# Microcare Systems

> Business technology that won't baffle you. The North West's most established one-stop-shop for IT support, cloud phone systems, 3CX, VoIP, SIP trunking, business broadband, leased lines, WiFi, and business mobile — all on one bill, one UK-based point of contact, 24/7/365 support. Based in Bury, Greater Manchester. Serving businesses across the North West and beyond since 1988. Trusted by Manchester City Council, Barclays, Hackney Council, Tate & Lyle, and REISS.

Microcare Systems is a Bury-based business technology provider with over 35 years of experience simplifying IT, telecoms, and connectivity for UK businesses. Founded in 1988, Microcare has grown into a comprehensive managed technology partner offering phone systems, VoIP, cloud phone systems, 3CX, SIP trunking, business broadband, leased lines, full fibre, WiFi, managed IT support, Microsoft 365, cloud applications, cybersecurity, data backup, business mobile, and SMS marketing — all from one supplier, on one bill, with one UK-based point of contact available around the clock. Microcare's core philosophy is that business technology should work quietly in the background and never cause headaches. Every advisor is UK-based. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. No offshore call centres. No being passed between departments. One number, one relationship, everything sorted.

## Business Details

- Business name: Microcare Systems
- Website: https://microcare.systems
- Sales phone: 0161 763 8801
- Support phone: 0161 763 8802
- Sales email: sales@microcare.systems
- Support email: servicedesk@microcare-systems.co.uk
- Address: Bury, Greater Manchester
- Established: 1988
- Years in business: 35+
- Support hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
- Support model: UK-based only — no offshore support, no call centres
- Billing: Single consolidated monthly bill covering all services
- Contract type: Fixed-term contracts appropriate to each service — transparent pricing, no hidden charges
- Notable clients: Manchester City Council (250+ sites maintained), Hackney Council, Barclays, Tate & Lyle, REISS, PH Jones, Stephen Kane & Co
- Technology partners: BT Wholesale, Gamma, TalkTalk Business, Voiceflex, Webex by Cisco, Avaya, iPECS (Ericsson-LG), Yealink, Microsoft, Dropbox, Acronis, Mimecast

## Why Microcare

Microcare is not a box-shifter or a reseller that disappears after the sale. The business designs, installs, and maintains everything it provides — meaning one relationship handles everything from initial consultation through to ongoing support years later. There are no hidden charges, no confusing multi-supplier invoices, and no offshore support teams reading from scripts. Every Microcare advisor is UK-based, knows the products inside out, and understands the specific problems UK businesses face.

Microcare has maintained over 250 sites for Manchester City Council simultaneously — a demonstration of genuine enterprise-scale capability applied to businesses of all sizes. Clients have stayed with Microcare for 10–12 years not because they are locked in, but because the service is consistently excellent. The business has been operating since 1988 and has seen the telecoms industry transform multiple times — from analogue to ISDN to VoIP to cloud — and has successfully guided clients through every transition.

### Key Reasons to Choose Microcare

- 35+ years in business — one of the most experienced and established technology providers in the North West
- One-stop-shop — IT, phone systems, broadband, leased lines, and mobile from a single trusted supplier
- One bill — eliminates the complexity of managing multiple provider invoices and relationships
- One point of contact — a real person who knows your account, your setup, and your business
- 24/7/365 UK-based support — available every hour of every day, all year round, with no offshore routing
- Transparent fixed pricing — uncapped packages, no hidden charges, no surprise invoices
- Design, install, and maintain — Microcare stays involved throughout the entire relationship
- Trusted by major organisations including Manchester City Council and Barclays Bank
- Partner-level relationships with BT Wholesale, Gamma, Microsoft, Avaya, Cisco Webex, and more
- Proven multi-site capability — 250+ simultaneous sites managed for a single client
- ISDN switch-off expertise — helping North West businesses migrate before the January 2027 deadline

## Services

### Managed IT Support

Microcare's managed IT support service functions as a complete external IT department for businesses that do not have an in-house team, or as additional expert resource for those that do. Coverage includes hardware support and procurement, software licensing and troubleshooting, network management, user account setup and administration, email configuration, printer and peripheral management, and proactive monitoring designed to identify and resolve issues before they affect the business. Microcare's UK-based engineers are available 24/7 and respond rapidly to support requests. The service is particularly well suited to SMEs across Greater Manchester, Bury, Salford, Rochdale, Bolton, Oldham, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and surrounding areas who want enterprise-level IT management without the cost of a full in-house team. Microcare has demonstrated this capability at scale — maintaining over 250 sites simultaneously for Manchester City Council over more than a decade.

