HP has admitted that it withdrew the Gold Preferred Partner level because the timing was not right.

During the second day of its EMEA Preferred Partner Conference, more details emerged on the certification and which resellers are eligible to apply.

Speaking to the audience of 600 Preferred Partners from across EMEA, Sean Gallagher, director Solution Partners Organisation at HP, said: “Gold is back with a vengeance.”

“We talked about it back in Barcelona in 2006, and we discussed and reviewed it. We were not happy with the architecture of it and knew we needed more time. We believe now is the time to do that.”

Benefits to partners that become a Gold Preferred Partner include increased Pay For Results, partner development funds, Partner for Growth and use of the exclusive Gold logo.

To qualify, partners must have completed a specified number of HP’s certifications, of which there are now 12, after the unveiling of a virtualisation specialisation earlier this week (CRN Online, 16 April).

HP will be sending out detailed information packs to partners by 5 May and they then have until 10 September to ensure they have all the necessary criteria to qualify. The vendor is hoping to unveil the first Gold level partners across Europe on 1 November to coincide with the start of its new fiscal year.

“Because this is a higher certification, there will be higher country revenue targets and additional certification requirements,” said Gallagher.

As with all HP Preferred Partner initiatives the Gold level accreditation will be reviewed on an annual basis.