Northgate-is

Acquisition of CARM Police Duty Management System

2010-07-22T23:00:00+01:00

Northgate Public Services today announces the acquisition of CARM Police Duty Management System from Concorde Informatics in a move designed to further boost Northgate’s demand management services for hard-pressed police forces across the country.

CARM is the market leading resource management system used by more forces than any other in the country, including the Metropolitan Police and West Yorkshire Police.

CARM enables forces to manage their complex shift patterns, allowing them to ensure the right staff coverage to deliver responsive policing to the public at the right time. It allows forces to search for available officers with a specific set of skills at any time. It equips them to better plan their human resources through daily, weekly, monthly and annual rosters. They can also analyse the use of overtime budgets and quickly record and monitor absence.

The acquisition of CARM significantly strengthens Northgate’s ability to assist forces in providing more effective policing at a time when the service is under unprecedented pressure to make efficiency savings. Northgate currently is the exclusive supplier and integrator of Leicestershire Constabulary’s award-winning iR3 initiative aimed at building public confidence, improving performance and creating efficiencies.

In his Independent Review of Policing 2008, Sir Ronnie Flanagan noted that the initiative has resulted in: “A dramatic reduction in self-deployment, substantially reducing multiple deployments and improving response times through automatic identification and deployment of the nearest available unit. Officer time spent in priority areas has significantly increased.”

Commenting on the acquisition, Ian Blackhurst, Managing Director of Public Safety, Northgate Public Services said today: “This is yet another exciting acquisition for Northgate Public Services. We are significantly growing our public safety business through selective acquisitions which allow us to work effectively with police services at a time of unprecedented challenge. We are committed to working with the public sector in new ways that involve sharing risk and reward so that we can create cashable savings while improving performance. We firmly believe that the addition of CARM will strengthen our ability to deliver this to every police force in the country.”

For more information

Kathy Sutton +44 (0)20 7324 6221; +44 (0)7966 890401

Hannah Smith +44 (0)20 7324 6222; +44 (0)7949 421356

Danny Calogero +44 (0)20 7324 6223; +44 (0)7534 189235

Wigan High School, in Partnership with Northgate Managed Services, transforms into centre of excellence for eLearning

2010-07-18T23:00:00+01:00

Engaging today’s students with technology - Abraham Guest High School delivers its vision for personalised interactive learning

Opening brand new doors to over 900 students, Abraham Guest High School in Wigan is delivering its inspiring vision for personalised, anytime, anywhere learning as part of the One School Pathfinder programme.

Keen to engage students through a truly interactive learning experience, staff at the new multi-million pound school are working in partnership with ICT specialist Northgate Managed Services to embed the latest technologies into teaching practice. From an interactive pod utilising the latest Immersive technology in the science lab and a biometric locker system for laptops, to Nintendo Wiis sunk into the gym walls, staff and students are immersed in a technology-rich environment the moment they step foot inside the school.
Appreciating the individuality of every school and the concept that one size does not fit all, Northgate has worked closely with Abraham Guest’s leadership team from the outset to foster a flexible, dynamic partnership to support their vision and ultimately help to transform learning.

Entering the school’s bright and airy atrium, a high-powered projector and large LCD screens adorn the walls, showcasing students’ work and important announcements of the day. A large LED display is also to be installed to display the school’s innovative 60-year clock which will broadcast key changes at the school, from student opinion on a range of topics and issues, to the dinner menu and uniform. Students are currently designing the clock’s interface to be selected by a panel of judges and implemented by Northgate in the next academic year. Promoting student voice, implementation of biometric technology is also planned to capture students’ opinions on a range of topics as they enter and leave the building.

Providing a learning environment which caters for every learning style and enables students to collaborate is imperative at Abraham Guest. One exceptional example of this is a new interactive pod situated in the large 1600sqm open-plan science area. Inspired by installations at Salford University’s Innovation Unit, the pod has been developed and produced by Northgate. High-resolution projectors display content on to the specially commissioned screen which doubles as the pods external wall, this has been designed to capture students’ attention and engage them in science topics. Designed to submerse students in multi-sensory learning, the interior combines the latest flight simulation technology and surround sound , enabling students to gain an immersive experience with the subject matter without outside distractions. For example, when studying the solar system students can immerse themselves in a journey through the planets .In chemistry they can watch molecules in 3D as they rotate to show their structure.Up to six students can enter the pod at one time, facilitating group work. The software for the pod will be continually developed by Northgate and the school’s e-learning content developer to help facilitate different learning outcomes and experiences.

Helping students to understand how science can have major influence on their daily lives, the school is working with Project Faraday to incorporate science into the building and grounds. Currently, Northgate is integrating technology to take readings from the school’s 60-year clock and Knowledge Garden which sees waste products from the science blocks filtered into a tank and pumped through reed beds to create recyclable water. All of this data will be available on the school’s intranet for staff and students to interpret in class.

Helping students to become independent learners, the school is now fully wireless-enabled allowing students to access their work via a range of fixed, mobile and handheld devices wherever they are in the building. To complement this, Northgate has implemented its Virtual Desktop solution which allows students to log-on to any computer, anywhere and anytime to access the school’s full range of applications. A biometric locker system for laptops has also been installed to provide access to laptops whenever a student requires one. This innovative solution releases to the student whichever laptop has the most charge and records who, when and for how long a student signs a laptop out for. In addition to enhancing the security of school equipment, the system helps teachers analyse the time students spend working independently.
Understanding that students are surrounded daily by the latest consumer technologies, staff at Abraham Guest now provide the interactive learning experience they have come to expect, in the classroom. For example, Nintendo Wiis have been installed in the gym and changing rooms to provide flexibility in how students exercise. This is proving particularly popular with female students who may not engage with traditional sports. Dartfish, video technology is used to record and analyse movement in a variety of sporting situations as students strive for success.

Roy Caslake, Headteacher, Abraham Guest High School, comments: “Our school’s entire school improvement plan has been centred on the learning needs of our students. They use technology every day so have come to expect this as part of their learning. From the outset, Northgate Managed Services has been incredibly flexible and adaptable in its approach and as a result, the company has helped shape our school’s vision. Technology moves fast so it has been crucial to work with a partner that can be flexible when interpreting our needs and is always ahead of the game.”

David Hyland, Managing Director, Education at Northgate Managed Services, comments: “We are delighted to be working with such a forward-thinking school that is putting the learning needs of today’s students at the heart of its vision. We are employed to challenge as well as support the school’s ICT provision so it has been vital to have constant two-way dialogue. Both parties have been continuously engaged and have challenged each other every step of the way to improve ICT provision, resulting in an exceptional learning environment which will stand the test of time.”

School to Benefit from Northgate Managed Services Business Expertise

2010-06-27T23:00:00+01:00

North Belfast primary school, St Mary’s Star of the Sea, is set to benefit from invaluable business expertise in 2010/2011 after being ‘adopted’ by Northgate Managed Services.

Created by Business in the Community, the ‘Adopt a School’ program, seeks to build stronger links between businesses and local schools, utilising the expertise of the business community to help enrich the education sector.

Since becoming one of the first businesses to sign up to the pilot scheme, Northgate has been on hand to advise the school on all aspects of business; from ensuring the school is able to make the most of ICT through to marketing the school to its local community. Northgate has donated IT equipment and software which will be used by both teachers and pupils to make the classroom more interactive, and has also been involved in a fundraising drive to stock the school’s library in preparation for the new school year. Northgate staff will continue to take part in several activities from September onwards - from supporting students with reading and computing to providing additional training for teachers on how to get more out of ICT in the classroom.

Eleanor Lee, Head of Marketing, Northgate Managed Services commented:
“Northgate has enjoyed a good relationship with St Mary’s Star of the Sea for over ten years. We are delighted to strengthen this partnership further by signing up to Business in the Community’s ‘Adopt a School’ scheme. The benefits of the scheme are two-fold – we are able to give something back to a school in our local community while St Mary’s can avail of pro bono support on a range of issues and activities. Our employees are really enthusiastic about the initiative and look forward to progressing their adoptive role over the next year.”

Kieran McGarry, Principal, St Mary’s Star of the Sea Primary School said:
“Since we have been adopted by Northgate, the employees have given 100% to every initiative they have been involved in. Their commitment and enthusiasm is commendable and I’d like to thank them for all the great work they have done to date and look forward to progressing this further still from September onwards.”

Jill Crawford, Community Director, Business in the Community said:
“Northgate is to be commended for demonstrating responsible leadership in Corporate Social Responsibility. The Adopt a School initiative enables the strengthening of links between business and education, providing vital connections for the future. Business in the Community is delighted to have one of our member companies leading on this in the Newtownabbey area.”

Kent Innovation Showcase 2010

2010-06-09T23:00:00+01:00

Kent schools to share best practice for educational transformation through technology

Event: Kent Innovation Showcase 2010 – Sharing Innovation & Success – free two-day event organised by Kent schools

Who should attend: Senior leaders, teachers, trainee teachers, bursars and ICT leads at Kent primary and secondary schools

Date/Time: Tuesday 22nd June 2010 - School Tours – 10:00 – 13:00
Wednesday 23rd June 2010 - Kent Innovation Conference – 08:30 – 16:00

Venue: Ashford International Hotel, Ashford, Kent, TN24 8UX

Catering: Refreshments and lunch will be provided at the conference

Kent primary and secondary school leaders and teaching staff are joining together this June at the Kent Innovation Showcase 2010 to share their experiences, challenges and success stories in driving innovation in ICT, personalised learning and change management.

Organised by Kent schools, in association with Kent County Council and supported by leading provider of ICT services and solutions, Northgate Managed Services (www.northgate-is.com/managedservices), this free two-day event kicks off with a guided tour around three exemplary institutions: Dane Court Grammar School in Broadstairs, Ifield School in Gravesend and the host school, Hugh Christie Technology College in Tonbridge. Attendees will select their preferred institution to be taken on a half-day tour and showcase of the school’s technology and learning initiatives. For example, visitors to Hugh Christie will learn about the school’s ‘Real Learning Programme’ and how the school uses Northgate’s expertise to maximise its ICT efficiency and offer students the best education using technology. At District Special School, Ifield, visitors will see how the latest technologies are helping to transform teaching and learning for students with physical, sensory and learning needs.

On day two, a full-day conference and exhibition will be opened by Professor Stephen Heppell of Bournemouth University, attributed as ‘the most influential academic of recent years in the field of technology and education.’* Covering the themes of innovation with ICT, personalised learning and change management, the conference will encompass an exciting range of school presentations from primary, secondary and academy leaders, providing deep insight into the strategies Kent schools are using to achieve educational excellence. Attendees will also get hands-on ICT experience in the exhibition area where they will have the opportunity to meet a selection of technology partners.

For further information or to book a place at the conference, please register at www.northgate-is.com/managedservices or contact Northgate Managed Services on tel: 02890 857159 / e-mail: lynsey.irwin@northgate-is.com.

Northgate Managed Services team does a bloomin' marvelous job at NI Childrens Hospice

2010-06-09T23:00:00+01:00

A team from Newtownabbey-based Northgate Managed Services traded the office for the great outdoors this week to tend to the garden at the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice.

The 18 staff members visited the Hospice as part of Business in the Community’s Cares Challenge; a campaign set up to encourage employee volunteering in the local community.

Donning gardening gloves, the ‘green-fingered’ team tackled some heavy-duty weeding as well as freshening up the paintwork on the many benches placed around the garden – used and enjoyed by the children, family members and staff all year round.

Commenting on the challenge, Eleanor Lee, Head of Marketing, Northgate Managed Services said:
“Northgate is delighted to take on the Cares Challenge for the 2nd year as part of our ongoing CSR activities. The Children’s’ Hospice is a neighbour of ours in Newtownabbey and at Northgate we place a huge importance on giving something back to the local community; especially to those organisations who themselves give so much. The staff at the Hospice work extremely hard and it’s fantastic to be able to help out where we can.”

Caroline Greer, head of fundraising, NI Children’s Hospice said:
“On behalf of everyone, I’d like to extend our thanks to the team from Northgate Managed Services. They give it 100% on every visit and definitely aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and get their hands (and clothes!) dirty. The garden is an integral part of the Hospice and allows us to give the children and their families a ‘Home from Home’ experience in a comfortable and safe environment. Well done to the Northgate team.”

Northgate Managed Services becomes Hartlepool Tall Ships Sponsor

2010-06-03T23:00:00+01:00

THE Tall Ships Races 2010 organisers in Hartlepool have announced Northgate Managed Services as the latest organisation to sign up as a sponsor.

The company, Hartlepool Borough Council’s strategic Information and Communications Technology (ICT) provider, is backing the town’s plans to host the finale of the international event from August 7-10 when up to one million visitors are expected.

Vessels will arrive in Hartlepool – the only UK host port - after sailing from Kristiansand in Norway and they will depart after taking part in an impressive Parade of Sail.

Hartlepool Borough Council has teamed up with PD Ports and Hartlepool Marina to stage the event and, so far, 67 ships have registered, 21 of them the largest square-rigged Class A vessels.

Michelle Daurat, Hartlepool Borough Council’s Tall Ships Project Manager, said: “We’re delighted to have Northgate Managed Services on board as a diamond sponsor.

“Northgate will be involved in installing technology and communication links for the Tall Ships events, and we’re pleased to be forging even closer links with the company through this sponsorship.”

Northgate Managed Services has over 30 years of experience within the ICT industry and employs over 1,300 people across the UK.

As part of the sponsorship deal, Northgate will be supporting six young people from Owton/Rossmere-based ORCEL Sea Training who will be sailing in The Tall Ships Races aboard Black Diamond.

Andy Ross, Chief Executive of Northgate Managed Services, said: “Over the past ten years, we have developed a strong and successful working relationship delivering ICT services in partnership with Hartlepool Borough Council.

“We are delighted to be able to support the Council by sponsoring the Hartlepool Tall ships event. Northgate Managed Services is committed to making a positive impact in the local communities in which we operate and we are excited to be able to give young people from ORCEL Sea Training the opportunity to compete in The Tall Ships Races. We wish them luck and hope they enjoy the experience, gaining key life skills on the way.”

For further information about the event log onto www.hartlepooltallships2010.com, telephone 01429 523636 or email tallships@hartlepool.gov.uk

Northgate Managed Services gets involved in an Inspirational Big Conversation

2010-05-25T23:00:00+01:00

Tuesday 25 May 2010 sees the national Work Inspiration campaign launched in Northern Ireland. It is delivered by Business in the Community in conjunction with the CBI and supported by Northern Bank and UTV Media plc.

Since Spring 2008, Business in the Community has been surveying senior business leaders for ideas on how to tackle the skills deficit in the UK and one of the key issues identified was the gap between the idea a young person has of the world of work and what business expects from new recruits.

In Northern Ireland, 22,000 young people are eligible for work experience each year. To be effective, it must be meaningful, relevant and above all inspiring.

Andy Ross, Chief Executive at Northgate Managed Services attended a Big Conversation, an event hosted by UTV. He joined over 50 Chief Executives and business leaders, meeting with 15 and 16 year old students to raise awareness among the corporate sector of how businesses can be used as a catalyst for positive change in the way work experience is provided for young people.

Liz Lemon, Programme Manager for Work Inspiration explains: “Businesses of all sizes and types, public and private, need to commit to making changes and to reviewing and improving the work experience they offer. We need to show young people that there are many routes to success.”

“Work Inspiration will bring three-fold benefits: we have tools to help employers provide inspirational placements, guidance for schools to help prepare students before embarking on their placement and the results should be inspirational, informative and fun placements for students.”

Northgate Managed Services Appointed to Provide ICT Services to Hartlepool BSF Programme

2010-05-24T23:00:00+01:00

Hartlepool secondary schools are set to achieve their vision for personalised learning through technology as part of the Government’s Building Schools for the Future programme. Contracted to deliver the £12.98million ICT initiative, Northgate Managed Services - a leading provider of ICT services and solutions - will provide every student and teacher with access to a personal learning device* as just one of a number of strategies to enhance learning.
Northgate Managed Services will deliver its first ICT-only BSF contract to seven schools in Hartlepool. These include: Dyke House Sports and Technology College, Manor College of Technology, St. Hilds C of E School, English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College, Catcote Business and Enterprise College, High Tunstall College of Science and the Council’s Pupil Referral Unit. The investment allows for the provision and management of the very latest learning and teaching tools creating technology-rich learning spaces which are responsive, inclusive and supportive of attainment by all.

