Select Technology Group acquires JTRS to expand its Apple education tech offering in the UK.

In a strategic move to expand its footprint in the EdTech sector, Select Technology Group – the UK and Ireland’s leading Apple Premium Partner – has announced the acquisition of JTRS, Apple Authorised Education Specialist.

The acquisition enables both companies to leverage their combined expertise and resources to support educational institutions across Great Britain and Northern Ireland with Apple’s technology and solutions.

The JTRS team and services will be integrated into Select Technology Group, creating a broader network of support for schools, colleges, and universities.

Ciaran McCormack, Managing Director of Select Technology Group, commented on the acquisition:

“This is an exciting new chapter for our business. We are extremely passionate about the education industry, helping schools and educators enhance their teaching and learning environments with Apple technology, and this acquisition allows us to extend our reach and resources. JTRS shares our passion for supporting education, and together, we can offer an even more comprehensive range of services to our clients across Ireland and the UK. By combining our strengths, we are confident we can drive even greater innovation in the educational technology space and create more impactful outcomes for students and educators alike.”

The agreement comes after Select Technology Group purchased DID Electrical in December 2023 to accelerate its retail growth in Ireland.  This acquisition sees Select Technology Group increase its presence in the UK, where it is already an Apple Premium Partner (retail), Apple Authorised Reseller (corporate sales), and Apple Authorised Service Provider and offers more comprehensive support to the UK and the island of Ireland education sector. This acquisition helps to push Select Tech Group’s turnover over €300m.

‘’We are particularly excited about the opportunity to work with new schools in the UK’’, McCormack continued.  The JTRS team deeply understands the unique needs of the UK education sector, which complements our approach, and together, we will provide more localised and personalised support to our growing customer base. This acquisition further strengthens our position as a trusted partner for educational institutions across the UK and Ireland.”

Key highlights from the deal include:

 – Select Technology Group will become the only Apple Premium Partner, Apple Authorised Reseller and Apple Authorised Education Specialist in the UK and Ireland.  

– Select Technology Group’s leading Apple Professional Learning Provider will further expand into UK schools.

-Select Technology Group will integrate JTRS teams, growing the business to 686 people in the UK and Ireland.

Loewe Technology announces partnership for We.HEAR & klang mr speaker ranges with Select Tech Group

Loewe, the audio-visual pioneer founded in 1923, has announced a commercial partnership with Select Tech Group to stock the prestigious brand’s We.HEAR range and klang mr series of high-quality speakers. With 28 stores across UK and Ireland, Loewe’s premium audio products are now available both in-store and online at the region’s largest reseller of Apple products.

Expanding Loewe’s platform in the region, the partnership continues the heritage AV brand’s growth after re-entering the UK market in 2021. The Loewe product range has similarly increased, introducing the We by Loewe range and additional bild and klang products as well as the high-end Loewe iconic TV, set for sale later in 2023. 

The partnership connects two reputable organisations whose values of innovation and long-lasting quality are closely aligned. Select aims to inspire a wider community to discover the power of Apple products by working closely with customers, educational institutions and businesses to reach the most cost-effective solutions. 

Alan Whyte, Managing Director at Loewe UK, commented: “Apple is synonymous with aspirational luxury, and high performance. As the biggest Apple Premium Reseller in Western Europe with 28 stores across UK and Ireland, we’re extremely proud to be partnering with Select Tech Group.“

“They are providing Loewe with a unique platform to get our brand in front of a huge group of discerning consumers. At store level, their teams are extremely knowledgeable, and focus on giving exemplary customer service. Couple that with beautiful store environments in keeping with the Apple brand, our audio products are given the best possible chance to shine.”

Dedicated to providing an unparalleled in-store and online customer experience, Select invests over 10,000 training hours per year. 

Jason Smith, Group Retail Director at Select Tech Group, added: “I have always held luxury heritage brands in high regard. With 100 years of history, their handmade in Germany ethos, and emphasis on sustainable, high-quality materials, Loewe hits all the markers of the ideal companion brand for the Select customer. 

The We.Hear speaker range, in particular, makes Loewe more accessible than ever, and reflects the true essence of the curated audio line up at Select; innovative, unparalleled and unique. We look forward to continued growth in this exciting partnership.”

Loewe We.HEAR 1 is currently available at Select in-store and online for £99 while the We.HEAR 2 is priced at £159. The Loewe klang mr1 is on sale for £349 while the mr3 and mr5 are listed for £549 and £649.

 

www.loewe.tv 

Compu b rebrands as Select in Ireland & the UK and launches new Discovery Hub service for customers

Compu b, the Apple Premium Reseller and leading technology sales and repair service provider for the consumer, business and education sectors in Ireland is rebranding to Select. The move will bring the company’s 6 stores in Ireland, and its 23 Stormfront stores across the UK under the same brand identity delivering an elevated experience and providing a complete Apple solution for consumer retail, business and education customers locally.

Select has also invested over €1 million in its online offering with the launch of its new website, selectonline.com for the Irish and UK markets, ensuring that customers can access technical support and training as well as retail services and repair services at any time.

The Irish-owned company employs over 330 highly trained Apple experts across Ireland and the UK, supporting over 4 million customers per year and managing over 120,000 repairs annually across its customer base. Select is a trusted Apple supplier to financial institutions, primary and second-level schools, third-level institutions, airline groups, healthcare companies, semi-state bodies, the public sector, technology companies and FMCG organisations, supporting businesses of all sizes and sectors, from start-ups to enterprise companies.

Central to Select’s enhanced offering will be the Discovery Hubs service, which is now available to all customers in their local stores. Select’s Discovery Hubs are a one-stop service for businesses, education customers and consumers.  A dedicated slot or slots can be booked for groups of employees at a Discovery Hub with a Select expert who can provide full onboarding, troubleshooting, technical and training support to help them get the most out of their Apple products.

Customers and employers can continue to avail of this service any time they require it and will be of particular benefit for businesses implementing a hybrid working model with employees working from home and requiring local support.

“We have invested over €3 million in delivering our in-store Discovery Hubs service. Select is a trusted partner for all our customers, giving them peace of mind that they are in the hands of Apple Experts and importantly providing this expertise locally. In addition to this investment, we recently opened our new two-storey flagship store on South King Street, in the heart of Dublin’s main shopping district.” said Ciaran McCormack, Managing Director

“Group sales this year will be over €130+ million as we continue to invest in providing market differentiating services for our customers across our portfolio of offerings, keeping easy, local access to expertise for our customers at the core of our business model”, Ciaran continued

Select is now one of the largest Apple Authorised Service Providers across Ireland & the UK and offers technical expertise which is market leading. As an Apple Premium Reseller, Select provides both instore and online access to the full suite of Apple products and accessories, including iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch and Beats, along with other leading premium brands such as Native Union, Therabody, Sony, Urbanista, Joby, Eufy, Incipo, and Click & Grow.

Select has Ireland’s only team of dedicated Apple Education Specialists (AAES). The company has 25 years of experience in delivering teaching and training solutions, led by a dedicated team of Apple Professional Learning Specialists, offering a suite of digital technology to unlock student potential and foster their creativity. Working in partnership with primary and second-level schools and leading educational institutions in Ireland (such as Trinity College Dublin, Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh and The Law Society of Ireland) Select introduce the latest Apple technologies into the teaching and learning arena, integrating devices into the syllabus and supporting the teachers and lecturers and professionals through bespoke training and learning.