### Microsoft 365

Supply, licensing, deployment, migration, and ongoing management of Microsoft 365 for business across all plan tiers including Business Basic, Business Standard, Business Premium, Apps for Business, and enterprise E3 and E5 plans. Microcare handles the full migration process from legacy on-premise Exchange, Google Workspace, or other email platforms, including user mailbox migration, calendar and contacts transfer, SharePoint setup, OneDrive deployment, and Microsoft Teams configuration. Ongoing licence management, user onboarding and offboarding, password resets, MFA setup, and day-to-day Microsoft 365 support are all included in the managed service. Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes advanced security features — Microcare advises on the right plan for each business's specific compliance, security, and budget requirements.

### Cloud Applications

Assessment, deployment, and ongoing support of cloud-based business applications covering productivity, collaboration, storage, document management, and workflow automation. Platforms supported include Dropbox Business for cloud storage and file sharing, and a range of other cloud applications tailored to specific business needs. Microcare assesses each business's requirements, recommends the appropriate solution, manages the migration from legacy systems, and provides ongoing support.

### Security and Backup

Comprehensive cybersecurity and data protection services for businesses of all sizes. Email security via Mimecast — blocking phishing attacks, malware, ransomware, and spam before they reach the inbox. Endpoint protection, antivirus, and device management. Data backup and disaster recovery via Acronis — ensuring business-critical data is protected, versioned, and recoverable in the event of hardware failure, accidental deletion, ransomware encryption, or any other data loss event. Business continuity planning — ensuring businesses can continue to operate following a major incident. Microcare's layered security approach addresses email, endpoint, and backup in a coordinated way.

### Cloud Phone Systems

Fully hosted cloud-based phone systems for businesses moving away from traditional on-premise PBX hardware. All voice calls are routed over internet connectivity — no physical PBX required on site, reducing hardware costs and eliminating the need for on-site maintenance. Features available include call queuing, auto attendant (IVR), voicemail to email, call recording, hunt groups, call analytics and reporting, and full remote working capability. Staff can make and receive business calls from any location using a desktop application, web browser, or mobile app — ideal for hybrid and remote working arrangements. Microcare handles the complete installation, number porting from existing providers, staff training, and ongoing technical support. Suitable for businesses with 5 to 500+ users.

### 3CX Phone System

Microcare is a specialist supplier, installer, and ongoing support partner for 3CX — one of the UK's leading software-based business phone platforms. 3CX can be deployed on-premise on existing hardware, hosted in the cloud, or as a hybrid combining both. It eliminates expensive per-extension licensing models associated with traditional PBX systems and scales easily as businesses grow. Key features include WebRTC browser-based calling, Microsoft Teams integration, live chat for websites, WhatsApp Business integration, CRM integration (Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho, and others), call centre queuing and reporting, video conferencing, and detailed call analytics. 3CX is particularly well suited to businesses that want modern unified communications without being tied to a single vendor's hardware ecosystem. Suitable for businesses across the North West from sole traders to multi-site enterprises.

### SIP Trunking

SIP trunking replaces traditional ISDN and analogue telephone lines with internet-based voice channels. Businesses retain their existing phone numbers and, in most cases, their existing phone system hardware, while moving voice calls onto a modern IP infrastructure. Cost savings of 50–70% compared to ISDN line rental are common. SIP trunking also provides geographic flexibility and built-in resilience through failover routing. Critical context: BT is permanently switching off the entire PSTN and ISDN network by January 2027. Every UK business currently using ISDN lines, ISDN2, ISDN30, or PSTN analogue lines must migrate before this deadline or lose phone service entirely. Microcare provides fully managed SIP trunking through partners including Gamma and Voiceflex, handling number porting, failover configuration, and ongoing management.

