A TRAILBLAZING award-winning company that is weather ing the recession has impressed Basingstoke’s first citizen with its long list of achievements.

The Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Councillor Brian Gurden, learned that Centerprise International provides IT solutions for the Government, particularly the Ministry of Defence, the emergency services as well as the health and education sectors.

He also learned that the multi-million-pound company is one of the country’s leading IT providers for the private sector, supplying bespoke services and equipment, and a whole host of services including disaster recovery for businesses, data protec tion and even building Sega gaming machines.

On a visit to the headquarters of Centerprise International, in Lime Tree Way, on the Hampshire International Business Park, Chineham, Cllr Gurden met the com pany’s top management team includ ing its founder and chairman Rafi Razzak.

Newly-appointed chief executive officer John Rainger gave the mayor the background to the business and detailed how it has managed to main tain a healthy order book.

Mr Rainger said: “I’m very pleased to say the company has a tremendously secure financial platform. Rafi has been effective with restructuring the business and driving the business into profit and that gives us lots of options for the future.”

Mr Rainger spoke of Centerprise’s long track record of supplying com puter equipment and software to the Ministry of Defence, and its current push in information assur ance, ensuring that sensi tive data is kept secure.

He also spoke of the con tribution the company makes to the economy, not just in Basingstoke, but also in South Wales, where it has a large production and warehouse facility.

“Being a medium-sized business, we are very agile and able to adapt our selves very quickly and can focus on getting things done quickly,” said Mr Rainger.

“Part of the company’s culture is around listening to customers and understanding their requirements, and saying ‘yes’ wherever we possi bly can.”

Mr Rainger said that the company has long-established partnerships with a variety of equipment manu facturers, such as Toshiba, Panasonic and Dell.

He also spoke of the company’s involvement as an approved supplier of the Government’s Home Access Programme, giving eligible low- income families grants to help them buy computers for further education and learning in the home.

Clearly impressed, Cllr Gurden said: “I am astonished by the diversi ty of what you do and I think it bodes well for the future, not so much with strings on your bow, but with your demonstration of the ability to think outside the box.”

Prior to a tour of the offices, Mr Razzak presented Cllr Gurden with a cheque for £500 for The Mayor’s Charity Appeal.