Committed to providing quality, cost-effective ICT, Northgate Managed Services has worked closely with the local authority and schools to factor existing technology and funding streams into BSF. For example, to give every student and teacher access to a personal learning device without impacting heavily on the Local Choice Fund, Northgate has analysed the percentage of children eligible for a device through the Home Access initiative as well as those who already owned a device at home. This strategy also supports the authority’s personalisation approach, as it not only enables students to work anytime, anywhere, but also allows them to work on a device they prefer to use.
Further supporting the individuality of every school and the concept that one size doesn’t fit all, Hartlepool will benefit from Northgate’s latest development N-able School, an easy-to-use, flexible web portal. This will provide students with their own personalised learning area where they can work on assignments, store their work and access emails, enabling them to communicate with teachers and fellow students.
The portal will provide Hartlepool’s schools with access to core applications and the ability to add customise with additional applications, allowing each school to tailor their web-portal to their individual needs. Schools can integrate key educational and administrative systems they currently use and access them securely through single sign-on from school, home or anywhere else with an internet connection. Northgate will also provide an extended offering to support anytime, anywhere learning for students, with the latest 'Thin Client' solutions which will enable them to access all their school software on the move.
Northgate Managed Services will also be supporting Hartlepool’s ‘Space to Learn’ project - a nationally recognised project which will provide a testbed environment to develop and enhance the best teaching and learning practices in the 21st century. It will consist of flexible learning spaces and innovative technologies which will be used by all schools within Hartlepool supported by Hartlepool’s City Learning Centre and in partnership with Northgate Managed Services. This project also represents the potential for greater collaboration between primary and secondary schools to help prepare younger students for their transition to secondary school.

Councillor Cath Hill, Hartlepool Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Technology has made massive strides in recent years and in our hi-tech generation young people are used to accessing information instantly – learning anywhere and any time. This contract with Northgate will enable Hartlepool’s secondary schools to meet that challenge and create a new and uniquely flexible teaching and learning environment. It will complement traditional face-to-face teaching and will create a learning revolution which will set the standard for many years to come.”

David Hyland, Managing Director, Education, Northgate Managed Services, comments: “As our first ICT-only BSF contract, we are proud to be in partnership with Hartlepool Borough Council. We now look forward to working closely with the schools and council to achieve their vision for anytime, anywhere learning. By working in partnership with the council and the individual schools, we will be offering innovative, high quality facilities and integrated information and communication technology to help deliver personalised learning tailored to the needs, interests and aptitudes of their learners. Northgate has factored existing technology and funding streams into BSF to create a sizeable Local Choice Fund, giving considerable spending power back to the schools, demonstrating Northgate’s commitment to flexible solutions.”
Northgate already supplies managed services to over 1,200 school and college networks across the UK and is responsible for 20 schools currently benefitting from BSF investment as well as providing interim managed services to an additional 27 BSF schools. This is Northgate’s fifth BSF contract win, in addition to recent success in the single schools and academies market.
For further information about Northgate Managed Services, please visit the website at: www.northgate-is.com/managedservices
*Personalised learning devices include: Desktop PCs, Apple Macs, laptops and netbooks.

Extend the use of EPC data to combat climate change

2010-05-24T23:00:00+01:00

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) have a key role to play in raising the awareness of our building’s carbon footprints and promoting energy efficiency measures, says Northgate Public Services today.

Responding to the Department of Communities and Local Government consultation Making better use of Energy Performance Certificates, Northgate say that the recent abolition of Home Information Packs (HIPs) will make EPCs more visible and give them a greater role in tackling climate change.

The organisation says that information from EPCs must be used to promote energy efficiency measures and not simply be an academic resource. Therefore, they suggest, EPC information should be more accessible to promote energy efficiency measures. In particular they cite the way in which Local Authorities could use this information to target energy efficiency measures at those areas most in need.

Northgate also say that the 10 year validity period for EPCs is too long and should be reduced to a period of three to five years. This would ensure that information is kept up to date and would reflect any energy efficiency measures taken during this period.

Russell Osborne, Managing Director of Citizen Solutions for Northgate Public Services, said today: “Climate change is one of the most pressing issues we currently face. Given that buildings account for almost half of the UK’s carbon emissions, EPCs are central to the vision of creating a zero carbon nation. On an individual level the information can be used to improve the state of a property. However, opening up access to the data would allow it to be used on a larger scale by Local Authorities to target measures and combat fuel poverty.

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For more information

Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton
020 7324 6221; 07966 890401
Hannah Smith
020 7324 6222; 07949 421356

South Derbyshire partnership to create stronger public services and growing economy

2010-05-18T23:00:00+01:00

It is announced today that South Derbyshire District Council has selected Northgate Public Services as its preferred bidder in a ground-breaking partnership programme designed to create stability and improvement in local services and boost jobs in the area.

The innovative risk-reward agreement, the first of its kind in the country, brings together a guaranteed package of service improvement, skills enhancement and jobs creation while delivering cashable savings to the Council through improved business processes. In total, it is anticipated that over 100 jobs will be brought into the district, with additional jobs created over future years.

Under a seven year contract worth £22 million, set to start on August 1st 2010, Northgate will take on direct responsibility for managing and improving the Council’s Corporate Services - Finance, Organisational Development, IT and Business Improvement, Revenues, Benefits and Customer Services. It will also develop a regional centre of excellence - a market-facing business – to support regional growth and develop employment opportunities across South Derbyshire.

Under Northgate’s leadership, citizen services will be transformed with better access and greater personalisation. Employees will have their jobs protected. They will benefit from improved investment and support as their skills and capabilities are developed to meet changing demand.

The regional Business Centre - to be set up in Swadlincote - will provide much-needed business services for the private and public sector across the East Midlands. It forms an integral part of a national network of regional centres currently being set up by Northgate.

The centres are aimed at providing public and private bodies with new opportunities to radically overhaul business processes, improve services, and generate cost efficiencies through economies of scale and shared resources.

The partnership will guarantee continued investment in services to secure further improvements and savings through the lifetime of the contract.

A total investment of £1.9 million has been pledged to upgrade IT systems and services. Northgate is also guaranteeing cashable savings to the council of more than £2 million pounds, inclusive of fees, over the lifetime of the project.

John Harrison, the Acting Leader for South Derbyshire District Council, said: “South Derbyshire is a great place to live and work. It is one of the fastest, if the not the fastest, growing districts in the East Midlands. We aim to keep it that way. We are committed to providing value for money for our community and this contract will enable us to save money while continuing to improve services.

“Northgate is a partner that we trust. It shares our high ambition for the future. We have a genuine commitment to one another and to making this partnership a success. We are confident that Northgate’s expertise in this area of work will allow us to deliver high quality, efficient services while creating job opportunities and enhanced skills. This really is a win-win situation for all concerned. Working together will improve services for our residents, while realising much needed savings."

Dave Meaden, Chief Executive of Northgate Public Services, said: “In these hard economic times councils must not only deliver stronger public services, they have to lead their communities back to economic growth. Our innovative approach is based on combining people development with process development to create better public services outcomes and wider improvements to South Derbyshire.”

“We are delighted to have been selected as preferred bidder. This is an exciting opportunity to build upon our transformation experience - to deliver the twin package of local service improvement and economic growth. We aim to deliver better for less while maintaining investment in services to create new opportunities for local people. We look forward to working with the Council and our new employees to ensure that the local community as a whole truly benefits from this partnership.”

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For further information

Northgate contact
Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton     +44(0)20 7324 6221; +44(0)7966 890401
Hannah Smith    +44(0)20 7324 6222; +44(0)7949 421356
Danny Calogero  +44(0)20 7324 6223; +44(0)7534 189235

NSPCC APPOINTS NORTHGATE MANAGED SERVICES TO ENHANCE IT SERVICES AND REDUCE COSTS

2010-05-16T23:00:00+01:00

The NSPCC has awarded a five year ICT contract to Northgate Managed Services (Northgate) for the provision of an ICT managed service. Under this contract, Northgate will be responsible for designing, implementing and managing a state of the art, resilient IT infrastructure supporting more than 2000 users in 130 locations across the UK, enhancing the quality of service to NSPCC staff and reducing costs.

Renowned as the UK’s leading child protection charity the NSPCC’s aim has remained steadfast – to protect children from cruelty and to increase awareness of the issues that surround such abuse. Today’s NSPCC continues to fight for the rights of children and works hard to promote its vision of ending child cruelty through a combined approach of services, policy and campaigning.

Thanks to a focus on the benefits delivered through new technologies the NSPCC has partnered with Northgate to implement a full ICT managed service based on the concept of ‘pay as you use’ utility based computing To achieve this, Northgate will build, own and manage the ICT infrastructure on behalf of the NSPCC. This service will be delivered from Northgate’s ITIL certified centre of excellence in Belfast and using Northgate’s national engineering team to provide local support at NSPCC offices throughout the UK.

Commenting on the new support contract Ian Chivers, Director of Finance and Corporate Services, NSPCC said, “As a third sector organisation, , the need to ensure value for money when selecting external suppliers is paramount. I am confident that by appointing Northgate, we have aligned ourselves with a provider that can not only deliver cost effective and reliable IT services across our organisation but also has the ability to grow with us as we continue to enhance our ability to engage with young people in an increasingly broad and fast changing digital world.

Mr. Chivers continued, “Northgate is providing a utility computing model. In essence we have in place a ‘pay as we use’ system which allows the NSPCC to accurately predict usage and to control costs. I am confident that over the next five years the NSPCC partnership with Northgate will allow us to optimise our use of technology and in doing so help us to work towards our main aim – ending child cruelty.”

Andy Ross, Chief Executive, Northgate Managed Services stated, “We are delighted to have been awarded the NSPCC contract. The Third sector is an important marketplace for Northgate and the award of this contract is clear evidence of our ability to provide the best, most effective solution overall. The NSPCC’s decision speaks volumes and clearly demonstrates its confidence in our company and our staff. We are committed to working hand-in-hand with the NSPCC team and over the next five years we will be introducing a number of new services that I am confident will allow the NSPCC to achieve clear return on its ICT investment.”

Northgate Managed Services supports Mini Rugby Festival as focus shifts from competition to taking part.

2010-05-16T23:00:00+01:00

New Rules Will Encourage Primary School Pupils to Give it a ‘Try’

Ravenhill Rugby ground will play home to a game with a difference this month as organisers of Ulster Primary Schools’ Mini Rugby make an affirmative ‘conversion’ in a bid to encourage all primary school children to take part.

Proudly sponsored by Northgate Managed Services (Northgate) for the 5th year, the Mini Rugby festival will now place a sole emphasis on participation, with the IRFU omitting the competition element for the first time in over 35 years.

The festival will take place over four days where 40 teams will play against each other in a series of four round robin matches. Scores will not be kept and no team will be crowned winner.

Commenting on the decision to change the festival’s focus, Simon Wallace, Commercial Manager at Ulster Rugby said:
“Despite its success over the years, we were keen to shift the emphasis away from winning and instead focus on encouraging widespread participation across all school groups, irrespective of their ability. Mini Rugby continues to be a fantastic way for children to become more active and develop their team skills and sense of ‘fair play’. We’d like to ensure this is true for all children and that no one is discouraged from future participation should their team not ‘win’, and so we’ve taken the decision to eliminate the competition element and rebrand the event as a festival as opposed to a tournament.”

Stuart Gunning, Northgate Managed Services added:
“Northgate Managed Services is committed to investing in the communities in which we work and as we continue to play a pivotal role in education through our work with Classroom 2000 (C2K), it is important for us to continue to foster links with the schools we work with. This more inclusive approach focuses much more on participation which develops key skills outside of the classroom such as teamwork. We are delighted to support the Primary Schools’ Mini Rugby festival this year and we hope all the participants enjoy playing at Ravenhill.”

The Mini Rugby festival will take place at Ulster Rugby’s home pitch, Ravenhill 11th-14th May.

Review funding to maximise value from resources

2010-05-11T23:00:00+01:00

The Scottish Government should conduct a review into public funding arrangements to ensure the sustainability of long-term care and to maximise value from resources, says Northgate Public Services today.

In a response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on self-directed support, Northgate says that the medium term recommendations of the Sutherland Report, which calls for a review of public funding, should be fully implemented. This, the organisation says, would address current funding gaps in social care and provide a more sustainable long term approach.

Northgate welcomes the moves to create services built around personalised need, but argues that these should be refocused if better services are to be delivered for less. Long term value from resources could be maximised, Northgate says, by ensuring low risk as well as high risk needs are met. Social care should also focus on addressing health inequalities. Key to this is eradicating the postcode lottery which currently effects the provision of care for those with low risk needs.

Russell Osborne, Managing Director of Citizen Solutions for Northgate Public Services, added: “The Scottish Government has a proud record in the provision of social care services. It must now take action to ensure the sustainability of its services in the future. Embedding prevention and the reduction of inequality will make services more responsive while also delivering financial benefits. Our concern is that the most disadvantaged in the poorest communities could face increasing inequality if a review is not conducted.

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For more information
Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton
+44(0)20 7324 6221; +44(0)7966 890401

Danny Calogero
+44(0)20 7324 6223; +44(0)7534 189235

Northgate calls for integrated partnership to increase public confidence

2010-05-11T23:00:00+01:00

An integrated partnership which focuses on the prevention of crime could promote public trust and release valuable resources for frontline policing, claims Northgate Public Services today.

Responding to the Northern Ireland Office’s consultation Local Partnership Working on Policing and Community Safety, Northgate welcomes the plan to integrate two separate local partnerships – Community Safety Partnerships and District Policing Partnerships – into a single partnership, the Crime Reduction Partnership.

Northgate argues that local authorities working in conjunction with the police services are key to the new partnership’s success. They will identify local issues of concern for the Crime Reduction Partnership. Northgate says that this will help to promote neighbourhood policing, making services more responsive and enhancing public trust in policing. The company also says that new powers from 2011 will mean that local authorities can ensure the partnerships’ actions link effectively into community planning.

Northgate argues that the integration of the partnership will open up new opportunities for services to be redesigned around the needs of citizens and their local communities. The organisation says that by joining up back office functions, and reducing an overlap in services, the partnerships can ensure that more resources can be diverted to frontline services.

Ian Blackhurst, Managing Director of Public Safety at Northgate Public Services, said today: “Promoting public confidence is key to delivering continually improving neighbourhood policing in Northern Ireland. By integrating the two partnerships, citizens will gain from better services with less resources. At a time when public services are so hard pressed, these proposals are all about providing more effective and efficient policing that is truly accountable and responsive to the needs of the people of Northern Ireland.”