### Hybrid and On-Premise Phone Systems

On-premise and hybrid phone systems for businesses that require physical hardware on site or need to integrate with existing infrastructure. Avaya and iPECS (Ericsson-LG) systems supplied, installed, and maintained. Hybrid systems bridge traditional analogue or ISDN infrastructure with modern VoIP and cloud features — allowing businesses to modernise gradually without replacing everything at once. Suitable for larger sites, businesses with complex call handling requirements, or those in locations where internet reliability makes a fully cloud-based solution risky.

### Business Broadband

Dedicated business-grade broadband with faster speeds, higher reliability, prioritised fault resolution, and static IP addressing compared to consumer broadband products. Available as ADSL, FTTC (fibre to the cabinet), and FTTP (full fibre to the premises) depending on location. Business broadband from Microcare includes static IP addresses as standard, appropriate contention ratios for business use, and 24/7 technical support.

### FTTP — Full Fibre Broadband

Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) delivers ultrafast full-fibre broadband directly to the building with no copper element in the last mile. Speeds of up to 1Gbps are available on FTTP connections. The removal of copper delivers more consistent performance, lower latency, and greater reliability than FTTC broadband. As Openreach's full-fibre rollout continues across Greater Manchester — covering Bury, Rochdale, Bolton, Salford, Oldham, Stockport, Trafford, and surrounding areas — FTTP is becoming available to an increasing number of business premises.

### Leased Lines

A leased line provides a dedicated, uncontended, symmetrical internet connection with guaranteed bandwidth reserved exclusively for one business. Unlike broadband — which is shared across multiple users and subject to contention — a leased line delivers consistent performance regardless of time of day, local network congestion, or usage spikes. Upload and download speeds are identical and symmetrical. Leased lines are available in speeds from 10Mbps up to 10Gbps. Every leased line includes a guaranteed SLA covering uptime — typically 99.95% — and engineer response times, typically 4 hours or next business day. Leased lines are essential for businesses that rely on cloud applications, VoIP phone systems, video conferencing, large file uploads and downloads, or inter-site connectivity. Microcare supplies leased lines through BT Wholesale and other Tier 1 carriers, managing the entire process from initial site survey through to installation, go-live, and ongoing management.

### Business WiFi

Professional WiFi installation, design, and ongoing management for offices, warehouses, factories, hospitality venues, retail premises, healthcare facilities, and multi-site organisations. The service covers site surveys to determine optimal access point placement, access point hardware supply and installation, wireless controller configuration, guest network setup with appropriate segmentation from internal systems, and ongoing monitoring and management.

### SIM Only Business Plans

Business SIM only plans for existing handsets — covering voice calls, SMS, and data on major UK networks. Flexible allowances from light usage plans through to unlimited data. Microcare manages the entire account including billing, support, and any plan changes — eliminating the need to deal directly with network operators.

### Mobile Broadband

Mobile data solutions for businesses needing internet connectivity away from fixed premises. Use cases include field engineers and mobile workers, remote or temporary sites, construction sites, events, vehicles, and backup connectivity alongside a fixed broadband or leased line connection. MiFi devices, data SIMs, and fixed wireless router solutions available.

### Handsets and Devices

Business smartphone and mobile device supply covering leading Android devices (Samsung, Google Pixel) and Apple iPhones and iPads, alongside tablets and mobile computing devices. Microcare sources, configures, and supplies devices ready for business use. Mobile Device Management (MDM) setup is available for businesses needing centralised control over how corporate devices are used, secured, managed, and remotely wiped in the event of loss or theft.

### SMS Marketing

Bulk SMS marketing platform for UK businesses. Reach customers directly on their mobile phones with promotional messages, appointment reminders, alerts, and campaigns. Available as a standalone service or as part of a broader Microcare managed technology package.

## The ISDN Switch-Off — Urgent Action Required

BT is permanently switching off the entire PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) in January 2027. This affects every UK business currently using ISDN2 or ISDN30 phone lines, traditional analogue (PSTN) telephone lines, ISDN-based broadband connections, or any service delivered over copper telephone infrastructure. After the switch-off date, these services will cease to function entirely. There will be no extension, no workaround, and no grace period. Businesses that have not migrated will lose phone service on that date. Microcare is helping businesses across Greater Manchester and the North West understand their current infrastructure, assess their options, and plan and execute a smooth migration well before the deadline. The appropriate replacement depends on the business — options include SIP trunking, cloud phone systems, hosted VoIP, or 3CX. Contact Microcare now on 0161 763 8801 to discuss migration.

