PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news

Epson has expanded its cartridge‑free EcoTank line‑up with a new set of compact printers aimed at families, home workers and SOHO users seeking reliable, low‑cost everyday printing. The latest models – the ET‑1910, ET‑2910 series, ET‑2920 series and ET‑4900 series – introduce smaller footprints, higher ink yields and modern connectivity …

VIP has been confirmed as sponsor of the Reseller category at this year’s PCR Awards. In a statement, the company said: “VIP is proud to sponsor the Reseller category. As one of the three key pillars of the IT channel alongside vendors and distributors, resellers play a vital role in …

By Florie Lhuillier, Head of Cybersecurity, Hoffman Agency Over the past year, the cybersecurity industry has had to continually adapt to geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and also – and most importantly – to AI adoption and advancements. With frontier AI models such as GPT‑5.5 and Claude Mythos supercharging vulnerability discovery, …

Creative Technology has launched Creative XF1, a new Hi-Res desktop speaker designed to bring extreme fidelity audio into homes and personal workspaces, with Japan as the first country in its global rollout. Built for enthusiasts who care about both sound quality and aesthetics, Creative XF1 combines 72W RMS power output, …

KnowBe4 has named FinTech veteran Andrew Kanzer as its new chief growth officer, strengthening the leadership team as the digital workforce security provider enters its next phase of expansion. Kanzer will report directly to CEO Bryan Palma and take charge of KnowBe4’s global go‑to‑market strategy, with a remit to drive …

Brother UK has introduced a new workplace safety labelling solution, creating an additional opportunity for channel partners to support customers with compliant, on‑demand safety signage. The solution allows organisations to produce safety signage, hazardous chemical labels, pipe markers, rack labels and equipment identification on site, removing reliance on pre‑printed stock …

PCR has unveiled the shortlist for the PCR Awards 2026, celebrating standout achievements across the UK IT channel. The annual ceremony recognises excellence among retailers, resellers, distributors, vendors and MSPs, highlighting the individuals and teams driving innovation, service quality and commercial success throughout the sector. This year’s finalists span the …

CMS Distribution has agreed a new UK&I distribution partnership with BigPanda, the vendor behind the context layer for Agentic ITOps, as demand grows for AI‑driven automation across enterprise operations. The deal enables CMS Distribution’s channel partners to offer BigPanda’s Agentic ITOps platform to enterprises looking to move away from manual, …

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed Kanishka Narayan as the UK’s first Minister for Artificial Intelligence, creating a dedicated ministerial role for AI at the centre of government. Narayan was appointed on 20 July as Minister of State (Minister for Artificial Intelligence), serving jointly in the Cabinet Office and the …

Cato Networks has partnered with CrowdStrike to combine network and endpoint telemetry across their respective platforms, aiming to simplify investigations and improve detection accuracy for security teams. The collaboration links the Cato SASE Platform with the CrowdStrike Falcon platform, giving organisations a unified operational view that removes the gaps typically …

Almost nine in 10 channel partners (87%) are taking steps to protect customers and keep projects on track amid hardware pricing volatility and memory shortages, according to new Westcon-Comstor research.  The value-added technology distributor surveyed its global Tech Xpert community and found that partners view project delays as the single …

Midwich has promoted Ellis Barnes and Bradley Bennett to heads of channel sales, a move designed to deepen specialist knowledge and enhance support for vendors and reseller partners across key market sectors. Ellis Barnes becomes head of channel sales – IT, while Bradley Bennett takes on the role of head …