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For more information
Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44(0)20 7324 6221; +44(0)7966 890401
Danny Calogero +44(0)20 7324 6223; +44(0)7534 189235

DVA Telephone Booking Service Celebrates 2 Millionth Caller

2010-05-11T23:00:00+01:00

21 April 2010

DVA Telephone Booking Service Celebrates 2 Millionth Caller

- - Northgate Managed Services continues to provide an effective telephone booking service for local drivers with 99.5% of Callers totally satisfied*- 412,000 Northern Ireland Drivers Opt for Phone Booking ServiceThe Driver Vehicle Agency (DVA) has proven to be a leader in the delivery of effective and efficient public services after receiving its two millionth phonecall booking. The positive uptake of the telephone and online booking system, which has been implemented and managed by Northgate Managed Services since 2004, highlights how the DVA has responded to the ‘Modernising Government’ agenda. Responsible for licensing and testing vehicles and drivers in NI, and operating 15 test centres province-wide, the DVA conducts over 500,000 MOT checks and 40,000 driving tests each year. Key outcomes of the booking system are a streamlined, paperless, time efficient service which provides a seamless transition from booking stage to test lane. All appointments are centrally managed by Northgate allowing customers to select or change appointment dates and pay fees by credit/debit cards, before the information is transferred to the 15 test centres.Carole Hill from Greyabbey was delighted to discover she was the DVA’s 2millionth telephone booking customer, and was presented with a £250 petrol voucher to spend at her local forecourt by Northgate: “I was very impressed with the convenience and efficiency of the telephone booking service and would highly recommend it to other car owners. At a time when fuel prices are increasing, I’m delighted that thanks to Northgate, one very simple, straightforward phone call has resulted in my MOT being arranged – and my tank being filled for a considerable time. ”Commenting on the success of the new booking system, Lee Dodds, contract manager of the DVA booking service said: “Over the last few years the uptake of the telephone and on-line booking service has been exceptional which reflects how our customers favour time efficient options. This is further reflected in the fact that 99.5% of all callers over the last year were totally satisfied with the service they received, which is an outstanding result.”James Turnbull, Managing Director, Infrastructure Solutions, Northgate Managed Services added: “The technology we’re using is entirely customer focused enabling bookings, payments, cancellations, and rescheduling of appointments in a matter of minutes. We’re delighted to be working in partnership with the DVA to deliver this important public service, and we congratulate our 2millionth caller for marking this great milestone.”* Based on the annual average of a monthly survey in which 1% of customers who book through test centre and call centre are surveyed. EndsFor further information contact Claire Bonner, Morrow Communications Tel: 028 9039 3837

Foster announces investment by Northgate Managed Services

2010-05-11T23:00:00+01:00

Foster announces investment by Northgate Managed Services Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster announced an investment by Northgate Managed Services, supported by Invest Northern Ireland. The investment, which aims to create 88 new jobs and safeguard 241 others, will help Northgate achieve £62million of new business in external sales over the next three years and deliver over £8million in salaries annually into the local economy. Northgate Managed Services provides infrastructure and specialist ICT managed services to public and private sector organisations throughout the UK and Ireland from its head office in Newtownabbey. Making the announcement, the Minister said: “This major investment demonstrates Northgate’s focus on ensuring that it is competitively positioned to win further new business. “Generating £8.2million annually in salaries through the creation of 88 new jobs and the safeguarding of a further 241, this investment is a significant commitment by one of the UK’s leading IT services firms. Maintaining such skilled jobs paying above average salaries in a key industry sector, particularly in the current economic climate, is a very welcome boost for the Northern Ireland economy.” The wider project will see the company centralise a number of back office functions, make a number of efficiency improvements and engage in a major training and development programme. Invest NI has offered £2.64 million of support which includes £1.12 million of training assistance part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Arlene Foster continued: “By 2011, over 530 people will be employed by Northgate in Northern Ireland, that’s almost half of its total UK workforce. This is a strong endorsement of the local skills base which will be further enhanced as the training element of the project is implemented.” Andy Ross, Chief Executive of Northgate Managed Services said: “Last year we worked to reduce the impact of the global downturn and focused on increasing sales, fulfilling customer needs and protecting jobs. We were extremely successful in achieving these objectives and the investment announced today will allow us to build upon those achievements and prepare to take advantage of the upturn. “We have identified new external sales opportunities potentially worth up to £62 million over the next three years and plan to implement a number of efficiency and capability development activities to ensure we achieve the targets set. Our highly talented employees are a key part of our continued growth and the investment in training and the recruitment of a further 88 staff will be a crucial to our future success.”

NI Business of the Year Awarded to Northgate Managed Services

2010-05-11T23:00:00+01:00

29^th March 2010NI Business of the Year Awarded to Northgate Managed ServicesNI’s leading IT services provider, Northgate Managed Services, has scored a double whammy after winning two major accolades at the 2010 Belfast Telegraph Business Awards in association with BMI. The Newtownabbey-based business was named ‘Business of the Year’ in addition to scooping the award for ‘Excellence in Service to Business’. Northgate Managed Services provides IT services to a broad range of over 2,000 private and public sector organisations across the UK and is Northern Ireland’s largest indigenous IT services company. The judging panel, chaired by leading Ulster economist John Simpson, was impressed by the company’s consistent growth, innovation and commitment to people development, crowning it overall ‘Business of the Year’.The Service to Business category recognises business to business relationships and services offered which have enhanced the business efficiency and productivity. Northgate was awarded for its successful journey through the recession which it achieved by investing in its people, processes and technologies to deliver added value to its widespread customer base. Throughout 2009 the company doubled its order intake to £176m, won over 60 contracts with a value of more than £250,000, retained its 15 key clients and added 10 new major customers to its client list, not only protecting its existing workforce but supplementing it by the creation of 100 new jobs.Andy Ross, Chief Executive of Northgate Managed Services said: “Our success at these awards is a fantastic accolade for our business and our people. This achievement demonstrates Northgate’s commitment to developing excellence in our employees and delivering excellence in customer service.

“Amid the current economic climate, we understand the importance of reinvesting in our business to deliver value and results for our customers. This was particularly relevant over the past twelve months when we have focused on our technology, processes and people development – resulting in enhanced productivity, heightened customer satisfaction, an increased rate of employee and customer retention and growth. Business performance is extremely encouraging, which is not only good news for us, but also for the wider economy.” Alastair Hamilton, Chief Executive of Invest NI and member of this year’s judging panel said: “Northern Ireland business has traditionally punched above its weight on the world stage. Much of this success has been achieved by individual companies focusing strongly on their unique selling proposition and relying on the expertise of others to deliver essential support services. In many instances, it is these providers of services to other businesses that underpin end to end excellence in customer service delivery, with this year’s winner being a worthy recipient.”In addition, Northgate was commended in the ‘Excellence for People Development’ category for its commitment to creating a sustainable learning and development culture, equipping staff with the appropriate skills, knowledge and processes to deliver innovative, industry-leading IT services.The Belfast Telegraph Business Awards were announced at a gala ceremony in Belfast’s Ramada Hotel, attended by representatives from leading local businesses, shortlisted across nine categories. Ends

For further information please contact Claire Bonner, Morrow Communications Tel: 028 90 393837

Northgate calls for Citizen First Approach

2010-04-21T23:00:00+01:00

Commitment both to the citizen and users should be placed at the heart of local government services, according to Northgate Public Services, one of the country’s leading providers of citizen relationship management services to the public sector.

The company, which has recently gained a gold award from Investors in People for its people management practice, is calling on the public sector to further engage and involve citizens in the design and delivery of services. A Citizen First strategic approach involves leadership from the top, employee training and development, citizen and user input, and measurement and assessment.

Russell Osborne, Managing Director of Citizen Solutions, Northgate Public Services said today: “In these hard economic times, the public sector has to innovate and engage with its citizens to deliver improved services. Increasingly, our clients in the public sector are focusing on the need of citizens and delivering services built around their needs. It is time that this best practice became common practice.”

The company highlights the practice of two of its clients who have recently won customer service awards as examples of best practice.

Broxtowe Borough Council has recently been awarded the prestigious ServiceMark by the Institute of Customer Service, the professional body for customer service performance and professionalism. It is one of only a handful of local authorities to gain the award. The award measures what citizens think of the council’s service and includes an independent assessment by a third party. The Institute report highlighted excellent leadership, the commitment to training of staff and service to their customers that was led from the top, and the fact that the management team had set themselves targets for improvement.

Lisburn City Council has been awarded the Customer Services Excellence Award by the Cabinet Office for its building control service. The assessors were particularly impressed by the development of a customer facing management information system which has evolved from an assessment of changing customer needs, including how the service reaches, interacts and creates business efficiencies for its customers. E-enabled services commenced with putting property certificates online. It has now evolved so that architectural plans can be submitted online, along with an enhanced and integrated email facility for customer interaction.

This development programme is soon to be added to, with the ability to track an applications progress from external PCs, employ remote access working abilities for surveyors and integrate with a corporate GIS facility permitting a 24/7 access to all of integrated services. Customer services will be enhanced further throughout NI local authorities, with the sharing of this technology and subsequent adoption by Belfast, N.Down, Cookstown, and Dungannon Councils.

[Ends]

For more information
Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44 (0)20 7324 6221; +44 (0)7966 890401

Further appointment to Northgate's transformation team

2010-04-18T23:00:00+01:00

Northgate Public Services today announces the appointment of Amit Dhawan to its specialist transformation division as Regional Operations Director for the Southern Region.

Amit joins Northgate after five highly successful years with DHL (Global Mail) where, from April 2008, he was Divisional Managing Director for UK National Mail.

Following positions at the Post Office and Royal Mail, Amit pioneered the development of DHL’s domestic mail business in the UK from its start-up to becoming one of the country’s leading brands.

Amit’s appointment signifies the further expansion of Northgate’s specialist transformation services at a time when the public sector is under intense pressure to deliver better services for less. It follows the recent announcement of Giles Piercy who leads the work of the division as Head of Performance Partnerships.

Amit will focus on strengthening and intensifying the growth of corporate-wide transformation services across the public sector in the Southern region, while continuing to build up specialist services in areas such as transport, social care, customer services and housing.

The company offers the public sector an innovative risk and reward business model that links its fees directly to its performance. As a result, it only gets paid when it meets its agreed financial and improvement targets, and fees come directly from the cashable savings delivered to the public authority.

Joe Bradley, Managing Director Citizen Services, Northgate Public Services said today: “Amit’s appointment is a crucial one for us. We are doing great work for citizens and public services in the South. But we can do so much more. Amit is a strategic thinker with a flare for developing new operations in highly competitive markets. He will help us build upon our track record in delivering better for less to the public sector.

“In these difficult economic times, our message to the public sector is simple, if you do not innovate, you are unlikely to improve the services that you deliver and which people have a right to expect. If we do not help you deliver that improvement you do not pay. It’s a win - win situation for the public sector and citizens alike. The public sector can ill afford to lose out.”

For more information:
Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44(0)20 7324 6221; +44(0)7966 890401
Hannah Smith +44(0)20 7324 6222; +44(0)7949 421356

Johnson Service Group PLC cleans up payroll and HR with NorthgateArinso

2010-04-06T23:00:00+01:00

Johnson Service Group PLC cleans up payroll and HR with NorthgateArinso
~ flexibility of service, future proofing and accuracy provide key motives for move to ResourceLink Aurora ~

Johnson Service Group PLC (JSG), which provides essential support services to UK businesses and consumers in the areas of workwear, laundry services, dry cleaning and facilities management, has signed a five-year contract with NorthgateArinso. The HR software and services company will supply a fully managed payroll and hosted HR solution to 2,500 of JSG’s employees within its textile services division, which comprises of Johnson’s Apparelmaster, Johnson’s Stalbridge Linen Services, and the JSG Plc division.

The company selected NorthgateArinso after a lengthy period of time investigating the business’ true needs, in terms of service provision and scalability for the future.

“We needed a firm to provide us with an up-to-date and reliable HR, training and payroll service, and give us the business information we require at our fingertips, whenever and wherever we needed it,” said Avi Kar at JSG. “NorthgateArinso had the experience of dealing with large corporate clients and, with 400 customers already using ResourceLink, had the tried-and-tested foundations we were looking for. Additionally, ResourceLink Aurora could integrate with our internal Business Objects reporting tool, which will make reporting processes much more efficient and reduce cost.”

As a solution that’s hosted online, ResourceLink Aurora is accessible via a web browser and does not require any on-premise footprint, which means it is more scalable – a crucial factor for JSG: “JSG is an ambitious company, and the flexibility to grow with the demands of the HR team played an important part in the decision,” said James Ronksley, business development director at NorthgateArinso. “ResourceLink Aurora is a streamlined service, which will improve efficiency and accuracy at JSG, now and in the future.”

(297 words)

NorthgateArinso
www.northgatearinso.co.uk
NorthgateArinso is a leading global Human Resources software & services provider offering innovative HR business solutions to employers of all sizes, including Global Fortune 500 companies and many Public Sector organisations. We help HR executives optimise their HR service delivery through smarter process and more efficient technology, supporting key HR areas like workforce administration, payroll, benefits, recruitment, learning and talent management.
Our 5,000 employees are dedicated to HR excellence through strategic business consulting, outsourcing services, systems integration and best-of-breed software solutions. We are one of the largest HR service providers worldwide and have offices in 31 countries on 5 continents.

NorthgateArinso awarded BSI

2010-04-06T23:00:00+01:00

NorthgateArinso awarded BSI
continuity standard

~ ensures business carries on if the unexpected happens ~

NorthgateArinso, leading HR and Payroll service provider has achieved BS25999 standard. This auditable standard was awarded by BSI Management Systems for NorthgateArinso’s ability to ensure unexpected events will have a minimum business impact, for example, environmental incidents, sickness (pandemic) and terrorist activity.

The standard means customers can be assured that, regardless of any disruption that may occur, their services will continue to be delivered. This represents the high quality and reliability of NorthgateArinso as a Payroll and HR provider.

“More customers are asking for evidence of business continuity credentials and at NorthgateArinso we are committed to satisfying our customers’ needs,” said Graeme Deane, global quality manager at NorthgateArinso. “We have invested in technology and infrastructure to ensure service delivery continues through any disruption. We have also ensured our people understand their roles, for example through scenario and rehearsal exercises, so that they can respond to emergencies in an organised and planned manner.”

Gaining certification has been a two-year process, and the company has demonstrated a commitment to understand its business risks and become resilient in any eventuality. Currently six NorthgateArinso locations are certified. The organisation plans to continue rolling this out further in the UK and globally.

Newport's innovative partnership set to make transport budgets go further

2010-03-28T23:00:00+01:00

Citizens using specialist transport around Newport, Gwent, can expect to see their services benefit from a dramatic transformation after Newport City Council signed an innovative performance partnership contract with Northgate Public Services.

This groundbreaking partnership comes after Northgate completed a comprehensive review of Newport’s specialist transport services last year. The review identified a number of potential ways in which the council could improve the services for citizens and deliver significant financial savings.

Working in close collaboration with Newport’s transport teams, Northgate’s transformation arm will focus on delivering improvements across a range of key areas including:

mainstream schools transport
Special Educational Needs (SEN) home-to-school transport
Adult Social Services transport
community transport
fleet provision, facilities, management

Newport currently spends around £11 million on public transport services annually. Its performance partnership with Northgate will achieve savings totalling £3m over its lifespan.

The performance partnership will focus on making savings in the following ways:

ensuring that transport routes are effective so that disabled users do not have to experience unnecessary travel time
reducing direct costs by helping the Council to introduce more rigorous supply and tendering processes
avoiding expenditure by scrutinising requests for additional service or equipment more thoroughly

Northgate will work alongside Newport City Council staff to transfer the skills and build the capacity and capability they need to sustain savings in all areas well beyond the life of the contract.

All fees paid to Northgate under the partnership agreement will come from cashable savings. The company operates an innovative risk and reward business model that links its fees directly to its performance. As a result, it only gets paid when it meets its agreed financial and improvement targets.
Cont.
Tracey Lee, Managing Director at Newport City Council, said today: “These are exciting times for Newport. The city’s regeneration continues to uplift the lives of everyone who lives and works here. Newport City Council and Northgate Public Services have already established a successful working relationship. Our performance partnership will deliver the change we need to deliver sustainable long-term improvements to people who depend on our public transport system.”

Joe Bradley, Managing Director of Citizen Services at Northgate Public Services, added: “We understand that quality public transport services are vital to the wellbeing and development of communities. Like so many councils across the country, Newport is under increasing pressure to provide better services for less.
We are committed to helping Newport transform itself into the economic and social hub of south-east Wales, a city where people are proud to live and work.”

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For more information:
Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44(0)20 7324 6221; +44(0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44(0)20 7324 6222; +44(0)7949 421356

Accreditation leads to quality says Northgate Public Services

2010-03-19T00:00:00+01:00

Accreditation by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) should become a condition of authorisation for competent person self-certification scheme operators, states Northgate Public Services today.

Responding to the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) consultation on Building Regulations competent person self-certification scheme, Northgate says that accreditation by UKAS will offer consumers and stakeholders greater piece of mind about such schemes.

Under the plans, UKAS would provide the quality assurance that is required of such schemes. Operators who showed low levels of compliance would have to agree to an action plan with CLG. Although Northgate accepts that this may cause additional cost for the schemes, it argues that putting such measures in place would be beneficial to everyone as deficiencies within schemes could be corrected earlier than would otherwise be the case.

Northgate also recommends that customers should be automatically given financial protection for any jobs that are undertaken through an insurance-backed warranty, professional indemnity insurance or bond, provided through the supplier. This would protect them against a situation where work carried out under a competent person scheme does not comply with the requirements of the Building Regulations but the installer is no longer able to bring the work up to standard.

Russell Osborne, Managing Director of Citizen Solutions at Northgate Public Services, said today: “For some schemes, compliance with building regulations is not currently at an acceptable level. Sub-standard work is not only a safety hazard, it can cause devastation to the lives of customers left abandoned to put things right. Poor practice simply will not do. The independence of UKAS is widely recognised. Its involvement will help to promote customer confidence and drive up standards to ensure the very highest quality of work within the schemes.

For more information:
Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44(0)20 7324 6221; +44(0)7966 890401
Danny Calogero +44(0)20 7324 6223; +44(0)7534 189235

Notes to editors:
1. Northgate Public Services is an innovative provider of transformation and improvement services to the public sector. It is committed to high quality public services that place individuals and their communities at their heart. Its knowledge and understanding of people’s needs are core to its business, as too, is its depth and breadth across public services.

