Smart Hands Client Portal
Engineering-Capable Smart Hands in Manchester

Give us a plan, or give us a goal.

Give us a runbook and we'll execute. Give us a problem and we'll solve it. One engineer or a full team — we scale to the job, work independently, and only escalate when it matters.

Coverage
Manchester
Availability
24/7/365
Proximity
<20 mins from 20+ data centres

Why teams book us

We don't just follow instructions — we help you get the job done.

Clean work

Labelled, tidy, and photographed. Every visit includes post-visit photo documentation so you can verify the standard of work without being on-site.

On-time

Agreed arrival window, with live updates en route. You'll know exactly where the engineer is and when they'll arrive.

Prepared

Tools, consumables, and engineering knowledge on hand. See what we carry in our toolbox. No wasted visits, no waiting on parts.

Documented

Post-visit report within 24 hours, with before-and-after photos and engineering observations.

Minimal input required

You don't need to manage us. Give us the brief, and we'll deliver the outcome.

Give us a runbook

You have a process — we follow it precisely. Step-by-step execution, documented and confirmed.

Give us a goal

You describe the outcome — we figure out how to get there. Engineering judgement, not just task execution.

Escalation, not hand-holding

We work independently and escalate only at genuine decision points. You get progress updates — not questions you shouldn't have to answer.

Typical work we take on

These are examples, not limits. If it's infrastructure and it's in Manchester and surrounding areas — ask us.

Rack & stack

Full deployments — single servers to multi-rack builds. Racking, cabling, power, IPMI, photos.

Network diagnostics

Port not linking? We trace the cable, test the run, check the patch panel, and find the fault.

Structured cabling

Copper and fibre — termination, patching, panel rebuilds, labelling, testing. No splicing.

Hardware & configuration

Drive swaps, PSU replacements, BIOS updates, OS installs, IPMI/BMC configuration.

Office & workspace projects

Desk provisioning, network drops, tenant moves, decommissions — minimal disruption.

Long-duration & multi-site

Projects spanning 10–30+ hours across multiple visits or sites. Day-rates available.

From quick fixes to full deployments

Whether it's a single cable move or a multi-week project, the approach is the same: efficient, independent execution with minimal client involvement.

22 hrs · 2 engineers
Full office right-sized

70 desks to 40

London MSP needed a Manchester office right-sized. We audited 70 desks, retained the best hardware, deployed 40 standardised workstations to spec, and delivered a future-proofing inventory.

1 cable · 1 engineer
Single fix, remote access restored

Remote access down

An MSP lost remote access to their client's Manchester site after a misconfiguration. We attended as hands and eyes, moved a cable between ports while they fixed it remotely. No travel costs, no hotel, no downtime.

Different scale, same outcome. One provider, any size of job.

Simple pricing

Transparent, GPS-verifiable billable hours. And there's no VAT.

Time

£75/hour

1-hour minimum. Per engineer.
We won't exceed your estimate without approval.

  • GPS check-in and check-out on every visit — you only pay for actual time on-site.
  • One engineer or a full team — we scale to the job.
  • Cable ties & rack nuts included as standard.
  • No emergency surcharges. No out-of-hours premiums. Same rate at 2am as at 2pm.
  • Parking and tolls charged at cost where applicable.
  • See how billing works for full details.

The Smart Hands Portal

Purpose-built client portal to manage your Smart Hands work — on the web and on your iPhone.

Raise work orders, approve estimates, message your engineer live, and download invoices — all in one place.

Also available on iOS
Smart Hands Portal — Work Orders dashboard

How it works

A simple, streamlined process from start to finish

1

Initial Onboarding

We discuss how Smart Hands can best support your business and your upcoming requirements. You'll be invited to the Smart Hands Portal, where you can manage work orders, materials orders, and support requests all in one place.

2

Submit Your Work Orders

We gather the full scope, confirm the site details, and provide a quote — fixed or time & materials, as appropriate.

3

On-Site

Engineers carry out the work with GPS-tracked check-in and check-out, live photo updates, and communication throughout — so you can be confident in every billable hour.

4

Report

A short report summarising what was done, including before-and-after photos and next-step recommendations.

FAQs

Common questions answered

What if your engineer damages something on-site?

We carry comprehensive public liability and professional indemnity insurance. In the unlikely event of damage, we take full responsibility. We document the state of equipment before and after every visit.

How do you handle NDAs, site access, and security clearance?

We routinely sign NDAs and comply with site-specific access procedures. If your facility requires security vetting or escort protocols, let us know in advance and we'll make sure everything is in order before arrival.

What happens if the job runs over the estimate?

Every estimate includes a Not To Exceed limit. If on-site conditions mean the NTE won't be sufficient, we pause and contact you for explicit approval before continuing. You're never surprised by the invoice.

Can I request the same engineer for repeat visits?

Yes. If you have a preferred engineer, let us know when booking. Continuity matters — especially for ongoing projects or sites with specific configurations.

Do you carry insurance? What level of cover?

Yes. We hold public liability insurance and professional indemnity cover. Details and certificates are available on request.

What if the work needs specialist tools we haven't mentioned?

Tell us what you need at booking. If it's something we don't carry as standard, we'll source it in advance. We'd rather prepare properly than show up without what's required.

Can you work alongside our existing IT team or MSP?

Absolutely. We regularly operate as an extension of in-house teams and MSPs. We follow your procedures, use your ticketing systems, and communicate directly with your engineers if needed.

Want to learn more about what we do? Check out our "Did you know...?" page

Ready to get started?

Book an introductory call to discuss how Smart Hands can support your IT infrastructure needs.