Heathrow Hydrant Operating Company (HHOC)

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The Company

HHOC manages Heathrow Airport’s aviation fuel distribution and pipeline network, storing fuel and delivering it to aircraft through pressurised ring mains, or hydrants, situated around the terminals.

Operating nineteen outstations across all terminals, HHOC forms a critical part of Heathrow’s day-to-day operational service, helping to ensure aviation fuel can be distributed safely and efficiently across the airport.

Based at Heathrow Airport, HHOC has been trading since 1993 and has extensive experience in managing the infrastructure and services that support Heathrow’s aviation operations.

The Objective

HHOC required a trusted IT partner with local support and capable of managing its entire IT estate, from end user support through to infrastructure, so its team could focus on its core operations without technology getting in the way. 

With its IT supporting critical operations across Heathrow Airport, HHOC needed confidence that its technology was reliable, secure and well managed, with a responsive partner available to provide support whenever required. 

The business needed a single point of contact for all IT requirements, combining regular onsite support with remote assistance and wider technical expertise to provide a consistent and dependable service. 

This would allow HHOC to address IT issues quickly, minimise disruption and ensure its teams had the technology support they needed to carry out their day to day responsibilities effectively.

The Challenge

As the operator of critical fuel infrastructure at one of the world’s busiest airports, HHOC needed assurance that its day-to-day IT, from user support to underlying infrastructure, was in safe hands, with a responsive partner on hand both remotely and onsite.

With technology supporting its operational environment across Heathrow Airport, any IT issues needed to be addressed quickly to minimise disruption and keep teams working effectively. HHOC therefore needed a reliable IT partner that could provide consistent support, maintain its infrastructure and respond quickly when technical issues arose.

Local onsite support was also important, giving HHOC direct access to experienced engineers who understood its environment and could provide practical assistance when required.

Our Approach

Fully Outsourced Managed IT Services

KubeNet took on full responsibility for the HHOC IT estate, covering both end user support and infrastructure management as a single, fully outsourced managed service.

This provides HHOC with a central point of contact for its IT requirements, supported by experienced engineers who understand its environment and operational needs.

The service provides reliable and responsive support across the wider IT estate, helping HHOC maintain effective day to day operations while allowing its team to remain focused on its core responsibilities.

Weekly Onsite Support

Alongside remote support, our team provides regular weekly onsite visits, giving HHOC staff direct, face to face access to their IT partner when required.

This local presence allows our engineers to respond to issues directly, provide practical assistance and develop a strong understanding of the HHOC environment.

Combined with remote support from the wider KubeNet team, this provides HHOC with a consistent and responsive IT service.

A Trusted, Long-Term Partnership

KubeNet has built a long-standing relationship with HHOC, acting as a genuine extension of their team and a trusted supplier they can rely on.

Through close collaboration and regular engagement, KubeNet has developed a strong understanding of HHOC's systems, people and operational requirements.

This enables us to provide ongoing technical support and guidance that continues to meet the needs of the business as they evolve.

The Results

Full outsourced management of end user and infrastructure IT, allowing HHOC to hand over the day to day management of its technology to KubeNet. This provides a joined-up service across its IT environment, with KubeNet taking responsibility for both user requirements and the underlying infrastructure.

Reduction in costs, helping HHOC make its IT provision more efficient and ensuring it receives the right level of support without unnecessary overheads. The fully managed model provides access to a wider team of technical expertise while keeping IT management streamlined.

Regular weekly onsite support, alongside remote service, giving HHOC the benefit of having KubeNet engineers physically available at Heathrow on a regular basis. This is complemented by remote support from the wider team, providing HHOC with flexibility and assistance whenever an issue arises.

A trusted, dependable IT partner HHOC can rely on with local KubeNet engineers, giving the business confidence that its IT is supported by people who understand its environment and the demands of its operations. Having local engineers available also allows issues to be dealt with directly and efficiently when onsite assistance is required.

Consistent, full support from a supplier HHOC trusts, with KubeNet providing an ongoing service that has become an extension of the HHOC team. The established relationship means KubeNet understands the business, its technology and its priorities, allowing support to be delivered with continuity and a clear understanding of what HHOC needs.

Conclusion

By taking full ownership of HHOC IT support and infrastructure, KubeNet gives the team confidence that their technology is in safe, capable hands 24/7/365. 

With a combination of fully outsourced managed IT services, regular weekly onsite support and responsive remote assistance, HHOC has access to the expertise and resources it needs to keep its technology running reliably. 

KubeNet’s local presence also provides HHOC with direct access to engineers who understand its environment and operational requirements, allowing issues to be addressed quickly and effectively when they arise. 

This long-standing partnership provides HHOC with a dependable IT service it can rely on, allowing its team to focus on its critical operations while KubeNet manages and supports the technology behind them.