2. Northgate’s task is to enhance public value through the intelligent use of people and technology; to understand why and what change is necessary; to provide new thinking leading to improved performance; and to link company rewards with positive outcomes for the communities for whom it works. It supports transformation through sustainable performance partnerships. In the UK, Northgate works with ninety five per cent of local authorities, every police force, and a large number of health organisations, housing associations, utilities and transport companies.

Shaping the future of technology in education - Bolton students scoop prestigious Innovation in Action accolade for turning detective at top education technology show

2010-03-18T00:00:00+01:00

Students from Smithills School, Bolton, have won Northgate Managed Services’ prestigious Innovation in Action 2010 competition, demonstrating forward-thinking ways new technology can help transform their school. Created to reward innovation and collaboration using ICT, students from the six schools involved in the first phase of Bolton’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme were invited to turn detective at a major London technology exhibition, investigating new software or equipment they would like implemented at their school.

This January, students from Smithills School and LadyBridge High School, Bolton, visited BETT 2010, the largest education resource event in the world to discover new learning technologies and resources. Supported by teachers at study@bwfc, they were challenged to design an interactive presentation to show how particular technologies could benefit their peers and school.

Students from both schools worked hard to identify resources with real educational value as well as being fun and engaging. Commended by judges for their “excellent understanding and knowledge of technologies in a learning environment”, winning school Smithills students created a cinema-style virtual classroom and streamlined processes such as registration and school meals.

Demonstrating their commercial awareness, students also highlighted that their ‘cinema experience’ could be rented to the local community to help generate the funding.

The competition entries were judged by experts from Northgate Managed Services and members of Bolton Council who looked at how the students addressed issues such as the application of the technology in their school and the overall benefits to the school and students.

David Kilgallon, Bolton’s Transformational Lead, comments: “In Bolton we actively encourage students to get involved and have a say in what resources are implemented in their school and are delighted that the efforts of Smithills students have been recognised by Northgate Managed Services. The students’ research and recommendations have helped provide us and the school with an even deeper understanding of the ways they want to learn.”

David Hyland, Managing Director of Education at Northgate Managed Services comments: “Both schools involved showed a confident approach to planning their presentation and evaluating their choices. Smithills School was chosen as the overall winning school because they demonstrated clearly the reasons for their choice, the applications and value to their education. Their recommendations for a cinema-style virtual classroom won it for them as they gave specific examples on how they would use the resources to aid learning and even a method to help fund this investment.”

Smithills School received a Mac Netbook as a prize with the eight students involved from both schools received an iPod nano each. Northgate Managed Services will also be reviewing all the ICT that each school demonstrated in their presentation to see if it can be offered as part of their solution.

Press enquiries:
Louise Peto at Livewire Public Relations, tel: +44 (0)20 8339 7440 or e-mail louise.peto@livewirepr.com.

Notes to editors:
Northgate Managed Services is Bolton County Council’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) provider as part of the Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Programme. Schools across Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton are set to build on existing progress in achieving excellence in education with the creation of a media-rich learning environment as part of the Government’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. Working closely with ICT services and solutions specialist, Northgate Managed Services, contracted by Balfour Beatty, schools will benefit from an initial £41.3 million invested in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) making them some of the most advanced schools in the country.

The project will see 15 Bolton schools (three phases) rebuilt or re-modelled and upgraded to provide flexible and attractive learning environments that better support learning.

Northgate appoints Giles Piercy to its Citizen Services transformation team

2010-03-17T00:00:00+01:00

Northgate Public Services today announces the appointment of Giles Piercy as Director of Performance Partnerships.

Giles’ appointment signifies the growing success and further expansion of Northgate’s specialist transformation services at a time when the public sector is under intense pressure to deliver better services for less.

Giles will focus on intensifying the growth of corporate-wide transformation services across the public sector, while continuing to build up specialist services in areas such as housing, social care and transport.

The company offers the public sector an innovative risk and reward business model that links its fees directly to its performance. As a result, it only gets paid when it meets its agreed financial and improvement targets and fees come directly from the cashable savings delivered to the public authority.

Giles joins Northgate after ten highly successful years with iMPOWER consulting. Recruited in 2000, to head iMPOWER’s business development into the local government and broader public sector markets, he was appointed Chief Executive in 2004.

At iMPOWER Giles was instrumental in the firm delivering major assignments with the organisations such as the Cabinet Office, the Department of Communities and Local Government and the Department for Children, Schools and Families. He was also closely involved in a series of high-profile local government assignments for Devon County Council, the London Borough of Lewisham, Dorset County Council and the City of London, among other local authorities.

Joe Bradley, Managing Director Citizen Services, Northgate Public Services said today: “Our vision is to support world class public services through transformation. Services must be built around citizen need and reach out to the most disadvantaged in our communities. We are delighted that Giles has chosen to join us. He shares our passion to improve public services. He has the knowledge, skills and expertise to turn this passion into the realisable results that the public sector needs. Our message to the public sector is simple. If we do not deliver improvement, you do not pay. In these hard economic times it is only right that we should take on more of the risk.”

For more information:
Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44(0)20 7324 6221; +44(0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44(0)20 7324 6222; +44(0)7949 421356

Notes to editors:
1. Prior to working for iMPOWER, Giles worked for Macfarlane TeleSystems Ltd, LCR Telecom and Centaur Publishing. He was educated at Exeter University and Rugby School Giles is a director of ‘Heart of the City’, a charity that links businesses with community activity in London that is run by the City of London.

2. Northgate Public Services is an innovative provider of transformation and improvement services to the public sector. It is committed to high quality public services that place individuals and their communities at their heart. Its knowledge and understanding of people’s needs are core to its business, as too, is its depth and breadth across public services.

4. In the UK, Northgate works with ninety five per cent of local authorities, every police force, and a large number of health organisations, housing associations, utilities and transport companies. Founded in 1969, the company has nearly 8,000 employees.

Ensure that CERT reaches those most in need

2010-03-15T00:00:00+01:00

The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) must adopt more innovative ways of identifying those households most at risk of fuel poverty, insists Northgate Public Services today.

In a response to the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s consultation, Extending the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target, Northgate welcomes the government’s move to improve targeted support at the poorest households. However, the company believes that the proposals do not go far enough to tackle the growing problem of fuel poverty.

Northgate argues that there are a range of measures which are needed to ensure that those most at risk of fuel poverty receive the support they require. These include:
• partnership working between local authorities and utility companies - to identify the most vulnerable households
• sharing of Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) data to identify the most fuel inefficient households. Registered Social Landlords (RSLs), for example, hold good quality data which could help to target the most vulnerable
• embedding behaviour change measures within the CERT process.- essential if sustainable savings are to be achieved and people are to be permanently lifted out of fuel poverty.

Russell Osborne, Managing Director of Citizen Solutions at Northgate Public Services, said today: “The scale of the climate change challenge means that it is essential to act now. We must reach out to the most vulnerable members of our communities who are at the greatest risk of fuel poverty.

“We need a step change in the way measures are targeted through CERT. It is unacceptable for a household to fall through the gaps within the current system. Collaborative working between the public, not for profit and private sectors will ensure that those most in need receive the help that can permanently lift them out of fuel poverty. If we are to get it right, we must go further, faster and now.”

For more information:

Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44(0)20 7324 6221; +44(0)7966 890401
Danny Calogero +44(0)20 7324 6223; +44(0)7534 189235

Notes to editors:
1. Northgate Public Services is an innovative provider of transformation and improvement services to the public sector. It is committed to high quality public services that place individuals and their communities at their heart. Its knowledge and understanding of people’s needs are core to its business, as too, is its depth and breadth across public services.

Mycompanyfleet in new enhanced driver checking solution

2010-03-15T00:00:00+01:00

The increasingly flexible and disparate nature of the employment market in the UK is leading to the need for greater and deeper background checks to be made on company employees and drivers.

Now, fleet software provider Mycompanyfleet is responding to rising fleet demand by launching an enhanced driver checking service which not only checks and validates driver licence status, but also carries out deeper background checking of a driver’s qualifications, references and even criminal record.

Mycompanyfleet, the automotive arm of HR solutions provider, NorthgateArinso, identified the need following approaches from fleet clients who wanted to go further into the backgrounds of their drivers and to carry out deeper checks on their credentials.

The findings feed automatically into Mycompanyfleet software solutions to produce integrated driver records in one place which can be accessed by multiple departments, including fleet and Human Resources.

Andrew Leech, business manager at Mycompanyfleet, said: “The UK employment scene has been increasingly complex, with growing numbers of nationalities and a wide variety of backgrounds.

“But a company still has a duty to show in a transparent and auditable manner that its drivers and vehicles are fit for purpose under legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work Act.

“We have now introduced these deeper background checks as part of an enhanced driver checking service that increasing numbers of our clients are asking for.

“The intention is to provide a one-stop shop of all driver records, improved management of vehicle and driver alike and the creation of a central and readily accessible source of driver information for various departmental managers,” he said.

Notes to Editors:

About mycompanyfleet

Mycompanyfleet is NorthgateArinso's automotive software division, focused on the fleet, leasing and general automotive sector. Mycompanyfleet provides fleet managers with the systems they need to more efficiently and cost-effectively run their vehicle fleets, as well as tackling the latest issues that affect day-to-day fleet operations, such as duty of care and environmental issues.

As part of NorthgateArinso, we have customers from every conceivable marketplace, spread over 46 countries and spanning five continents. We pride ourselves on delivering cost effective solutions that become integral to your business, with technology as an enabler.

NorthgateArinso is the specialist HR division of the Northgate Information Solutions Group. The Northgate Group is owned by private equity company Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and currently employs over 7,500 staff and operates in 46 countries across 5 continents. For more information please email marketing@mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Contact information:
Andrew Leech,
Business Manager
Mycompanyfleet
Tel: 07939 509273
Email: andrew.leech@mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Press enquiries:
Mike Gunnell
MGMedia Services
Tel: 01832 275060
Email: mike@mgmediaservices.com

Radical change required to improve public confidence in police

2010-03-12T00:00:00+01:00

NEWS RELEASE12^th March 2010 Radical change required to improve public confidence in police Improving public confidence in the police will require a radical overhaul in many areas of police service provision, asserts Northgate Public Services today in a response to the Home Office’s policing white paper. Northgate argues that the measures included in the paper do not go far enough towards achieving the drastic service revolution that will improve public trust, reduce crime, and build more effective services. The white paper builds on the government’s earlier reforms which sought to put the public at the heart of policing through community policing. Police forces now face a diverse set of challenges, says Northgate, and to meet these they need an approach that promotes rapid change and positive outcomes, fosters innovation, and harnesses the expertise of wider society. Forces must build on the progress that they have already made by re-engineering services so that they are focused on achieving key priorities.

Given reduced fiscal resources, Northgate claims that it is essential that the correct balance is achieved between value for money and improvement. It argues that it is essential that the development of services is underpinned by a coherent approach to achieving better for less.

Ian Blackhurst, Managing Director of Public Safety at Northgate Public Services, said today: “Forces across the country are facing the competing demands of having to offer more diverse services with fewer resources. Now is the time to revaluate the business operations of police forces. We have to embed a culture of better for less to meets the needs of the twenty first century. We are confident that the police service has the capacity and the enthusiasm to change. The government has not only to remove the barriers, but provide strong incentives to promote change which will restore public confidence in the police.” -Ends- For more informationFellows’ AssociatesKathy Sutton +44(0)20 7324 6221; +44(0)7966 890401Danny Calogero +44(0)20 7324 6223; +44(0)7534 189235

Notes to editors1. Northgate Public Services is an innovative provider of transformation and improvement services to the public sector. It is committed to high quality public services that place individuals and their communities at their heart. Its knowledge and understanding of people’s needs are core to its business, as too, is its depth and breadth across public services. 2. Northgate’s task is to enhance public value through the intelligent use of people and technology; to understand why and what change is necessary; to provide new thinking leading to improved performance; and to link company rewards with positive outcomes for the communities for whom it works. It supports transformation through sustainable performance partnerships. In the UK, Northgate works with ninety five per cent of local authorities, every police force, and a large number of health organisations, housing associations, utilities and transport companies.

Mycompanyfleet adds alternative travel to grey fleet solution

2010-03-08T00:00:00+01:00

Fleet software provider Mycompanyfleet has responded to Government calls for local authorities to reduce their grey fleet miles by launching a new software solution that allows employees to locate and evaluate the cheapest options for making any necessary business journey.

The Office of Government Commerce recently launched its own campaign to persuade councils to allow employees to use their own cars on council business only as a last resort, saying the drivers should look at all alternative forms of transport, or even consider not making the journey, before using the car.

The OGC estimated that grey fleet miles made up 57% of total public sector road mileage, and by reducing that total by one million miles could unlock an estimated £250,000 in cash savings and reduce carbon output by more than 240 tonnes.

New research from Mycompanyfleet, the automotive arm of HR software supplier NorthgateArinso, now reveals that councils, in some cases, are paying around 70p per mile to drivers who use their own cars on council business, well in excess of the Approved Mileage Allowance Payments of 40p for the first 10,000 miles and 25ppm thereafter.

To help tackle this issue, Mycompanyfleet has added an alternative travel module to its grey fleet solution, Driver Self-Serve, which provides employees with details of different forms of transport for their planned journey, including taking the train, flying or using the bus, and allows comparisons between them and the cost of using a car.

Mycompanyfleet business manager, Andrew Leech, commented: “The OGC recommendations were quite clear; councils should only consider using private cars on company business as a last resort. Any grey fleet vehicles should be effectively managed and their condition and mileages regularly checked.

“We have calculated that simply by reducing grey fleet mileage by two miles per vehicle per month any investment made by a council, or any other business, in our alternative travel module would be self-funding.

“”Our new module allows employees to compare the price of all transport alternatives and make the sensible decision for their employer and the environment. In addition to links to standard transport sites, such as the trainline, the system also has the ability to build up links to your own local passenger networks,” he said.

Mycompanyfleet, launched its Driver Self-Serve grey fleet solution at the end of last year to address the duty of care issues around vehicle condition, mileages driven and driver licence checking, providing a clear audit trail and reducing the amount of administration time, as drivers have to enter their mileage and service history details online themselves.

The system completely automates driver service reminders and advises when the vehicle will need to be booked in for the next service to be carried out.

To get its grey fleet message across, Mycompanyfleet is currently taking to the road in a series of roadshows across the country that are free to fleet decision makers. Every roadshow attendee will also receive a special copy of a definitive Health and Safety policy document for grey fleet drivers.

The roadshow dates are:
Richmond, Surrey                          March 18
Peterborough, Cambs                    March 22
Luton, Beds                                  March 23
Glasgow                                       March 24
Bristol, Avon                                 March 30
Chester                                        March 31

Andrew Leech added: “Grey fleet drivers still present companies with numerous problems, including major duty of care issues. These new roadshows will provide company managers with the solutions they need to effectively tackle the issues surrounding their grey fleet drivers, including alternative travel methods.”

Notes to Editors:

About mycompanyfleet

Contact information:
Andrew Leech,
Business Manager
Mycompanyfleet
Tel: 07939 509273
Email: andrew.leech@mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Press enquiries:
Mike Gunnell
MGMedia Services
Tel: 01832 275060
Email: mike@mgmediaservices.com

Northgate Managed Services sponsors Education Partner Award in the 2010 corporate responsibility Awards

2010-03-05T00:00:00+01:00

Business in the Community has launched the call for entries to its 2010 Regional Recognition Awards for responsible companies in Northern Ireland.

Sponsored by ESB Independent Energy and in association with Ulster Business Magazine, the annual awards, now in its fifth year, will see Northern Ireland firms battle it out for the coveted title of Northern Ireland’s Responsible Company of the Year amongst other, more specific awards.

Northgate Managed Services is sponsoring the Education Partner Award, other awards categories include:
• Northern Ireland Responsible Company of the Year, sponsored by BT
• Local Community Impact, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Environmental Improvement, sponsored by Phoenix Natural Gas
• Climate Change, sponsored by Bombardier Aerospace
• Workplace Health and Wellbeing, sponsored by Westfield Health
• Employer of Choice, sponsored by Foyle Food Group
• Diversity, sponsored by Invest NI
• Supporting Economic Growth, sponsored by ESB Independent Energy

Applications can be made online at www.bitcni.org.uk by clicking on the awards 2010 logo. Entries close on Wednesday 31 March 2010 with the gala awards ceremony taking place in Belfast's Waterfront Hall on Thursday 10 June.