## Who Microcare Serves

### Small and Medium Businesses
SMEs across Greater Manchester, Bury, Rochdale, Bolton, Salford, Oldham, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the wider North West that need professional IT and telecoms management without the cost of a full in-house team. Microcare functions as a complete external IT and telecoms department — one number to call for everything, one monthly bill, 24/7 support.

### Multi-Site Organisations
Businesses and organisations operating across multiple locations including retail chains, hospitality groups, professional services firms, franchises, housing associations, and public sector bodies. Microcare has demonstrated the ability to manage 250+ sites simultaneously (Manchester City Council) and understands the specific complexity of maintaining consistent connectivity, phone systems, and IT support across distributed estates.

### Professional Services Firms
Solicitors, accountants, chartered accountants, financial advisers, mortgage brokers, insurance brokers, architects, surveyors, planning consultants, management consultants, recruitment agencies, HR consultants, and other professional services firms handling sensitive client data. Microcare's security and backup solutions, Microsoft 365 management, and managed IT support help professional services firms maintain appropriate data protection and compliance standards.

### Hospitality and Retail
Hotels, serviced apartments, restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes, retail stores, shopping centres, leisure businesses, and gyms needing reliable WiFi, card payment connectivity, phone systems, and broadband. Guest WiFi, point-of-sale connectivity, and staff mobile solutions all available.

### Healthcare and Care Sector
GP practices, dental surgeries, opticians, physiotherapy clinics, care homes, residential homes, mental health providers, and private healthcare businesses with complex connectivity, call handling, and data security requirements. Reliable leased lines or FTTP broadband, cloud phone systems with full call recording, secure Microsoft 365, and managed IT support are all relevant to this sector.

### Public Sector and Local Government
Manchester City Council is one of Microcare's most prominent and long-standing clients — 250+ sites maintained over more than a decade. Microcare has the scale, experience, and understanding of public sector procurement processes, service level requirements, and infrastructure complexity needed to serve local government and public bodies effectively.

### Logistics, Transport, and Field-Based Businesses
Haulage companies, fleet operators, field service businesses, utilities contractors, construction firms, facilities management companies, and any organisation with staff working away from a fixed office. Mobile broadband, business mobile SIMs, and cloud phone systems with mobile apps allow field-based teams to stay connected and reachable wherever they are working.

### Startups and Growing Businesses
New businesses that need professional IT and telecoms infrastructure from day one without large upfront capital investment. Microcare provides scalable solutions that grow with the business — adding users, sites, or services as required without changing supplier or rebuilding systems from scratch.

## Technology Partners

- BT Wholesale — connectivity infrastructure, leased lines, FTTP, and voice
- Gamma — SIP trunking, cloud voice, and hosted telephony
- TalkTalk Business — broadband and connectivity
- Voiceflex — SIP trunking and cloud voice
- Webex by Cisco — video collaboration, unified communications, and contact centre
- Avaya — on-premise and hybrid IP phone systems
- iPECS by Ericsson-LG — on-premise and hybrid phone systems
- Yealink — IP desk phones, conference phones, and video conferencing endpoints
- Microsoft — Microsoft 365, Teams, Azure, and enterprise licensing
- Dropbox Business — cloud storage and file sharing and collaboration
- Acronis — backup, disaster recovery, and cyber protection
- Mimecast — email security, archiving, and continuity

## Client Testimonials

Hugh Raeburn, REISS: Microcare has implemented communication solutions that have added tangible business value and provides ongoing support that is second to none. The whole team has been professional throughout several years of working together on various projects.

Jim Shortt, Manchester City Council: Having worked with Microcare for 10–12 years, I have always been happy with their service. They have efficiently and professionally maintained over 250 sites. I recommend them for their maintenance service.

