Business & Technology
ANS renews Azure Expert MSP status after independent audit
ANS has renewed its Microsoft Azure Expert Managed Service Provider status, one of Microsoft’s most selective partner designations.
The renewal followed an independent third-party audit of ANS’s work across architecture, migration, security and managed services. Microsoft awards the status based on customer delivery in live environments, and partners must demonstrate consistent standards in complex deployments to retain it.
Based in Manchester, the digital transformation company said the accreditation reflects its experience in managing large Azure estates for customers with business-critical and cost-sensitive workloads. ANS currently manages 267 customers through Azure Lighthouse, covering 1,930 subscriptions and more than 236,000 resources.
That scale matters as companies increase spending on cloud foundations linked to artificial intelligence projects. Managed service providers are under pressure to move beyond day-to-day support and take on a broader advisory role as businesses try to control cost, security and performance in increasingly complex cloud environments.
Audit process
Azure Expert MSP status is reserved for partners that pass a detailed external assessment of how they design, migrate, secure and operate Microsoft Azure services. The review draws on evidence from customer engagements rather than internal claims, with auditors testing whether standards are applied consistently from initial design through to ongoing management.
ANS said its support model includes round-the-clock monitoring, proactive security and customer visibility through its ANS Glass portal. It described the renewed status as a way for customers to reduce operational risk when running large-scale Azure estates.
For customers, the designation is intended to provide assurance that a provider can support complex environments over time, not just during migration projects. It also signals that a partner has met Microsoft’s threshold for managed operations at scale.
Broader push
The renewal comes as ANS seeks to deepen its position in Microsoft-related services. The company was named Microsoft UK Partner of the Year 2025 and says it holds all six Microsoft Solutions Partner designations.
ANS operates across public and private cloud, data services, security, business applications and low-code services. It also runs five IL3-accredited data centres in Manchester and works with customers across enterprise, small and medium-sized businesses, and the public sector.
The company has increasingly linked its cloud work to AI readiness, arguing that organisations need stronger control over infrastructure before they can move from experimentation to wider deployment. This reflects a broader market trend, with demand for AI projects pushing service providers to show they can manage the underlying cloud environment as well as advise on governance and resilience.
Ali Mustoe Playfair, Director of Agentic Operations at ANS, said: “This accreditation gives organisations confidence at a critical point in their cloud journey. It proves our Azure capability has been independently tested in real-world scenarios across how we design, deliver and operate at scale. It is also testament to our strong and constantly growing Microsoft expertise, following being named Microsoft UK Partner of the Year last year. At this level, success is not just about technology, it is about consistency. For our customers, that means less risk, greater control and a clearer path to long-term value.”
Beyond its cloud and managed services work, ANS has also invested in skills development through its ANS Academy, which it said has supported more than 250 apprentices over the past decade across technology, finance, marketing and business administration.
The Azure Expert MSP renewal is based on evidence from real customer environments and ANS’s ability to manage 267 customers through Azure Lighthouse across 1,930 subscriptions and more than 236,000 resources.
Business & Technology
Rosa’s Thai is giving away 4000 free Pad Thais to students
Celebrating both GCSE and A-Level Results Days, the chain will offer the popular dish to students who buy one of its bubble teas.
The free offer is available at all 42 Rosa’s Thai restaurants across England and Wales.
To avail of the free noodles, students need to register on Rosa’s Thai website for a unique code, which they should present at the restaurant together with a copy of their results.
Rosa’s Thai has a new range of bubble tea flavours, including Ube-Taro, Matcha-Coconut, Mango Sticky Rice, and Milo Chocolate Milk, as well as favourites like Home-brewed Thai Tea with Tapioca, and Lychee Mango with mango boba.
Students can sign up for their free Pad Thai at rosasthai.com/result-day-free-pad-thai and find their nearest restaurant at rosasthai.com/locations.
Business & Technology
Historic coin company enters administration after 20 years
The London Mint Office, which distributes commemorative coins and medals, appointed administrators on July 31 after 20 years in business.
The company’s website now displays a message confirming the appointment of Michael Magnay and Jonny Marston of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP as joint administrators.
A spokesman for Alvarez and Marsal said: “On July 31 2026, Michael Magnay and Jonny Marston of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP were appointed as Joint Administrators of The London Mint Office Limited in administration (the “Company”).
“Regrettably, the Company’s liquidity challenges have led to a number of immediate redundancies. We are supporting the affected employees through the redundancy process.
What Happens When a Company Goes Into Administration?
“The affairs, business and property of the Company are being managed by the Joint Administrators who act as agents of the Company and without personal liability.”
The announcement confirms that it is no longer possible to purchase coins or medals through the company’s website.
The London Mint Office operates a distribution centre in Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, where it employs a significant number of people.
Administration is a formal insolvency process triggered when a business cannot meet its financial obligations.
An insolvency practitioner is appointed to manage the company’s affairs and may attempt to restructure the business or sell off assets to repay creditors.
What happens when a company goes into Liquidation?
Founded in 2006, The London Mint Office describes itself as “one of the UK’s most trusted suppliers of historic, commemorative, and collector coins.”
It is part of Samlerhuset AS, a Norwegian company based near Oslo and one of Europe’s largest distributors of commemorative coins and medals.
Samlerhuset’s website states that it offers “provide a wide range of coins from ancient to modern, originating from virtually every country in the world.”
The London Mint Office has advised anyone with an interest in the company’s assets to contact the administrators at INS_THLMOL@alvarezandmarsal.com.
Business & Technology
Warning of new rules for Aldi and Lidl after watchdog review
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally decided that both discounters should be added to the Groceries Market Investigation (Controlled Land) Order 2010, which currently applies to Asda, Co-op, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose.
This order is designed to prevent large grocery retailers from using land agreements to block competitors from opening nearby stores, often through restrictive covenants or exclusivity terms.
Juliette Enser, executive director of competition enforcement and markets at the CMA, said: “We want everyone to have the best choice of supermarket and range of prices when buying their groceries.
“To ensure this happens, we put rules in place to prevent big supermarket chains blocking rival stores from opening nearby – and now we propose applying those rules to Aldi and Lidl too.
“This is about allowing shoppers to choose where they spend their money and levelling the playing field for all major supermarkets.
“Today’s proposals are provisional and we welcome views before deciding the best way forward.”
The CMA’s review found that Aldi, Lidl GB, and Lidl NI now meet the criteria of ‘Large Grocery Retailers’ (LGRs) due to their store footprint, nationwide presence, procurement model, and the breadth of their grocery range.
Aldi and Lidl were originally excluded from the 2010 order as ‘limited assortment discounters’, offering a smaller selection of products compared to traditional supermarkets.
However, the CMA’s provisional findings indicate that this is no longer the case.
All three now operate large grocery stores, each with more than 1,000 square metres of shop floor space, and offer a full range of products, though with less category choice than some competitors.
They also purchase goods directly from suppliers through integrated wholesaling.
With the UK grocery market estimated to be worth £215 billion, Aldi and Lidl are now ranked among the top five retailers by market share.
The CMA is seeking feedback from stakeholders before reaching a final decision.
Aldi and Lidl could join the other supermarket chains later this year.
The CMA is inviting views until 5pm on Monday, September 7, 2026, and will issue its final decision in the autumn after reviewing responses.
If the discounters are included under the order, they will be prevented from using land agreements to limit competition from other supermarket chains.
The CMA aims to ensure competition across the grocery sector to give shoppers more choice and competitive pricing by removing obstacles to new store openings.
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