December 2024

As 2024 draws to a close, we’re proud to reflect on another incredible year of giving back at Evolve. Supporting our community has always been at the heart of what we do, and this year was no exception! Our highlight of the year was taking on the Tough Mudder Challenge, raising over £5,000 for Wigan Youth Zone. With the support of our amazing team, generous donors, and a matched contribution from Evolve’s board, we made a significant difference for this inspiring organisation. In 2024, we also became Silver Patrons of Wigan Youth Zone, providing them with further impactful contributions across the year. But the support didn’t stop there. This holiday season, we joined Wigan Youth Zone’s Christmas initiative, donating essential items and presents to ensure families in our community feel the joy of the season. We are proud to have raised an incredible £945 for Wigan Youth Zone’s Christmas initiative, allowing us to provide them with every item on their wishlist. WYZ welcomes families and kids for Christmas each year, giving them food and presents. A number of the Evolve team members recently went to the youth zone to assist with preparation, packing, wrapping, and arranging. We also made an impact through ongoing initiatives: Dress Down Fridays on PaydayEvery payday Friday, our team traded their usual office wear for something more casual—and all for a great cause! These monthly dress-down days gave everyone a chance to participate in supporting local charities, with small donations adding up to meaningful contributions over the year. It’s a simple but powerful way to make giving back part of our regular routine. Macmillan Cancer SupportCancer touches so many lives, and we were honoured to stand with Macmillan Cancer Support this year. From hosting fundraising activities to raising awareness about their vital services, we were proud to contribute to an organisation that offers comfort, guidance, and assistance to those affected by cancer and their families. Christmas Jumper Day for Save the ChildrenOne of the highlights of the festive season was our Christmas Jumper Day, where our team proudly donned their most colourful and creative festive sweaters. This light-hearted and joyful tradition raised funds for Save the Children, supporting their mission to improve the lives of children worldwide. It’s always a wonderful reminder of how even a bit of holiday fun can make a lasting impact. 2024 was a year of challenges, teamwork, and giving, and we’re so proud of what we achieved together. Thank you to everyone who supported us. Here’s to making 2025 even more impactful! About Evolve Business Group and Evolve Evolve Business Group is an independently owned company that specialises in providing end-to-end IT and managed network solutions to a range of businesses. Evolve Managed Network solutions are helping businesses to reduce costs, simplify the management of services, and give business owners and their teams more time to do what they do best. Founded in 2005, it has worked with a variety of clients across different industries around the world, building a team of highly experienced specialists to help create effective and efficient packages using any combination of different offerings. It keeps a range of cross-sector networks protected and connected. Explore Evolve’s website to find out more about how their Managed Network Solutions can help your business stay secure. @evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn

Evolve is delighted to announce that its team has been recognised for its outstanding leadership and innovation with not one but three nominations in the prestigious TheBusinessDesk Leadership Awards! This incredible achievement highlights the talent and hard work of Evolve’s leaders, who continue to inspire excellence and drive the organisation forward. Meet Our Shortlisted Leaders:   Constance Smith – Marketing Leader Constance’s exceptional ability to craft innovative strategies and deliver impactful campaigns has earned her a well-deserved spot as a finalist for the Marketing Leader category. Her vision and creativity have been instrumental in shaping Evolve’s brand and driving engagement. Ryan Stephenson-Brown – Company Leader (101+ Employees) As a finalist for the Company Leader (101+ employees) category, Ryan’s leadership has been pivotal in fostering a culture of collaboration, resilience, and growth. Under his guidance, Evolve has not only achieved significant milestones but also built a workplace where people thrive. Antony Seddon – Technology Leader In the rapidly evolving world of technology, Antony has been a trailblazer. His innovative solutions and strategic vision have positioned him as a finalist in the Technology Leader category, a testament to his expertise and forward-thinking approach. A Moment of Pride These nominations are a reflection of the collective effort of the entire Evolve team. They showcase the company’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and leadership. Each of these individuals has made remarkable contributions to the organisation, and their recognition by BusinessDesk underscores the impact they have had on the industry and beyond. Evolve eagerly awaits the awards ceremony and wishes Constance, Ryan, and Antony the very best as they compete against other outstanding leaders. Regardless of the outcome, being shortlisted is an achievement in itself and a reminder of the incredible work happening within the organisation A heartfelt thank you to TheBusinessDesk for acknowledging leaders who inspire change and innovation. And to the team, partners, and customers—your support and collaboration make achievements like this possible. Stay tuned for updates as Evolve celebrates this exciting milestone together! To learn more about Evolve’s exceptional leadership team, visit their website → https://www.evolvebg.co.uk/our-leadership/  @evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn

A managed network solution involves outsourcing the design, implementation, monitoring, and maintenance of your network infrastructure to a professional provider. This ensures that your network is always operating at its best—especially during high-demand periods like Christmas. Here’s why it’s vital for the QSR industry: 1. Ensuring System Uptime During Peak Hours With customer demand reaching new heights during the Christmas season, any network downtime could lead to missed orders, delays, and a poor customer experience. A network failure during peak hours could result in lost revenue and frustrated customers, especially as mobile and digital ordering become the preferred method for many. Managed network solutions offer continuous monitoring and proactive management, ensuring that networks are optimised for performance, with potential issues addressed before they affect operations. If a technical issue arises, managed network providers can fix it quickly, minimising disruption. 2. Handling Increased Traffic and Transactions As digital ordering surges during the holidays, QSRs will need to process more transactions than usual. According to Statista, mobile payments are expected to make up 38% of all U.S. payment transactions by 2024. This includes both mobile wallet payments and credit card transactions through digital platforms. A managed network ensures that your infrastructure can handle an increase in transaction volume. By providing scalable solutions, businesses can ensure that their payment systems and mobile apps continue to function smoothly, even during the busiest periods. 3. Improved Cybersecurity and Fraud Prevention The holidays are also a prime time for cybercrime. In 2023, cybersecurity attacks on businesses spiked by 20% over the holiday season, with hackers targeting companies handling sensitive data, like payment information. For QSRs, any data breach could result in not only financial loss but also severe reputational damage. Managed network services typically come with built-in cybersecurity features such as encryption, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems. This helps ensure that customer data remains protected during transactions. With the right solution, QSRs can mitigate the risks of payment fraud, keeping their operations safe while maintaining customer trust. 4. Seamless Integration Across Multiple Channels QSRs today operate across multiple channels: in-store, online, and through third-party delivery platforms. Each of these channels needs to be seamlessly integrated to ensure smooth order processing. If your restaurant is relying on outdated or disjointed systems, integration challenges can lead to delays, errors, and customer dissatisfaction. Managed network solutions can streamline the integration of these systems, providing a unified platform for everything from point-of-sale systems and mobile apps to delivery service platforms. By having a robust, interconnected network, your QSR can offer customers a seamless experience across all touchpoints, whether they’re ordering in-store or through a mobile app. 5. Real-Time Analytics and Reporting During the holiday season, real-time data is essential to make fast decisions and optimise operations. A managed network solution provides detailed insights into customer behaviour, order volumes, and transaction times. With this information at hand, QSRs can adjust staffing levels, inventory, and marketing campaigns to meet the surging demand. This real-time analytics can also help optimise the customer experience. For instance, if the network detects a backlog of orders during peak hours, it can notify managers so they can add staff or expedite specific tasks. This allows businesses to remain agile and responsive, even when the volume of customers increases. Key Benefits of Managed Network Solutions for QSRs in 2024 As we look toward the busy Christmas period and into 2024, QSRs will need more than just good food and fast service to remain competitive. Leveraging managed network solutions provides a variety of benefits: • Scalability: Managed network solutions allow QSRs to scale their systems to handle surges in customer traffic during peak periods, ensuring that the network can grow alongside the business. • Cost Efficiency: While implementing an in-house IT infrastructure can be costly, managed network services offer a more affordable alternative with predictable pricing, reducing the risk of unanticipated IT costs during the holidays. • Expert Support: With managed services, QSRs gain access to a team of experts who are equipped to handle network issues quickly, ensuring minimal downtime during critical periods. • Future-Proofing: As technology continues to evolve, managed network providers stay on top of the latest advancements, ensuring that your restaurant remains up-to-date with the latest security protocols, payment methods, and system integrations. As Christmas draws near, the QSR industry is preparing for one of its busiest times of the year. The surge in footfall, online orders, and mobile transactions presents significant opportunities—and challenges. By investing in managed network solutions, QSRs can ensure that their systems remain robust, secure, and efficient, even under the stress of high demand. With increased traffic, greater reliance on technology, and the need for seamless operations, managed network services are no longer a luxury but a necessity for QSRs aiming to deliver exceptional customer experiences throughout the busy holiday season and beyond. End About Evolve Business Group and Evolve Evolve Business Group is an independently owned company that specialises in providing end-to-end IT and managed network solutions to a range of businesses. Evolve is helping businesses to reduce costs and simplify the management of services and give business owners and their teams more time to do what they do best. Founded in 2005, it has worked with a variety of customers across different industries around the world, building a team of highly experienced specialists to help create effective and efficient packages using any combination of different offerings. It keeps a range of cross-sector networks protected and connected.