Smart421, the systems integration and managed services specialists, will sponsor the first in a series of ‘Credit Crunch’ themed events on designed to help project managers and programme managers to share ideas, add to professional knowledge and learn how to work smarter in the face of a challenging economic downturn. The event is organised by Telefónica O2 UK, the UK’s leading mobile operator, and the Association for Project Management (APM). The event will be held on 03 June 2009 at The Loft, Cross York Street, Leeds, LS2 7EE from 7.00pm.

Neil Miles, managing director of Smart421, said “The strong relationship between Smart421 Ltd and Telefónica O2 UK Ltd on large range of projects means that Smart421 is the ideal sponsor for the 2009 events being organised in conjunction with the Association for Project Management (APM)”.

Smart421 is delighted to be sponsoring this worthwhile programme of events with O2 and the Association for Project Management, and is looking forward to working with the organisers in support of O2’s People Programme for 2010.

For more information on this event, please click here.

For more information in this and other stories, please contact: marketing@smart421.com or call 01473 421 421

Notes to editors

About O2 UK

• Telefónica O2 UK Limited is a leading communications company for consumers and businesses in the UK, with 20.7 million mobile customers and 457,000 fixed broadband customers as at 30 June 2009.


• Telefónica O2 UK Limited is part of Telefónica Europe plc which is a business division of Telefónica S.A. and which owns O2 in the UK, Ireland, Slovakia, Germany and the Czech Republic, and has 46 million customers.


• In 2006 Telefónica Europe acquired Be*, the UK fixed broadband provider, and in October 2007 O2 launched its broadband service using the Be* network.
  
• O2 is the naming rights partner of The O2, the world-class entertainment venue.


• O2 was ranked highest in customer satisfaction for both UK mobile and fixed broadband customers according to the J.D. Power and Associates UK Mobile and Fixed Broadband Studies 2009.


• In February 2009 O2 became the first UK mobile operator to be officially certified with the Carbon Trust Standard in recognition of O2’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint and the 15% reduction in energy consumption achieved over the past three years.


• O2 was launched on 1 May 2002 and now has more customers than any other UK mobile network.


• O2’s UK mobile network covers 99% of the UK’s population. O2’s 3G network covers over 80% of the UK population and is fully HSDPA-enabled, providing speeds of up to 3.6 Mbps for customers with an HSDPA-enabled device.


• Telefónica Europe also owns 50% of the Tesco Mobile and Tchibo Mobilfunk joint venture businesses in the UK and Germany.


• For further press information about O2 go to httpp://mediacentre.o2.co.uk

About the Association for Project Management
APM is the largest independent professional body of its kind in Europe. We have 17,500 individual and 500 corporate members throughout the UK and abroad. Our aim is to develop and promote project management across all sectors of industry and beyond.

The APM Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire branch aims to represent all project managers in the region. The branch committee and members network to achieve:

• Evolution of the APM strategy promotion of project management as a professional discipline
• Monitoring in order to meet the needs of branch members
• A forum for members and guests to meet and share their experiences
• Encouragement of professional development and education
• Collaboration with other related associations and bodies to the benefit of the project management community
• Committee

Philip Smelt: Chairman
For more information on the branch, please visit http://www.apm.org.uk/yorksnlincs/

About Smart421
Smart421 is an information technology company based in Ipswich specialising in systems integration and managed services of business critical systems. It is best known for its work with Financial Times UK 500 companies, especially among leading financial institutions, power utilities and tier one telcos.

Smart421’s agile business approach is solving business problems for companies more reliably than offshore outsourcing and more cost effectively than many of the big names in IT consulting.

Founded in 1989 as a privately held business, today Smart421 is part of the KCOM Group, a public limited company with a turnover of £500M and 2,500 staff.

Visit us today at www.smart421.com