ITS has strengthened its local government offering with the appointment of public sector telecoms expert Andy Bell.

Bringing four decades of telecoms experience – with the last twenty years focused on public sector – Andy has been appointed to a new role, Head of Public Sector Sales.

Building on a rapidly growing business area, he will lead the business’s activities that focus on working and collaborating with local authorities, government bodies and frameworks to drive fibre roll-out and uptake.

With a strong track record of public sector delivery at Telefonica O2 and latterly Neos Networks, Andy will lead the growth strategy in this area, taking forward existing relationships as well as developing new relationships and collaboration across the UK.

ITS has heritage in public sector, through its recent joint ventures LCR Connect in Liverpool City Region and now Digital Greenwich Connect in The Royal Borough of Greenwich.

In addition, it has numerous examples of wider public sector collaboration, undertaking builds, identifying and reusing existing local authority infrastructure, working with Tameside Council, Blackpool Council, Hammersmith and Fulham, Nottingham, and more recently across London, with Barking & Dagenham, Bexley and Havering.

With 80 other local authorities located in ITS’s Faster Britain fibre network footprint, Andy will also be helping the business’s partners maximise opportunities directly and via frameworks.

Speaking on Andy’s appointment, CEO Daren Baythorpe said: “Connectivity and digital infrastructure are crucial for local authorities in the UK, enabling the provision of better and more efficient services to communities, tackling digital inclusion, as well driving economic growth and job creation. Andy will bolster and expand ITS’s expertise in this area, bringing valuable insights, connections, and strategies to help navigate this complex and ever-changing field. I’m excited to welcome someone of his calibre into our team and look forward to us driving forward this growth area for our business.”

Andy Bell, Head of Public Sector Sales said: “ITS has an opportunity to position itself as a key partner to the public sector and I’m excited to be part of such a progressive business. I believe we have a real competitive edge and look forward to maximising opportunities to expand our network and ultimately take our fibre networks to a wider audience. We all pay into the public purse, and we all deserve access to the best services, and that’s the challenge for local authorities and government bodies. By supporting them and enabling the growth of the digital economy we can be directly involved in enabling cities and towns to better service businesses and citizens.”