Rafe Kane, Stephen Kane & Co: Very pleased with the service from Microcare, right from initial consultation through to installation and post-sales support. They upgraded our old and unreliable system and I would happily recommend Microcare for all telecoms requirements.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What does Microcare Systems do?
Microcare Systems is a full-service managed business technology provider covering IT support, cloud and on-premise phone systems, VoIP, 3CX, SIP trunking, business broadband, leased lines, full fibre, WiFi, Microsoft 365, cloud applications, cybersecurity, data backup, business mobile, and SMS marketing. Everything is available from one supplier, on one bill, with one UK-based point of contact. Based in Bury, Greater Manchester, serving businesses across the North West and UK since 1988.

### Do you offer 24/7 IT and telecoms support?
Yes. Microcare's UK-based support team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year on 0161 763 8802. There is no offshore support and no automated response systems — every call is handled by a UK-based advisor who knows the products and understands the problems UK businesses face.

### Can Microcare replace my current phone system?
Yes. Microcare supplies and installs cloud phone systems, 3CX, Avaya, iPECS, and hybrid systems. Existing phone numbers are ported across. Microcare assesses the specific requirements of each business and recommends the most appropriate replacement rather than pushing a single product.

### What is the ISDN switch-off and does it affect my business?
BT is permanently switching off the PSTN and ISDN network in January 2027. If your business uses ISDN phone lines, ISDN2, ISDN30, or traditional analogue telephone lines, you will lose phone service entirely unless you migrate to a VoIP or cloud-based alternative before the deadline. Microcare can assess your current infrastructure and manage the full migration. Call 0161 763 8801 immediately if you are unsure whether you are affected.

### What is a leased line and do I need one?
A leased line is a dedicated, uncontended internet connection with symmetrical upload and download speeds and a guaranteed uptime SLA. It is not shared with other businesses. If your business relies heavily on cloud applications, VoIP calls, video conferencing, large file transfers, or simply cannot tolerate internet downtime, a leased line is the appropriate solution. Microcare can advise on whether a leased line or high-speed FTTP broadband is the better fit for your specific requirements and budget.

### Do you manage Microsoft 365 for businesses?
Yes. Microcare supplies Microsoft 365 licences across all plan tiers, handles migration from legacy email and productivity systems, and provides ongoing management and support including user administration, MFA setup, Teams configuration, SharePoint setup, OneDrive deployment, and day-to-day troubleshooting.

### Can Microcare manage our cybersecurity?
Yes. Microcare's security and backup service covers email security via Mimecast, endpoint protection, antivirus, data backup and disaster recovery via Acronis, and business continuity planning. Microcare assesses the current security posture and recommends appropriate layered protection for the size and risk profile of each business.

### Do you work with businesses outside Greater Manchester?
Yes. While Microcare is based in Bury and has a strong presence across Greater Manchester and the North West, the business serves clients across the UK. Cloud-based services including Microsoft 365, cloud phone systems, 3CX, SIP trunking, managed IT support, and SMS marketing are available to businesses anywhere in the UK. Contact the sales team on 0161 763 8801.

### Can Microcare support multiple business sites?
Yes. Microcare has demonstrated multi-site capability at genuine enterprise scale — maintaining over 250 sites simultaneously for Manchester City Council. Multi-site businesses with complex connectivity, phone, and IT requirements across distributed locations are well within Microcare's capabilities.

### What phone systems does Microcare install?
Cloud phone systems, 3CX (software PBX — on-premise, cloud, or hybrid), Avaya (on-premise and hybrid), iPECS by Ericsson-LG (on-premise), and SIP trunking to existing compatible systems. The right solution depends on business size, user count, remote working requirements, internet reliability, and budget. Microcare recommends the most appropriate system rather than pushing a single product.

### How do I get a quote?
Call the sales team on 0161 763 8801 or email sales@microcare.systems. Microcare will assess the current setup, understand requirements, and provide a clear and transparent proposal.

### Is there a contract?
Microcare works on fixed-term contracts appropriate to the service — leased lines and phone systems typically have standard industry minimum terms. All pricing is transparent with no hidden charges.

