Press release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Steve Smith, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Astro Communication joins The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists.

Co Founder of Astro Communications, Steve Smith, has been accepted as a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists (WCIT) and realises a long-term ambition to put even more back into the industry which he has been in for over 40 years.

Kent, UK 6th October 2014

Steve’s passion for technology, innovation and professional standards will be put to good use as he joins a number of the panels at the Company especially the two focusing on Education and Employment. The Education panel has strong ties with Lilian Bayliss School and Hammersmith Academy and the Employment panel provides advice and coaching to Signalers moving to commercial world. Steve is already well known for his charity work including the Bud Flanagan Leukaemia Fund and Camp Cando and this will be extended further with the activity of the WCIT who, in 2010 alone, made charitable donations estimated at £42m.

Established in 1986 as a company without grant of Livery the WCIT then went on to become the 100th Livery Company in the City of London and were awarded a Royal Charter in 2010. Established around the four pillars of Charity, Education, Industry and Fellowship the WCIT sets out to promote professional standards, support education and training and undertaking charitable work centered around the IT and communications industry. Membership if for life and there are strict guidelines, criteria and a rigorous process for being accepted.

On his appointment to the Company Steve Smith said: “I am absolutely delighted to join the Worshipful Company, the tradition and history of City Livery Companies dates back to 1515 and some of them such as Gunsmiths and Silversmiths still regulate their trades of today. I love this industry, it has been very kind to me over the years and I am thrilled to be able to put something back into it on this level. At Astro, we are already involved in helping youngsters into the industry with our apprenticeship scheme but being part of the WCIT gives me the scope to have a far greater impact on the industry. I have considered myself an ambassador for Information Technology as well as Astro Communications for a long time but the fellowship, structure and support available from the WCIT will help me put that to even greater positive use.

I am keen to be involved in a number of the charitable aspects of the work they undertake as well as the advisory panels, also the social and networking elements are a great way of meeting like-minded people who share similar values and the same passion for what we do.” He concluded.

– Ends –

For further information, please contact:

Steve Smith, steve.smith@astro.co.uk or Steve Hodges steve.hodges@astro.co.uk on +44 (0)203 058 7770
The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists www.wcit.org.uk

About Astro Communications.

Astro Communications Limited has been delivering technical solutions to solve business challenges for nearly 30 years. Founded by two former employees of BT and Cable and Wireless, Astro has gone on to deliver some of the most technically challenging and complex solutions in the market.

Providing services ranging from physical cabling and wireless LAN’s to cloud-based video conferencing and SIP services, key clients include Bourne Leisure Limited, Impellam Group PLC, Capital FM Arena, TGI Friday’s and Wightlink Ferries.

Astro Communications is headquartered in Hawley Manor, Dartford with staff based all over the country and partner organisations across the globe.