tim while working at a former telecom firm, said: ‘I am extremely proud of the award.’

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