8 year partnership introduces new technologies and greater flexibility for secondary and primary schools
29 July 2013, London: Civica, a market leader in specialist systems and business process services that help organisations transform the way they work, has signed an 8 year partnership with Lambeth Council to deliver Lambeth Learning Futures, its upgraded ICT Managed Service. The deal, potentially worth £10.8 million, will see Civica transition services from the incumbent provider to its next generation managed helpdesk service, supporting approximately 10,000 users and implementing a virtual desktop infrastructure at each school.
By partnering with Civica, the local authority and schools will benefit from a number of cost savings. Hosting core ICT services in Civica’s cloud ensures Lambeth Council will not bear the direct costs or administration of managing the school’s ICT. Civica has also offered to buy back any outdated devices from the schools and will support them in making older devices last longer to further reduce spending. Schools will benefit from the flexibility of Civica’s modular service which allows them to purchase only what they need, on top of the core managed service package. The schools will continue to benefit from an aggregated procurement model run by the local authority, negating the need for individual contracts.
Civica has an excellent track record in providing flexible education ICT hosting in the cloud, migrating organisations to new network infrastructures, and with financial transparency of its charging model. It successfully transformed local authority schools in both Sheffield and Barnsley, offering state-of-the-art facilities and supporting over 60,000 users in total, and the company understands the requirements of schools in keeping children and young people safe online. Civica has also agreed to safeguard employment and conditions for the incumbent IT team by transferring them into roles within Civica. This is something the organisation has championed throughout all its work in the public sector at a time when many authorities are having to reduce headcount.
David O’Neill, ICT strategy manager, Lambeth CYPS , said: “We chose Civica quite simply because of the quality of what they’re offering and value for money which is paramount to Lambeth Council.”
The contract will also include the provision of broadband technical support, including assistance with filtering, security and email; e-safety and data protection advice; support and training for schools, and advice on ICT integration for new building projects. The service will be fully integrated with the London Grid for Learning, giving students and staff full access to its considerable e-learning content. Schools will also have the option to purchase additional modular services, as and when they see fit. The modular add-ons include consultancy around the strategic use of ICT, making the most of existing school ICT and learning platforms, and running an after school ICT club."
Lee Burley, managing director of Civica’s education division, said: “Schools are under more pressure than ever to deliver outstanding results whilst cutting costs. This new partnership illustrates just how they can do so by joining forces under their local authority to share core ICT services in the cloud. By giving individual schools the opportunity to purchase additional services on top of this, we’re allowing head teachers to take more control over budgets and create unique learning environments.”
For more information about Lambeth Council, please visit http://www.lambeth.gov.uk
About Civica
The Civica Group (www.civica.co.uk) is an international market leader in specialist IT systems and business process services for the public sector. Through experienced people who understand service delivery, the Group applies software, managed services and outsourcing to help customers streamline their activities. Civica supplies more than 2,000 organisations in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada and the USA, including more than 90% of the UK’s local authorities.