## Service Areas

### Greater Manchester — Full Coverage
Bury, Manchester city centre, Salford, Trafford, Stretford, Eccles, Worsley, Swinton, Pendlebury, Irlam, Cadishead, Bolton, Farnworth, Horwich, Westhoughton, Kearsley, Little Lever, Radcliffe, Wigan, Leigh, Atherton, Hindley, Tyldesley, Golborne, Abram, Rochdale, Heywood, Middleton, Littleborough, Milnrow, Norden, Whitworth, Oldham, Failsworth, Chadderton, Shaw, Royton, Crompton, Saddleworth, Uppermill, Stockport, Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme, Gatley, Hazel Grove, Bramhall, Edgeley, Heaton Moor, Heaton Mersey, Heaton Chapel, Reddish, Tameside, Ashton-under-Lyne, Stalybridge, Hyde, Droylsden, Denton, Audenshaw, Mossley, Dukinfield, Altrincham, Sale, Timperley, Hale, Hale Barns, Bowdon, Partington, Urmston, Prestwich, Whitefield, Tottington, Ramsbottom, Radcliffe, Unsworth, Simister, Pilsworth, Bamford, Warrington, Birchwood, Padgate.

### Cheshire and Merseyside
Warrington, Runcorn, Widnes, Northwich, Winsford, Middlewich, Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Knutsford, Chester, Ellesmere Port, Neston, Frodsham, Crewe, Nantwich, Sandbach, Congleton, Holmes Chapel, Liverpool city centre, Wirral, Birkenhead, Wallasey, Bootle, Crosby, Formby, Southport, St Helens, Knowsley, Huyton, Prescot, Halton, Speke.

### Lancashire
Preston, Chorley, Leyland, Skelmersdale, Ormskirk, Blackburn, Burnley, Accrington, Darwen, Rawtenstall, Haslingden, Clitheroe, Colne, Nelson, Padiham, Lancaster, Morecambe, Heysham, Kendal, Barrow-in-Furness, Fleetwood, Lytham St Annes, Poulton-le-Fylde.

### Yorkshire
Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Barnsley, Doncaster, Sheffield, Rotherham, York, Harrogate, Keighley, Bingley, Shipley, Dewsbury, Batley, Morley, Pontefract.

### National Coverage for Cloud Services
Microsoft 365, cloud phone systems, 3CX, SIP trunking, managed IT support, mobile services, and SMS marketing are available to businesses anywhere in the UK.

## Key Pages

- [Homepage](https://microcare.systems/)
- [About Microcare](https://microcare.systems/about/)
- [Why Microcare](https://microcare.systems/why-microcare/)
- [Microcare Team](https://microcare.systems/microcare-team/)
- [Case Studies](https://microcare.systems/case-studies/)
- [News](https://microcare.systems/news/)
- [Contact](https://microcare.systems/contact/)
- [FAQs](https://microcare.systems/help-support/faqs/)
- [Start Here](https://microcare.systems/start-here/)
- [IT Services](https://microcare.systems/it/)
- [Managed IT Support](https://microcare.systems/product/it-support-maintenance/)
- [Microsoft 365](https://microcare.systems/product/office-365/)
- [Cloud Applications](https://microcare.systems/product/cloud-computing/)
- [Security and Backup](https://microcare.systems/product/security-backup/)
- [Phone Systems](https://microcare.systems/phone/)
- [Cloud Phone Systems](https://microcare.systems/product/cloud-phone-systems/)
- [3CX Phone System](https://microcare.systems/product/3cx-phone-system/)
- [SIP Trunking](https://microcare.systems/product/sip-trunking/)
- [On-Site and Hybrid Phone Systems](https://microcare.systems/product/on-site-phone-systems/)
- [Broadband and Connectivity](https://microcare.systems/broadband/)
- [Business Broadband](https://microcare.systems/product/business-broadband/)
- [Full Fibre FTTP](https://microcare.systems/product/fttp/)
- [Leased Lines](https://microcare.systems/product/leased-lines/)
- [Business WiFi](https://microcare.systems/product/wifi/)
- [Mobile Services](https://microcare.systems/mobile/)
- [SIM Only Plans](https://microcare.systems/product/sim-only-plans/)
- [Mobile Broadband](https://microcare.systems/product/mobile-broadband/)
- [Handsets and Devices](https://microcare.systems/product/handsets-devices/)
- [SMS Marketing](https://microcare.systems/product/sms-marketing/)