Speaking at the launch, Paul Rooney, Chair of Business in the Community in Northern Ireland, said; "Every organisation in Northern Ireland is eligible to enter for a Business in the Community award.

“These awards are not about size, jobs or exports, but on how a business conducts itself in the workplace, the environment, the economy and the community.

“Our own research shows that organisations with close ties to communities and stakeholders enjoy higher levels of staff and customer engagement than those who focus solely on commercial gain. But, thanks to their close stakeholder ties, those same organisations also tend to generate more goodwill and profit

“Acting in a socially responsible manner is a win-win for business and these awards are intended to recognise and celebrate organisations that do the right thing by their workers, investors and their communities.

“Every company, regardless of size or location that receives a Business in the Community award should be rightly proud of its achievement.”

Eleanor Lee, Head of Marketing, Northgate Managed Services commented: "We are delighted to sponsor the Education Partner Award. Working with every school in Northern Ireland, we understand the importance of local businesses working in the communities where they are based to help raise the aspirations and achievements of young people through a solid business education partnership. We are delighted to be able to support the great work Business in the Community is doing to assist such companies to act responsibly and make a positive impact on their local communities. I am really looking forward to finding out the great things that local companies are doing to motivate and inspire young people to succeed and I wish all those who enter the awards very best of luck.”

Northern Ireland winners of Business in the Community’s UK Big Tick Awards will also be recognised at the gala event in the Belfast Waterfront Hall on 10th June.

NorthgateArinso boosts global presence as it acquires Human Resources Management division of Convergys

2010-03-04T00:00:00+01:00

NorthgateArinso, the world’s leading Human Resources (HR) software and services provider, is to strengthen its global position by intending to acquire the HR Management division from US provider Convergys.

The transaction is worth approximately $85 million in cash at closing and $15 million in cash over three years. It involves NorthgateArinso acquiring the assets, including the global HR service delivery network and entire customer portfolio, of Convergys’ HR Management division.

Convergys’ HR outsourcing customers will benefit from NorthgateArinso’s clear focus on HR software and services and from its world-class HR delivery capabilities. NorthgateArinso is known for its innovation in the sector, including the creation of platform-based HR Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).

Speaking about the acquisition, Mike Ettling, CEO at NorthgateArinso, commented:

“We are delighted to be combining Convergys’ US market leader position with our world-class focus on software and service. We’ll be bringing together two great teams of people, with great HR solutions, and investing further around the world to innovate even more for our customers.

“We will be working very closely with Convergys’ customers over the next few weeks to ensure they continue to receive the same quality of service and truly understand the benefits of being a customer of the NorthgateArinso family.”

On completion of acquisition, NorthgateArinso will employ around 8,000 people globally, of which a third will be based in North America.

Chris Stone, CEO at Northgate Information Solutions, added:

“The US domestic market accounts for over a third of the global HR services market. As it is home to many multinational businesses, it is a critical marketplace for us as a specialist and we expect to strongly develop our position in the US over the coming years.”

NorthgateArinso’s American operations will continue to be led by Trey Campbell.

About Convergys
Convergys Corporation (NYSE: CVG) is a global leader in relationship management. We provide solutions that drive more value from the relationships our clients have with their customers and employees. Convergys turns these everyday interactions into a source of profit and strategic advantage for our clients.

For more than 30 years, our unique combination of domain expertise, operational excellence, and innovative technologies has delivered process improvement and actionable business insight to clients that now span many countries and languages.

Convergys has been voted a Fortune Most Admired Company for nine consecutive years. We have approximately 70,000 employees in 82 customer contact centers and other facilities in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and our global headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information, visit www.convergys.com

(Convergys and the Convergys logo are registered trademarks of Convergys Corporation.)

We help HR executives optimize their HR service delivery through smarter process and more efficient technology, supporting key HR areas like workforce administration, payroll, benefits, recruitment, learning, and talent management.

With its world headquarters in the United Kingdom, NorthgateArinso has offices in 31 countries on five continents delivering services in over 70 countries through a network of eight Service Delivery Centers. NorthgateArinso's approximately 5,000 staff members serve more than 20 percent of the FORTUNE Global 500 companies, and it is one of the five largest HR service providers in the world.

For more information, visit www.northgatearinso.com

Press contacts
US: Claire Rowberry and Christine Huynh, LEWIS PR
Tel: +1 617 226 8841
Email: clairer@lewispr.com / christineh@lewispr.com

UK: Sally O’Neill and Suzy Ferguson, LEWIS PR
Tel: +44 (0)20 7802 2626
Email: sallyo@lewispr.com / suzyf@lewispr.com

NorthgateArinso: Michael Custers
Tel: +1 770 595 7897
Email: Michael.custers@northgatearinso.com

Convergys: John Pratt
Tel: +1 513 723 3333
Email: john.pratt@convergys.com

Mycompanyfleet roadshows tackle grey fleet issues

2010-03-02T00:00:00+01:00

Fleet software provider Mycompanyfleet, the automotive arm of HR software provider NorthgateArinso, is taking to the road to help companies tackle the problem of grey fleet drivers in a series of roadshows across the country that are free to company managers to attend.

The 90-minute roadshows, which start in mid-March near London before spreading through the Midlands and the north, will demonstrate how the key issues involving grey fleet drivers can be addressed, especially those of verifying vehicle condition, servicing and business mileage.

Leading fleet experts as well as Mycompanyfleet business manager, Andrew Leech, will be on hand to answer any grey fleet issues that arise. In addition, every roadshow attendee will receive a special copy of a definitive Health and Safety policy document for grey fleet drivers.

The roadshow dates are:
Richmond, Surrey                        March 18
Peterborough, Cambs                  March 22
Luton, Beds                                  March 23
Glasgow                                       March 24
Bristol, Avon                                 March 30
Chester                                        March 31

Mycompanyfleet has a software solution to help tackle the dilemma of grey fleet drivers in the shape of its intuitive Driver Self-Serve web portal which it launched at the end of last year.

Driver Self-Serve addresses the duty of care issues around vehicle condition and driver licence checking and not only provides a clear audit trail but also reduces the amount of administration time, as drivers have to enter their mileage and service history details online themselves.

Once they have done that, the system compares them against the manufacturer’s approved service schedule. It then informs the driver of the number of miles left before the next service or the next check and when the vehicle will need to be booked in for the service to be carried out.

If drivers fail to update their details, they will be unsuccessful in their mileage expenses claim, which acts as a major incentive for them to keep records accurate and up-to-date. They are also automatically flagged up in an exception report to their manager for further action to be taken.

Andrew Leech, Mycompanyfleet business manager, said: “Grey fleet drivers still present companies with numerous problems, including major duty of care issues. These new roadshows will provide company managers with the solutions they need to effectively tackle the issues surrounding their grey fleet drivers.”

Notes to Editors:
About mycompanyfleet
Mycompanyfleet is NorthgateArinso's automotive software division, focused on the fleet, leasing and general automotive sector. Mycompanyfleet provides fleet managers with the systems they need to more efficiently and cost-effectively run their vehicle fleets, as well as tackling the latest issues that affect day-to-day fleet operations, such as duty of care and environmental issues.

As part of NorthgateArinso, we have customers from every conceivable marketplace, spread over 46 countries and spanning five continents. We pride ourselves on delivering cost effective solutions that become integral to your business, with technology as an enabler.

NorthgateArinso is the specialist HR division of the Northgate Information Solutions Group. The Northgate Group is owned by private equity company Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and currently employs over 7,500 staff and operates in 46 countries across 5 continents. For more information please email marketing@mycompanyfleet.co.uk

For more information:
Contact:
Andrew Leech,
Business Manager
Mycompanyfleet
Tel: 07939 509273
Email: andrew.leech@mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Press enquiries:
Mike Gunnell
MGMedia Services
Tel: 01832 275060
Email: mike@mgmediaservices.com

Overhaul funding to create a fairer social care system for Wales

2010-03-01T00:00:00+01:00

A radical change to the way social care is paid for in Wales is needed to create a fair and equitable system, says Northgate Public Services in a response to the Welsh Assembly Government’s Paying for Care in Wales consultation.

According to Northgate, the system of funding care needs to be made more consistent and equitable, not only in Wales, but across the UK. The ‘Barnett formula’, which allocates funding to devolved authorities, disadvantages Wales in comparison to England and Scotland. This means that the Assembly Government face pressures over and above other parts of the UK.

The postcode lottery still exists within Wales. People pay different amounts towards their care, and receive different levels of care dependent on their location.

Northgate advocates a system of funding based on a partnership between an individual and the state. This would mean responsibility for paying for care would be shared between both parties, with the ratio the individual pays dependent on their means. Those on the lowest incomes would still receive all of their care for free. This would provide fairness and value for money whilst helping to make the system of state funded care more consistent across the country.

Northgate also reaffirms its support for local delivery of social care. The organisation calls for a national social care system for Wales. In this, minimum standards are set by government, but delivery is still the responsibility of local authorities which should have the flexibility to innovate and develop new ways to meet individuals’ needs.

Russell Osborne, Managing Director of Citizen Solutions at Northgate Public Services, said today: “How we fund social care is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Faced with increased demand with reduced resources, there is a need to take drastic action now to ensure that quality care can be delivered sustainably over the long term. By radically changing the way care is paid for in Wales, it will be possible to develop a system that is universal, equitable, and affordable for those who need it.”

For more information:
Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton 020 7324 6221; 07966 890401
Danny Calogero 020 7324 6223; 07534 189235

Notes to editors:
1. Northgate Public Services is an innovative provider of transformation and improvement services to the public sector. It is committed to high quality public services that place individuals and their communities at their heart. Its knowledge and understanding of people’s needs are core to its business, as too, is its depth and breadth across public services.

Arnold Clark upgrades payroll with NorthgateArinso - car dealership rolls out ResourceLink Aurora for 8,000 employees

2010-02-26T00:00:00+01:00

Arnold Clark, Europe’s largest independent motor dealer, has signed a major payroll contract with NorthgateArinso. The HR services supplier will provide its ResourceLink Aurora platform to manage the monthly payroll of Arnold Clark’s 8,000 employees.

The Arnold Clark Group not only sells new and used vehicles but offers the full motoring package from servicing, repairs and parts to rental and finance. Its payroll team of six people had outgrown the company’s existing supplier due to the number of employees on the payroll. ResourceLink Aurora will interface with Arnold Clark’s existing in-house HR and time and attendance system.

Arnold Clark managing director, Eddie Hawthorne said, “NorthgateArinso is a company with tried and tested foundations and is used to dealing with huge payrolls. We felt we could trust them to deliver accurate results every month. ResourceLink Aurora will provide all the employee information we need at our fingertips, and integrates well with our existing HR systems.”

Malcolm Aldis, managing director at NorthgateArinso said, “Arnold Clark is a family firm which puts employee well-being at the heart of everything it does. In this environment, payroll systems simply cannot fail – there’s no room for error. ResourceLink Aurora is web-deployable, so it will enable the firm’s payroll team to access information when and where they need it.”

Notes to Editors:

NorthgateArinso
www.northgatearinso.com <http://www.northgatearinso.com/>

NorthgateArinso is a leading global Human Resources software & services provider offering innovative HR business solutions to employers of all sizes, including Global Fortune 500 companies and many Public Sector organisations. We help HR executives optimise their HR service delivery through smarter process and more efficient technology, supporting key HR areas like workforce administration, payroll, benefits, recruitment, learning and talent management.

Our 5,000 employees are dedicated to HR excellence through strategic business consulting, outsourcing services, systems integration and best-of-breed software solutions. We are one of the largest HR service providers worldwide and have offices in 31 countries on 5 continents.

Arnold Clark
www.arnoldclark.com <http://www.arnoldclark.com/>

• The family run business sells in excess of 200,000 vehicles per year, employees over 8,000 members of staff and generates an annual turnover of over £2 billion. In 2004, Sir Arnold received a Knighthood in the New Year Honours list in recognition of his services to the Motor Industry and his contribution to the Scottish community. The Arnold Clark Group has won numerous awards, Deliotte Sunday Times Fast Track 100 Largest Privately Owned Company in Scotland, Automotive Magazine Best Large Dealer Group, Five Star Award from the British Safety Council, The Guardian Best Rental Company.
• Arnold Clark has over 145 dealerships throughout the UK, stretching from Inverness to Birmingham.
• The Groups newly re-launched website, ArnoldClark.com is ranked No. 1 most popular UK dealer website by Hitwise/Experian after receiving more visitors than any other site.

For more information:
Ellen Spenceley
Account Executive
LEWIS – Global Public Relations
St. Nicholas House
31 – 34 High Street
Bristol
BS1 2AW

Tel: +44 (0)117 315 8586
Web: http://www.lewispr.com

New Customer Contact Centre set to enhance Ipswich council services

2010-02-22T00:00:00+01:00

Communities in Ipswich are set to benefit from significant long-term improvement to their public services following the Ipswich Borough Council’s decision to route all public enquiries though a dedicated Customer Contact Centre.

The Council has entered into a pioneering three-year performance partnership with Northgate Public Services that will streamline communications with citizens, and enable council departments to focus clearly on service improvement.

The partnership will design and implement a centralised Customer Contact Centre, which is to be staffed by specialist customer service teams who will help to deliver a wide range of benefits by:

• creating a dedicated front office that gives citizens a single point of contact for all their enquiries, dramatically improving service quality and aiming to deal with citizens’ queries first time, every time;
• delivering better for less through carrying out an overhaul of the back office systems to improve front office services for citizens;
• using performance management data and customer feedback to shape further improvements to council services for citizens.

The partnership will deliver cashable savings of nearly £1.5 million over a period of three years to November 2012, over the life of the contract.

All fees paid to Northgate will come from cashable savings. The company operates an innovative risk and reward business model that links its fees directly to its performance. As a result, it only gets paid when it meets its agreed financial and improvement targets.

Terry Hayward, Head of Community and Customer Services at Ipswich Borough Council, said today: “Clear lines of communication are fundamental to the wellbeing of any relationship. The relationship between Ipswich Borough Council and the citizens it serves is no exception. For the first time, local people will be able to raise questions and resolve their concerns through a single point of contact with council staff. As a result, the Customer Contact Centre is certain to have a positive impact on improving the quality of life among our communities. Having worked with Northgate so successfully in the past, I am confident that our latest partnership will make a welcome difference to everyone who lives in our area.”

Joe Bradley, Managing Director of Citizen Services at Northgate Public Services, added: “It is essential that local councils enhance communications and engage effectively throughout their communities, reaching out to the most vulnerable people in these times of economic hardship. Our partnerships offer councils an innovative way of working at low risk and investing in improvement. If we don’t reach our performance improvement targets, we simply don’t get paid, and we only get paid, when we deliver savings. We are committed to working in collaboration with the Council and its employees to deliver better services for the people of Ipswich.”

-Ends-

For more information:

Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44(0)20 7324 6221; +44(0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44(0)20 7324 6222; +44(0)7949 421356

Notes to editors

1. Ipswich is a multi-cultural centre for business, culture, entertainment and sport. With more than 130,000 residents from a diversity of communities, the county town of Suffolk is the fastest growing regional centre in the East of England. Ipswich Borough Council has a joint administration made up by Conservative and Liberal Democrat members.

Oracle recognises Northgate Information Solutions' expertise in delivering specialised Oracle Solutions

2010-02-18T00:00:00+01:00

Oracle today awarded Northgate Information Solutions the Oracle ISV Partner of the Year Award during its annual Oracle UK Partner Awards held at The Langham, London on February 4.

Oracle judges recognised Northgate Information Solutions’ success in delivering innovative solutions and achieving strong customer success using Oracle applications.

David Callaghan, Senior Vice President, Oracle UK, Ireland and Israel said: “These awards recognise the high-level of innovation, excellence and commitment our partners offer when they become specialised with Oracle. Northgate Information Solutions has a proven track record in delivering winning, proven solutions that solve customers’ most critical business challenges. All award winners are partners that have demonstrated tangible success, growth in their Oracle business and outstanding Oracle solutions."

Joe Bradley, Managing Director, Citizen Services, Northgate Public Services said today: “We are delighted to have received this award from Oracle UK. We are committed to meeting our client’s needs so that they can build better services for local people for less. Our partnership with Oracle helps us achieve this. Now more than ever, both the public and the private sector must invest in innovation. We work with our public sector clients so that they can deliver sustainable services built around individual need and reach out to the most disadvantaged in our communities.”

For more information

Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton       +44 (0)20 7324 6221; +44 (0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis     +44 (0)20 7324 6222; +44 (0)7949 421356

Notes to editors

1. Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) Specialized is the latest version of Oracle's partner program that provides partners with tools to better develop, sell and implement Oracle solutions. OPN Specialized offers resources to train and support specialized knowledge of Oracle products and solutions and has evolved to recognize Oracle growing product portfolio, partner base and business opportunity. Key to the latest enhancements to OPN is the ability for partners to differentiate through Specializations. Specializations are achieved through competency development, business results, expertise and proven success. To find out more visit http://www.oracle.com/partners.

2. Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) is the world’s largest business software company. For more information about Oracle, please visit our web site at http://www.oracle.com.

3. Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

4. Northgate Public Services is an innovative provider of transformation and improvement services to the public sector. It is committed to high quality public services that place individuals and their communities at their heart. Its knowledge and understanding of people’s needs are core to its business, as too, is its depth and breadth across public services.

5. Northgate’s task is to enhance public value through the intelligent use of people and technology; to understand why and what change is necessary; to provide new thinking leading to improved performance; and to link company rewards with positive outcomes for the communities for whom it works. It supports transformation through sustainable performance partnerships.

6. In the UK, Northgate works with 95 per cent of local authorities, every police force, and a large number of health organisations, housing associations, utilities and transport companies. Founded in 1969, the company has nearly 8,000 employees. For more information about Northgate please visit our web site at www.northgate-ispublicservices.com

NorthgateArinso & Neller join forces to become HR & payroll solutions leader in Australasia - international expansion builds on success in UK, Europe and the US

2010-02-09T00:00:00+01:00

NorthgateArinso, the UK-headquartered global Human Resources (HR) software & services provider, has announced the acquisition of Australian HR and payroll solution provider, Neller Pty Ltd. The acquisition builds on NorthgateArinso’s UK success and supports its global growth strategy as it seeks to expand in Australia, New Zealand and Asia Pacific.

Neller, headquartered in Adelaide, Australia, develops and markets software and services to support HR professionals. Neller’s subsidiary, Neller Employer Services (NES), provides comprehensive outsourced payroll services.

With Neller’s highly experienced management team and track record of delivering high-quality HR & payroll services, the combined organisation will have an unrivalled capability of delivering HR solutions to the ANZA market. The transaction equips NorthgateArinso with further skills and capacity to spearhead its growth into the dynamic Asia-Pacific market.

Malcolm Aldis, managing director of NorthgateArinso in the UK, commented: “Following the successful strategy to acquire companies that enable us to best serve our customers’ needs here in the UK and around Europe, it is exciting to see this development in Australasia. The global recession has been tough for many organisations and this makes it more important than ever for suppliers to be ready to meet the needs of HR directors and provide a cost-effective, efficient service, delivered in the best way for that organisation. It’s a mantra that is serving us well in the UK, and will now be available to customers on the other side of the world.”

NorthgateArinso recognises the strength and flexibility of the Neller business and its solutions offerings. The existing Neller management team will be integral in the acquisition process - David Page, managing director of Neller, will assume overall responsibility for NorthgateArinso’s Australia/New Zealand business and will report directly to Darcy Lalonde, president, Asia Pacific (APAC).

David Page commented: “This transaction will offer our customers even greater access to a wide range of benefits that come with our enhanced suite of offerings, collective skills, experience and international reach. This is an exciting time for both businesses and this transaction presents a wide variety of opportunities.”

“Neller has a long history in Australia and an enviable client list of more than 1,000 medium to large sized companies. With its strength in servicing larger enterprises and public sector organisations, NorthgateArinso’s market proposition is complementary to Neller’s.”

“The opportunity to acquire Neller is one NorthgateArinso simply could not pass up,” said Darcy Lalonde, president, Asia Pacific. “The company’s credentials in Australia are second to none, and they are very well recognised and respected.”

The acquisition increases the company’s footprint in Australia and New Zealand, with offices in Auckland and Wellington (New Zealand), Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

Notes to Editors:

About Neller
Since 1976, Neller has been a market leader in Australia/NZ developing systems and solutions to manage people. Neller and subsidiary, Neller Employer Services (NES), service over 1,100 medium to large organisations across various industries throughout Australia and New Zealand with their market leading Preceda OnDemand SaaS solution. The company employs almost 100 staff and has offices in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

About NorthgateArinso
NorthgateArinso is a leading global Human Resources software & services provider offering innovative HR business solutions to employers of all sizes, including Global Fortune 500 companies and many Public Sector organizations. We help HR executives optimise their HR service delivery through smarter process and more efficient technology, supporting key HR areas like workforce administration, payroll, benefits, recruitment, learning, and talent management.

Our 5,500 employees are dedicated to HR excellence through leading HR outsourcing solutions, HR consulting services, and best-of-breed HR technology. We are one of the 5 largest HR service providers worldwide and have offices in 31 countries on 5 continents.

For more information:

Ellen Spenceley
Account Executive
Ellens@lewispr.com / lisag@lewispr.com

LEWIS – Global Public Relations
St. Nicholas House
31 – 34 High Street
Bristol
BS1 2AW

Tel: +44 (0)117 315 8586
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Northgate Information Solutions - 6 months trading update May-October 2009

2010-02-04T00:00:00+01:00

I am pleased to report that, despite some very unfavourable conditions in some of our markets, the Northgate Information Solutions group of businesses has performed well in the first six months of the current financial year.

In these turbulent times we are fortunate to have a stable business on which to build, and the resilience of our core offerings in the Human Resources and Public Services markets has allowed us to continue to make progress in all parts of our business. This stability has been reinforced by the commitment of our majority shareholder, KKR, whose support has allowed us to take advantage of favourable market conditions for acquisitions, and add some scale to our businesses through further bolt-on deals.

NorthgateArinso, our global HR systems and services business, continued its journey towards market leadership. It was pleasing to see a growing number of new name clients recognising the benefits to them from the investments that we continue to make in our application portfolio, both in stand-alone software sales and in our IP led outsourcing model. In the period we won several multi-country HR BPO contracts, amongst them the single largest contract that we have ever won in any one of our businesses. This progress in our BPO business and solid performance in our Software business allowed us to grow our NorthgateArinso business overall, despite some contraction of our Systems Integration business in a weak market. Overall, we saw a strong profit performance, increasing our profit margins in the division, and a significant gain in market share with NorthgateArinso outperforming many of its peers.

Northgate Public Services, the UK market leader in the local authority and public safety software markets, has enjoyed another record period of sales and profits. We closed our largest ever software deal in this business, and we closed out the six months with a record contracted order book. At the same time, we were able to build a major pipeline for our transformational service deals in local government, and the first ever prospect for this type of multi-year project in the police sector.

Northgate Managed Services traded significantly ahead of our expectations in the period as we were successful in implementing our Education contracts ahead of schedule, allowing us to move to the managed services portion of these contracts earlier than expected. We also enjoyed a good period of new contract signings and renewals, with particularly good news in the re-signing of our contract with Viridian in Northern Ireland, and the addition of a number of new name long term service clients. Consequently, this business also exited the period with a record forward order book.

Overall, the average number of people employed by the group has grown slightly from approximately 7850 to just over 7900 in the period.

We have mentioned before the resilience of the products and services that we offer our clients, from payroll management to council tax administration, emergency call handling to running ICT infrastructure for schools, and from administering benefits payments to processing penalty notices. In this year more than ever we have seen the benefits of this resilience in our ability to continue to grow our business in very difficult market conditions. We help our clients with essential, mission critical activities. We are therefore confident that we are well placed to deal with the difficult times ahead.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our employees for their continued dedication and outstanding work. Above all I would like to thank our clients for continuing to trust us with such important work on their behalf. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve them, and look forward to serving them in the years ahead.

Chris Stone
Group Chief Executive

Salix Homes transforming Central Salford's neighbourhoods with new partnership

2010-02-03T00:00:00+01:00

Salix Homes has mounted a major transformation programme designed to radically improve the services it provides to customers while delivering much needed efficiencies at a time of economic downturn and unprecedented demand.

In an innovative five year performance partnership, Salford City Council and Salix Homes have joined up with Northgate Public Services to deliver its key priorities, with the implementation of the Keystone Asset Management system and Northgate Integrated Housing solution, as part of Salix Homes’ wider ICT strategy. The partnership will focus on community regeneration and targeted neighbourhood strategies; transforming the ALMOs services through the adoption of best practice; and enhanced collaboration with local agencies.

The partnership will deliver substantial improvement through measures including:

• providing personalised and localised services for customers through improved community related information so that they are provided with the right information and appropriate services at the right time;
• a major overhaul in managing assets and repairs;
• raising employee morale by introducing new ways of flexible working and enhancing their skills and capabilities;
• introducing extended self service for customers who want it and home based consultancy for vulnerable customers and others who need it.

Rob Wakefield, Director of Finance and ICT said: “Salix Homes is determined to provide a fresh approach to the management of homes - one that is all about results. Our vision is to make the neighbourhoods in which we work the neighbourhoods of choice. Our task is to provide housing, regeneration and a broader range of value for money services that are built around our customers’ needs. Our performance partnership with Northgate is focused entirely on excellence and making a wider contribution to improving neighbourhoods.”

Joe Bradley, Managing Director of Citizen Services, Northgate Public Services added: “We are delighted to be working with Salix Homes. It is an organisation which is committed to change that advances the wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable within its communities. We fully support its ambition to provide quality homes and services that make Salford’s neighbourhoods popular places to live and work. Now more than ever, social housing providers must invest to improve. They can play a vital role in building better neighbourhoods through delivering a wider range of enhanced services which place the citizen at their heart.”

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For more information

Fellows’ Associates:
Kathy Sutton +44 (0)20 7324 6221; +44 (0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44 (0)20 7324 6222; +44 (0)7949 421356

Notes to editors

1. Salix Homes Ltd is helping to deliver Salford City Council's five-year strategy to bring all council housing up to the Decent Homes Standard, a multi-million pound vision for the city. Salix Homes is an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) and is a not-for-profit company responsible for the day-to-day management of 10,600 homes across Central Salford, Rainsough Brow and Beechfarm. It also assists the council in the operational delivery of the Housing Market Renewal Programme. It was formed in July 2007.

2. Salix Homes is determined to provide a fresh and energetic approach to the management of homes, one that is all about results. As well as housing management, its role covers housing renewal services. It plays a key role in working with Salford City Council on housing regeneration and renewal services for residents and local businesses across Central Salford. It also supports wider regeneration projects carried out by the council and other agencies. This makes sure that all its projects bring real benefits to the whole community and help create better neighbourhoods.

3. Northgate Public Services is an innovative provider of transformation and improvement services to the public sector. It is committed to high quality public services that place individuals and their communities at their heart. Its knowledge and understanding of people’s needs is core to its business, as too, is its depth and breadth across public services.

4. Northgate’s task is to enhance public value through the intelligent use of people and technology; to understand why and what change is necessary; to provide new thinking leading to improved performance; and to link company rewards with positive outcomes for the communities for whom it works. It supports transformation through sustainable performance partnerships.

5. In the UK, Northgate works with 95% of local authorities, every police force, and a large number of health organisations, housing associations, utilities and transport companies. Founded in 1969, the company has nearly 8,000 employees.

Garlands turns to NorthgateArinso for enhanced HR and payroll services

2010-02-03T00:00:00+01:00

Garlands Call Centres, a specialist provider of outsourced contact centre services, has signed a new six-year contract with NorthgateArinso to provide payroll and HR services to the company’s employee base.

NorthgateArinso’s ResourceLink Aurora system will manage employees’ personal details and employment records, process starters and leavers and run the payroll process for 1500 employees at Garlands centres in South Shields, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool Marina.

“We’ve been very pleased with the performance of the ResourceLink system. It provides us with all the information we need to efficiently and effectively manage HR,” said Yvonne West, HR manager at Garlands. “In addition, the self-service module puts employee details in a secure location online, enabling staff to check their own records and amend as necessary, which eases the administrative burden on the HR team.”

“Garlands is a significant employer in its region. With a high number of staff, getting the detail right on employee information is crucial to the smooth running of payroll and HR,” said Malcolm Aldis, UK managing director at NorthgateArinso. “No business can afford errors or delays with payroll, and ResourceLink has proved it can manage the company’s payroll effectively.”

Notes to editors

About Garlands
www.cjgarland.co.uk <http://www.cjgarland.co.uk/>
Garlands is a specialist UK provider of outsourced customer contact services via phone, email and the Web. Its services range from customer sales to customer service, collections & debt recovery and back office services. Garlands believes that people are the key to delivering superb customer contact services and provides comprehensive and innovative programmes with a holistic focus to develop the skills of its staff.

About NorthgateArinso
www.northgatearinso.co.uk <http://www.northgatearinso.co.uk/>
NorthgateArinso is a leading global Human Resources software & services provider offering innovative HR business solutions to employers of all sizes, including Global Fortune 500 companies and many Public Sector organisations. We help HR executives optimise their HR service delivery through smarter process and more efficient technology, supporting key HR areas like workforce administration, payroll, benefits, recruitment, learning, and talent management.

Our 5,000 employees are dedicated to HR excellence through strategic business consulting, outsourcing services, systems integration and best-of-breed software solutions. We are one of the 5 largest HR service providers world wide and have offices in 31 countries on 5 continents.

The Northgate Group is owned by private equity company Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and currently employs over 6,500 staff and operates in 46 countries across 5 continents.

For information, please contact:

(For NorthgateArinso)
Ellen Spenceley or Lisa Gillingham at LEWIS
Tel: +44 (0) 117 315 8584
Email: northgatearinsouk@lewispr.com
Internet: http://www.lewispr.com

(For Garlands)
Michael Gray
Tel: +44 (0)20 8224 2315
Email: Michael.gray@cjgarland.com
Internet: http://www.cjgarland.co.uk

NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme appoints Northgate

2010-01-28T00:00:00+01:00

Northgate Public Services has been appointed by the NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme (NAAASP) to develop and implement a national IT solution. Under a three year contract it will support the screening and referral process, administration of quality assurance and failsafe procedures, and enable the performance management of the NAAASP service.

An estimated 80,000 men aged between 65 and 74 are affected by abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), which are caused when the main blood vessel in the abdomen - the aorta - weakens and starts to expand. If undetected, the condition can be fatal and around 6,000 men die every year from a burst AAA. If caught in time, many of these deaths are avoidable.

Once fully implemented the NAAASP will reduce deaths from the condition by up to 50 percent by detecting AAAs early and enabling monitoring or treatment to be offered. The Programme will invite all men aged 65 and over - who are most at risk from the condition – for screening during the year they turn 65 from across England.

Roll out of Northgate’s NAAASP solution commenced in December, following its launch at the 2009 National Vascular Conference in November. Once completed by end of March 2013, the solution will support screening and monitoring for around 325,000 men every year at 60 local screening centres.

The award of the contract, Northgate’s first adult screening programme, builds upon its long track record of work in newborn and infant screening, and its wider success in the NHS through Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) and National Joint Registry solutions.

Anne Stevenson, Programme Manager for the NAAASP said: “I am pleased that Northgate Public Services is working with us to develop and implement a national IT system that will help maintain the standards of the national Programme across England. The partnership is all about quality and is designed to ensure that our locally delivered screening programmes provide consistent, effective and efficient services for 65 year old men in their communities.”

Alan Campbell, Head of Screening Solutions at Northgate Public Services, said: “We are delighted to be working with the NHS AAA Screening Programme. To be effectively managed, screening programmes need robust solutions which support local practices while driving national standards. The experience we have gained through the implementation of other high quality screening programmes, combined with our consultancy led approach, will ensure that we develop a solution tuned to the unique requirements of the NAAASP and contribute towards saving lives. We are committed to providing national high quality innovative screening solutions and contributing to the Programme’s success.”

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For more information about Northgate Public Services:

Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44(0)20 7324 6221; +44(0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44(0)20 7324 6222; +44(0)7949 421356

For more information about the NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme please contact the press office: 020 7478 7802
aaascreeningprogramme@grayling.com

Notes to editors

1. Northgate Public Services is an innovative provider of transformation and improvement services to the public sector. It is committed to high quality public services that place individuals and their communities at their heart. Its knowledge and understanding of people’s needs are core to its business, as too, is its depth and breadth across public services.

4. Northgate Health works with organisations across the country to improve health outcomes. We support commissioners in effective decision-making; enable doctors to monitor and improve their performance; and provide patients with the information they need to exercise meaningful choice. Whether supporting world-leading screening programmes, managing national health registries or delivering state-of-the-art information systems for NHS Trusts, Northgate puts the patient at the heart of health services.

5. The NHS AAA Screening Programme will set national standards and protocols for the delivery of local screening services and will coordinate the implementation of the programme across England

6. The programme is being rolled out gradually following research evidence showing that a population based screening programme, using ultrasound scanning, for men in their 65th year would be effective in reducing mortality from ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Northgate supports Birmingham's drive to transform planning services

2010-01-27T00:00:00+01:00

Birmingham City Council’s pioneering e-planning service has been singled out as a leading example of service excellence in the UK, helping to transform public services to be more responsive to people’s needs.

Planning Management which is part of the Planning and Regeneration Service has recently achieved the Customer Service Excellence standard. This is the UK national standard of customer service excellence for public sector organisations overseen by the Cabinet Office.

Birmingham Planning Management deals with planning advice and all of the planning applications for city buildings. It has two main customer groups – the citizens of Birmingham and agents and developers.

Planning Management has formed an innovative partnership with Northgate Public Services. This is designed to streamline, simplify and strengthen planning services. It aims to make them more transparent, and engage the wider community in the process through the intelligent use of online services and technology. The partnership has been praised in the Service Excellence assessment report for improving services and making them more effective.

Planning Management supports the council’s Business Transformation Strategy, the largest transformation programme within local government in the UK. This seeks to revolutionise the way that services are delivered to citizens who live, learn, work in or visit Birmingham.

The national stamp of approval for Planning Management is based on partnership delivery of efficient and effective services. These include self -service systems which give citizens the opportunity to track the progress of planning applications, submit their responses, review decision notices and resolve queries and full mobile services which allow planning officers to spend more time engaging with their communities. Streamlined processes enable the council to meet national performance standards, and share information where necessary with other agencies. Council officers are able to provide a faster and more accurate enquiry services by having instant access to information so that they can provide immediate feedback to their customers on planning policy and guidance.

Cllr Peter Douglas Osborn, Birmingham City Council’s Planning Committee Chairman, said today: “We are delighted that our partnership has been singled out for praise. Effective partnership is all about shared understanding and dedication to improved outcomes. Northgate Public Services, like us, is wholly committed to building services around the needs of citizens. This achievement proves that we are well and truly on the road to revolutionising planning services in Birmingham.”

Russell Osborne, Managing Director of Citizen Solutions at Northgate Public Services, said today: “Now more than ever councils need to invest in online planning and realise the benefits from this. Councils can save precious resources by eradicating waste and inefficiency. However, it is equally important to create better services which build public trust and are more effective in responding to the needs of individuals and local communities. We are ambitious for change and our partnership with Birmingham is achieving it".

[Ends]

For more information
Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44(0)20 7324 6221; +44(0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44(0)20 7324 6222; +44(0)7949 421356

Notes to Editors
1. Birmingham City Council is the largest Metropolitan District in the United Kingdom and employs 50,000 staff servicing a residential population of over one million and 27,000 businesses within an area of 26,785 hectares. It is the largest local authority in Europe serving over one million citizens. Planning Management forms part of the Development and Culture Directorate of the City Council. It employs 109 staff. The Customer Service Excellence assessment report praised Planning Management for its deep understanding and commitment to service excellence. This commitment was found through senior line managers to operational and front line employees.

5. Business Transformation is Birmingham City Council’s ambitious nine-strand programme which aims to modernise and enhance services delivered across the whole authority to citizens. It is projected that the programme will realise benefits of around £1billion over the ten years to 2016.

Northgate Public Services awarded Champion status from Investors in People

2010-01-25T00:00:00+01:00

Northgate Public Services today announced that its specialist transformation division has been awarded Investors in People Champion status in recognition of its consistent commitment to the way it manages and develops its employees to deliver the organisation's goals.

The company will work with Investors in People UK to help other employers by sharing its experience and success in the area of people development. The best practice sharing activities will include mentoring and site visits for organisations wishing to learn from Northgate’s experience. It is one of only fifty organisations in the UK to receive this accolade.

The specialist transformation arm of Northgate Public Services has recently received the highest recognition from Investors in People and achieved the Gold award. Less than two per cent of public and private sector organisations have achieved this elite status.

Jane Jones, Director of Policy and Communications, Investors in People said: “Champions place the Investors in People Standard at the heart of their organisations. Northgate Public Services has reaped the benefits of effective people development. It will now share its expertise with employers across the UK, highlighting the business benefits of effective people development including increased employee motivation, higher retention rates and improved productivity. I am delighted that Northgate has achieved Champion status and I am sure that it will make a highly valued contribution to the continued success of our programme.”

Joe Bradley, Managing Director of Citizen Services, Northgate Public Services said: “Our investment in people is directly linked to overall organisational performance. It is central to the success of our transformation business. We will use this achievement to help build world class public services designed and delivered by motivated public service employees. Now, more than ever, public services must invest in the skills and capacity of their employees to foster innovation and to deliver services that are built around the needs of diverse communities which reach out to those most in need.”

-Ends-

For more information
Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44 (0)20 7324 6221; +44 (0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44 (0)20 7324 6222; +44 (0)7949 421356

Notes to Editors
1. Northgate Public Services is an innovative provider of transformation and improvement services to the public sector. It is committed to high quality public services that place individuals and their communities at their heart. Its knowledge and understanding of people’s needs are core to its business, as too, is its depth and breadth across public services.

3. In the UK, Northgate works with 95 per cent of local authorities, every police force, and a large number of health organisations, housing associations, utilities and transport companies. Founded in 1969, the company has nearly 8,000 employees.

Northgate Managed Services confirms financial close on Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton BSF contract

2010-01-14T00:00:00+01:00

Schools across Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton are set to build on existing progress in achieving excellence in education with the creation of a media-rich learning environment as part of the Government’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. Working closely with ICT services and solutions specialist, Northgate Managed Services, contracted by Balfour Beatty, schools will benefit from an initial £41.3 million invested in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) making them some of the most advanced schools in the country.

The project will see nine Blackburn with Darwen secondary schools (two phases) and 15 Bolton schools (three phases) rebuilt or re-modelled and upgraded to provide flexible and attractive learning environments that better support learning. As just one part of the project, each authority will benefit from the creation of a Discovery Centre, equipped with the very latest innovative learning and teaching tools. The centres will ensure schools can experiment with and evaluate new technologies over the lifetime of the contract. Each school will utilise ‘thin client’ technologies* which helps them save energy, utilise computer equipment more efficiently and ultimately enable students to access learning materials from a wide range of devices such as desktop PCs, laptops and PDAs. Every student will also have access to an online learning platform, providing true anytime, anywhere learning for the entire school community.

In addition, Northgate will be providing an interim managed service from 1st February 2010 where school technicians will transfer to work directly for the ICT specialist in the lead up to the full BSF service. This will help free up school staff to focus on the educational outcomes of this multi-million pound initiative. This interim service will aid the improvement of standards, ensure a smooth transition for ICT and ultimately transfer risk, helping to establish confidence across the school community. From September 2010, schools will have access to the online learning platform. This will help all schools benefit from BSF investment and allow early access to BSF ICT services.

Both authorities will benefit from the latest Learning Platform called N-able. Accessible through the internet from any location, Northgate’s Learning Platform will provide students with their own personalised learning area where they can work on assignments, store their work and access emails, enabling them to communicate with teachers and fellow students. Combining academic information and school administration systems, over the course of the project N-able will provide parents with secure access to information about their child such as their attendance, homework assignments and even their canteen purchases. This will help parents get involved in their child’s education improving communication between parents, school and students.

The creation of a safer school environment is also a key element of both local authorities’ vision for technology. To achieve this, Northgate will implement E-registration, access control and cashless catering systems to help make the schools a safer place for everyone.

David Hyland, Managing Director, Education, Northgate Managed Services, comments: “We are extremely proud to be involved in the Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton Building Schools for the Future project and look forward to working with the Authorities, Balfour Beatty, the LEP and the individual schools to transform learning and teaching using ICT. By working in partnership with the schools, we will be offering innovative, high quality facilities and integrated information and communication technology to help deliver personalised learning tailored to the needs, interests and aptitudes of their learners. We are delighted to be involved in this project and feel the benefits to young learners will make both authorities best practice models for BSF projects across the country.”

For further information, please visit the web site at www.northgate-is.com/managedservices contact tel: +44 (0) 28 90859085 or e-mail info@northgate-is.com.

* ‘Thin Client’ is a generic name for client machines on networks that deliver applications and data via a centralised computing model with the majority of processing carried out by the server(s). This is also known as server-based computing. (Thin Client Technology in Schools report, Becta)

Leicestershire Constabulary iR3 initiative goes nationwide with Northgate

2010-01-13T00:00:00+01:00

A pioneering and award-winning Leicestershire Constabulary initiative aimed at building public confidence, improving performance and creating efficiencies is now available to all UK forces at a time when building public trust in policing has never been so crucial.

The iR3 resource and demand system has been developed and evolved exclusively with the Force. Northgate Public Services is now the exclusive supplier and integrator of iR3. It is offering all police forces the opportunity to meet their strategic priorities and boost public confidence in their localities while improving performance and driving efficiencies and cashable savings.

Leicestershire Constabulary introduced the iR3 solution to improve service delivery and enhance public confidence in the work of the local police. iR3 enables the Force to focus on priority issues that matter most to local people and ensures that critical resources are used efficiently and effectively.

By linking demand – such as crimes and incidents – to resources, operational managers can effectively plan, monitor and manage a variety of policing activities, from critical response to patrolling strategies. Better decision-making and analysis leads to an improvement in desired cashable savings, efficiencies and performance.

With iR3 the Force has been able to deliver and demonstrate a new and higher level of transparency in policing by ensuring that the right resources are in the right places at the right time; by improving the balance between response and patrol to achieve improved outcomes in Neighbourhood Policing priorities and NIM Tasking; and by enabling local officers to consult and report to local groups on activities and outcomes linked to local priorities such as ASBOs and vehicle thefts.

Officers in Leicestershire can now confidently show neighbourhood groups and the wider public where officers have patrolled on a visual computer display. For the first time, the community has a direct input on local patrol strategy by being involved in setting the locations that officers patrol either by foot or by vehicle. This helps to deliver increasing public confidence.

The Force delivered dramatic improvement and emphatic results during its pilot phase in the North Basic Command Unit. There have been significant increases in visits to, and time spent at, priority locations and marked reductions in crime and anti-social behaviour including:

• police visits to crime hotspots up 286%
• time spent in priority locations up 545%
• anti-social behaviour down 50%
• emergency response times within 15 minutes up from 85% to 94%
• fuel consumption down by 21%
• fuel bills down 16%

Leicestershire Constabulary has now rolled out iR3 force-wide, focusing its emphasis on improving operational performance and delivering efficiencies, and is in the process of rationalizing its vehicle fleet to achieve impressive savings.

The project’s success has won recognition at the highest level. In his Independent Review of Policing 2008, Sir Ronnie Flanagan noted that the initiative has resulted in: “A dramatic reduction in self-deployment, substantially reducing multiple deployments and improving response times through automatic identification and deployment of the nearest available unit. Officer time spent in priority areas has significantly increased.”

Leicestershire Constabulary was also among the winners at this year’s ACPO Excellence in Policing Awards in September. Now in their second year, the Excellence in Policing Awards aim to encourage police forces across England and Wales to share the creative thinking and innovative solutions that are vital to making their limited resources go further and work harder.

Speaking today, Superintendent Jez Cottrill, a lead on the iR3 project at Leicestershire Constabulary said: “This is about putting accountability into visible action for the local community. Community representatives are now able to see our achievements on an interactive map on a regular basis. They can also have a say in where we patrol. We believe that forces up and down the country would gain dramatic benefits from its introduction, not only in the more efficient use of resources but in delivering more effective neighbourhood policing.”

Ian Blackhurst, Managing Director of Northgate Public Safety added: “The government’s White Paper on policing demonstrates the economic constraints facing the police over the next few years. Now is a time when police forces up and down the country have to deliver better for less. Through the introduction of iR3 police forces can rest assured that they will bring in sustainable, cashable savings over and above their initial investment. More importantly, they will improve police performance and help rebuild trust within their local communities, reaching out to those citizens most in need.”

For more information

Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44 (0)20 7324 6221; +44 (0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44 (0)20 7324 6222; +44 (0)7949 421356

Notes to editors

1. Leicestershire Constabulary provides a policing service to around a million people in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. With just over 2,300 officers and 15 local policing units, the force is responsible for an area covering over 965 square miles (2,500 square kilometres). Following the departure of Chief Constable Matt Baggott to head up the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the force is under the leadership of Temporary Chief Constable Chris Eyre.

3. Northgate’s task is to enhance public value through the intelligent use of people and technology; to understand why and what change is necessary; to provide new thinking leading to improved performance; and to link company rewards with positive outcomes for the communities for whom it works. It supports transformation through sustainable performance partnerships. In the UK, Northgate works with ninety five per cent of local authorities, every police force, and a large number of health organisations, housing associations, utilities and transport companies.

4. iR3 was developed by L&A Consultants. Specifically designed for the police and emergency services, iR3 was developed out of a pilot project with Leicestershire Constabulary which produced operational benefits and financial savings that significantly exceeded expectations and forecasts. iR3 is sold to police forces throughout the UK by Northgate Public Services which is the exclusive supplier and integrator of the system.

The personal touch - Brislington Enterprise College achieves true personalisation with technology

2010-01-13T00:00:00+01:00

Brislington Enterprise College (BEC) opened brand new doors to its 1200 students in September 2008 as part of the Government’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. Fifteen months on, the school’s forward-thinking and flexible approach to ICT, managed by Northgate Managed Services (www.northgate-is.com/managedservices), has helped teachers achieve to true personalisation for students.

Brislington Enterprise College is a mixed comprehensive college in Bristol, catering for 1200 11-18 year-old students. As one of the largest education institutions in the area, one of the biggest challenges the college faces is the delivery of personalised learning to every student. A major element of the college’s success has been down to effective implementation and use of ICT. To achieve this, the college works closely with Northgate Managed Services to ensure that every piece of technology is properly tailored to the needs of staff and students and that it runs optimally all day, every day.

The college’s extensive wireless network combined with easily transportable kit such as laptops, handheld devices and wireless projectors, enables staff and students to collaborate wherever they are in the college. In the past, teachers had to book a computer suite or a set of laptops in advance of a lesson which meant students only had ad-hoc access to technology. Ryan Lewin, Director of Post-16 Community and Teacher of Geography at BEC, comments: “Now that the college has gone wireless, my class can instantly start work on any given task or activity in the classroom. At BEC, we believe that students must be provided with continuity for their use of technology in order to develop proficient ICT skills which we are now able to achieve.”

As the college is based on such a large site, it is also incredibly important that technologies are mobile and that every student has the opportunity to use them. Richard Sykes, BEC’s eLearning Coordinator and Teacher of Music, is using Apple iTouch’s with music students to listen to instruments and music and help them interact with him throughout the lesson. Richard comments: “It is vital that teachers embrace the fact that young people are accessing mobile technologies all day, every day and develop ways to integrate them into teaching practice. We also provide students with access to handheld devices such as the iTouch outside of the classroom in practice rooms which helps reinforce their learning.”

Anytime, anywhere learning
Every student and member of staff at BEC has access to their own online personalised learning space through the college’s managed learning environment (MLE), N-able. Designed by Northgate, the MLE allows students to work on assignments, store work and access emails, enabling them to communicate with teachers and fellow students. Ryan Lewin comments: “The 24/7 accessibility to information on the MLE has had a tremendous impact on the learning experience for students. For example, I am able to upload everything my GCSE students need to complete activities and revise in one, easy-to-access place. In the past, I had to refer them to a multitude of different resources, whereas now, they are can download course materials and presentations, complete the work and upload it to the MLE to submit it for marking.”

The MLE provides flexibility for when, where and how teachers at BEC work. No longer confined to the four walls of their classroom, teachers can plan, set and review work from home, the library or anywhere with an internet connection. Richard Sykes was recently was off-site all day on a training course, which in the past, would have meant sorting out supply cover. However, he was able to logon to the MLE the previous evening and set work for his BTEC students who then completed and submitted it online to his deadline. Richard comments: “The MLE even enables me to see the time and date that my students upload their work, the specific resources they access and how long it takes them to complete it, so I can feel confident that they are still learning should I occasionally be out of college.”

Teachers at BEC are also utilising the MLE to plan and deliver lessons. Each class has their own assigned virtual room where teachers can upload resources to cover in class and activities to extend their learning at home. Details such as the topics they are due to cover or information they should read beforehand are reflected in their online timetable so they come to each lesson fully prepared. Richard, comments: “I also use the MLE to upload keynote presentations, handouts and audio recordings after class which they can discuss in the MLE’s moderated forums and chat rooms or share their work with parents.”

Student engagement
Staff at BEC believe it is important to teach with some of the latest technologies students own and use them as a way to engage them in their learning. Richard Sykes, comments: “Technology has become an intrinsic part of students’ lives and their preferred method of accessing and processing information, so the natural step has been to bring this into the classroom environment. Our young people are incredibly intuitive and excited by technology - as soon as they have new kit in their hands they want to progress it and use it in all their lessons. Often, they don’t want lessons to end and ask to come back after college to continue using it, which, in turn is also helping to improve their grades.”

Richard also believes it is important that schools and colleges continuously evolve their ICT offering to students to keep them engaged. He comments: “Many of our students own the latest digital technologies such as iPhones and PSPs so we have to continuously evolve our ICT offering to keep them interested in using technology and not let it become an archaic experience.”

The college is exploring the use of a wide range of devices in the classroom such as mobile phones, which students enjoy using and find familiar. Ryan Lewin gives his advice on this subject to other schools and colleges: “It is important that use of ICT is strongly linked to learning objectives to keep students on task. At BEC, we ensure students are using technologies that are reflective of the outside world and are keen to provide students with an experience which will help equip them to continue their education or enter the workplace.”

The managed service has played a pivotal role in successful ICT provision and student engagement at BEC. John Matthews, College Principal at BEC, comments: “To engage staff and students in ICT, it is imperative that it operates efficiently. The managed service ensures that our server and technologies are up and running whenever students want to use them and if there is a fault, the problem is fixed quickly before it impacts on their learning. Working with Northgate has also relieved the pressure on our technician who can spend more time helping everyone get to grips with new technologies.”

At BEC, staff understand that technology does not stand still and in order to keep abreast of innovation and implementing technology which continues to complement the college’s vision for learning, they need to work with professionals. John Matthews, comments: “Northgate provides a team of specialists who look out for cost-effective, tailored technologies to improve our offering to students and who continuously work to ensure that existing ICT is working efficiently.”

Independent learners
Teachers at BEC believe it is vital that students leave college as confident, independent learners prepared for higher education or the world of work. To help achieve this, an Enterprise Centre has been created and is open until 5pm each day for students to use. The suite comprises of 70 PCs, 60 mobile devices and a suite of Apple Macs for students studying media and has the look and feel of a higher education centre as opposed to a school library. John, comments: “We appreciate that currently, some of our students do not have access to a computer or the internet at home, so the Enterprise Centre provides a place that they can come to complete their work at lunchtime or after college. This has been well received by students who are very proud of their facilities. As a result of this more professional atmosphere, students are coming in and getting on with their work with minimal disruption or vandalism.”

By providing students with their own personalised learning area, BEC is able to provide the additional support and assistance they need to maximise independent study and to progress according to their own individual learning plan. Teachers are able to monitor each student’s progress to ensure that they are on track and progressing. The college has also set up eLearning community forums for each class to encourage students to collaborate with their peers if they need help with their work.

Richard Sykes, comments: “Using N-able, teachers set and develop a personalised learning pathway for each student which they work through in their own time. The MLE allows us to set deadlines for students and view when they upload their work, helping them to take ownership of their learning in preparation for life after college.”

Parental engagement
At BEC, teachers understand the importance of parental and guardian involvement in their child’s education and encourage parents to log-on to the MLE to view the work they have been doing and homework to complete. John Matthews, comments: “We really want our students’ families to feel part of the college community and understand more about their child’s day-to-day activities. As they have online access, parents can log-on to the portal anytime, anywhere, whether they are at home, at work or even on the move using their mobile phone.”

The future
The college has many exciting plans for the future, including a trial of Microsoft Surface, a 42-inch touch-screen to encourage greater collaboration between students. John Matthews concludes: “Traditionally our ICT provision has focused strongly on one-to-one provision to support personalisation for students. We are keen in 2010 to encourage groups of students to work together using technology and look forward to implementing new technologies alongside Northgate to achieve this.”

For further information about Northgate Managed Services, please visit the web site at: www.northgate-is.com/managedservices

Northgate Managed Services launches N-able School

2010-01-13T00:00:00+01:00

At BETT 2010, Olympia, LONDON – 13 January 2010, Northgate Managed Services, a leading provider of ICT services and solutions to the education sector, launches N-able School, a web portal which allows learners, teachers & administrative staff to create their own personalised portal.

N-able School is an easy-to-use, flexible web portal which has been designed to meet the needs of schools, colleges and academies across the UK. It provides access to core applications along with a wide range of additional add-on widgets allowing schools to tailor the portal to their individual needs.

N-able School provides flexibility of choice by integrating all the key educational and administrative systems that individual schools currently use, allowing secure access through single sign-on from school, home or anywhere else where the internet can be accessed.

N-able school also offers flexible service levels depending on the school’s individual needs. It can be hosted and managed centrally by Northgate or alternatively the school can host and manage the product locally within the school. This means the school has the choice and control over how the application is managed and costed.

David Hyland, Managing Director, Education, Northgate Managed Services, comments: “Appreciating the individuality of every school and the concept that one size doesn’t fit all, we are excited to be able to launch N-able School which has been designed to offer a flexible solution that users can personalise to best suit their needs.”

For further information about Northgate Managed Services, please visit the web site at: www.northgate-is.com/managedservices.

Panasonic Appoints Northgate Managed Services as Education Technology Solutions Provider

2010-01-13T00:00:00+01:00

London Olympia, 13th January BETT 2010 – today, on the same day Panasonic unveiled a ‘classroom of the future’ featuring leading edge education technology that improves audio visual communication in a secure classroom environment, the global technology leader also announced Northgate Managed Services as a key distribution partner for its interactive whiteboards called ‘Panaboard’ and a wider range of products and solutions for delivery into the Education marketplace.

Northgate Managed services, known for its work with leading technology organisations such as Microsoft, Compuware, VMWare, Symantec, Cisco, Citrix, Commvault, Apple, Sun, HP and DELL will work in close partnership with Panasonic to assist them to gain a deep understanding of its education customers. This will enable Panasonic technology solutions to be deployed in the transformation of education, delivering greater efficiency and reducing total cost of ownership in the use of technology in education.

Northgate Managed Services who have 1000 staff across UK, England, Scotland and Ireland is a leading provider of ICT services and solutions to the education sector and through its C2k partnership in Northern Ireland has supported 1200 schools for over 7 years. In England, within the Building Schools for the Future programme, Northgate Managed Services is working with Local Authorities to support the transformation of teaching using ICT equipment in Kent, Bristol, Leicester City and Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton.

“We are delighted to have been chosen as a distribution partner by Panasonic. Panasonic offers the education market a very cost-competitive and versatile portfolio of solutions”, says David Hyland, Managing Director (Education), Northgate Managed Services.

Peter Dempsey, Northgate Managed Service’s Account Manager at Panasonic added; “as a key Panasonic partner, Northgate was selected because of their special expertise and relationships within the education sector. The C2k partnership particularly gives Northgate extensive knowledge and experience useful to help deliver precisely the technology solutions required for the education market”.

Msona and its distribution partner Northgate Managed Services showcase 'School-in-a-Box' solutions at BETT 2010

2010-01-13T00:00:00+01:00

LONDON – 12 January 2010, Msona Ltd. (www.msona.co.uk), an innovative European
manufacturer of unified IP communications and networking systems for small, medium and distributed enterprises, today announced that together with its distribution partner Northgate Managed Services (Northgate), a pioneer in delivering Information & Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure solutions to schools across the UK and Ireland will be showcasing “School-in-a-Box” Solutions at BETT 2010, Olympia, London.

The “School-in-a-Box” solution is the first 21st Century ICT Infrastructure platform optimised for schools, nurseries and youth clubs requiring simple, affordable and easy to use, manage and support platform. “School-in-a-Box” is designed and packaged for forward-thinking educational institutions looking for advanced and feature-rich multi-service ICT platforms without the complexity and cost of traditional systems

“BETT attracts more than 30,000 visitors and brings together the global teaching and learning community for four days of innovations and inspirations and we intend to use this platform to communicate with our customers and channel partners on how they can benefit from our fully integrated solutions and our strategic partnerships like the one with Msona,” said David Hyland, Managing Director, Education, at Northgate. “The Msona product range is great at delivering secure, radically simple and reliable ICT infrastructure in one single robust box which can be managed by the school, Northgate or our channel partners,” Hyland added.

Msona offers All-in-One Multi-service Internet appliances known as the mBox 2000 series that consolidate up to eight networking, communications and IT devices. The mBox pre-integrates a simple and modular solution for schools’ ICT needs including Broadband gateway, shared and secured Internet access, telephony, data backup, security, remote access, resource sharing, email, web servers and collaboration applications. Acting as the main access gateway to the Internet, the mBox offers the ability to host schools’ public websites and Intranets as well as run a secure email infrastructure for staff and pupils. The device offers the full capability to monitor Internet usage, filter access to inappropriate material and content on the web while blocking viruses and spam from reaching school’s network. Msona also offers a range of cloud computing based services known as mRepublic which complement the applications running on the mBox and enhance the schools’ quality of experience for web presence, security updates as well as maximum uptime and availability of ICT services.

Rami Houbby, Msona’s Vice President of Business Development, commented, “The
“School-in-a-Box” offering is an innovative solution brought to market by top education focused system integrator and leading-edge European technology manufacturer to deliver easy-to-use and affordable ICT solutions that cater for schools, nurseries and youth clubs across the UK and Ireland”. “We are looking forward to participating at the event together with our partners Northgate to demonstrate our joint determination to offer our customers best-in-class solutions tailored to the education market,” Houbby added.

The mBox offers educational institutions the ability to securely connect to the Internet over Broadband while providing an environment for hosting web-based applications and collaboration tools to develop communities and interest groups that span across the institution and its community to include pupils, staff, parents and other schools.

Msona products showcased on Northgate’s BETT stand are:
• mBox 2000 Multi-service Internet Appliances
• mPhone M6730i IP Phone
• mPhone M6755i IP Phone

mBox 2000 Key features:

• Internet presence:
o Fully integrated web presence and domain management enables schools to
locally host and manage their own websites for greater performance,
reliability, control and security.

• Secure web-browsing
o Blocking inappropriate material on the Internet and enforcing school’s Internet usage policies where access to all network services is controlled by passwords providing a greater level of security. Through detailed and extensive filtering of content categories, all information delivered to the school is guaranteed to be appropriate for minors’ access.

• Unified IP Communications Infrastructure
o Full-featured PBX delivering many telephony features tightly integrated with email so teaching staff can communicate better and never misses a phone call!

• Anti-Virus and Anti-Spam
o All emails are scanned for spam and virus signatures before being delivered offering total protection.

• Secure Internet Access
o A built-in firewall protects the school’s network from Internet attacks.

• Network Access Control
o Protecting the school’s network from the inside with seamless access admission control over wired and wireless networks to control who can go where on the network.

• Local e-mail delivery
o All internal communications are delivered locally. No need for email messages to go up and down the Internet link and use up valuable Internet bandwidth

• Round-the-clock Collaboration
o Full groupware and collaboration functionality for Microsoft Outlook users.

• Remote Connectivity
o Staff members as well as pupils with access permission can access school’s resources from their homes or while travelling so pupils can engage and interact with teachers and other students as well as access homework assignments and lesson material even while not at school.

mPhone M6730i IP Phone Key features:

• Exceptional Value in an entry level IP Phone
• Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
• Auto-provisioning of extensions from mBox
• Basic LCD screen display
• AC power adapter (included)
• 10/100 RJ-45 Interface

mPhone M6755i IP Phone Key features:

• Exceptional Value in an advanced level IP Phone
• Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
• Auto-provisioning of extensions from mBox
• Large LCD screen display
• Power Over Ethernet (POE) support
• AC power adapter (included)
• 2 x 10/100 Switched RJ-45 Interfaces

Managed Services appointed selected bidder for ICT provision in Hartlepool Borough Councils' Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme

2010-01-13T00:00:00+01:00

Northgate Managed Services (Northgate), a leading provider of ICT services and solutions, has been announced as Hartlepool Borough Council’s selected bidder for the supply of ICT in the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. Subject to final contract negotiations and a successful financial close the parties intend to enter into a contract by February 2010.

This contract valued at £12.98m is Northgate’s first ICT-only contract in the BSF programme and builds on success in Bristol, Leicester, Kent, Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton. The BSF investment aims to build on the very good standards in Hartlepool by transforming learning in all secondary schools through innovative building designs and personalised learning for all learners.

Northgate will deliver ICT services to seven schools in Hartlepool; Dyke House Sports and Technology College,; Manor College of Technology, St. Hilds C of E School, English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College, Catcote Business and Enterprise College , High Tunstall College of Science and the Pupil Referral Unit. The investment allows for the provision and management of the very latest innovative learning and teaching tools creating technology-rich learning spaces which are responsive, inclusive and supportive of attainment by all.

Northgate will also be supporting Hartlepool’s “Space to Learn” project which is a nationally recognized project to provide a testbed environment to develop and enhance teaching and learning in the 21st century. It will consist of flexible learning spaces and innovative technologies which will be used by all schools within Hartlepool supported by Hartlepool’s City Learning Centre and in partnership with Northgate Managed Services, to deliver change.

Northgate already supplies managed services to over 1,200 school and college networks across the UK and is responsible for 17 schools currently benefitting from BSF investment as well as providing interim managed services to an additional 10 BSF schools. This is Northgate’s fifth BSF contract win, in addition to recent success in the single schools and academies market.

Councillor Cath Hill, Hartlepool Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Hartlepool schools and the council are really excited about the BSF programme and the opportunities this presents for all learners across the town. The council is looking forward to working with Northgate Managed Services in a true partnership agreement to build on the current good practice that already exists.”

David Hyland, Managing Director, Education, Northgate Managed Services said: “We are delighted to be chosen as selected bidder for Hartlepool Borough Council and look forward to working closely with the schools and council to achieve both individual school objectives and those of the borough as a whole”

For further information about Northgate Managed Services, please visit the web site at: www.northgate-is.com/managedservices.

Consortium of Authorities in South East Wales extend shared services partnership with Northgate

2010-01-11T00:00:00+01:00

Following recent successes, six Authorities in South East Wales, acting as a consortium, and Northgate Public Services today announce that they have renewed their shared services partnership for a further five years. The partnership is focused on the delivery of cost-effective IT solutions for Social Services.

The announcement follows the implementation of the Unified Assessment Process for Adults (UAP) and the Integrated Children’s System (ICS) across the Authorities in the consortium working cooperatively with Northgate.

UAP and ICS offer a holistic approach to assessing and managing people’s needs through an integrated approach across all care agencies, delivering care packages that promote the independence of the service user.

The consortium has employed a project manager and other dedicated staff and has aligned processes and data collection mechanisms across the Authorities in key areas. This brings added value by enabling further alignment of training, support and report development.

The partnership with Northgate has resulted in a number of tangible benefits for service users and staff. These include more effective and accessible services by reducing the need for different assessments by different agencies; a reduction in paper processes, reducing manual error and maximising efficiency; and considerable savings as processes are shared across all authorities.

The partnership is committed to expanding and progressing its information sharing initiatives to meet its overall goal where it is able to share information with all of its partners including other local Authorities in Wales.

Ellis Williams, Director of Social Services, Rhondda Cynon Taff Council and Chair of the South East Wales consortium said: “By sharing procurement and services, we have been able to develop a system which is responsive to the needs of our users and helps our staff deliver a joined up service built around personal needs, which also reflects value to the tax payer. We are delighted to be extending our partnership with Northgate. They are a trusted partner and a safe pair of hands that have given us the confidence to build a social care business which is truly aligned to the needs of our local communities.”

Russell Osborne, Managing Director of Citizen Solutions at Northgate Public Services, said today: “We are very proud of the work that our partnership with the South East Wales consortium has produced so far. We believe that shared services and joined up working can transform social care, not only for individuals, but for communities. At a time of unprecedented demand and limited resources, the consortium has shown how innovative delivery can be richly enhanced by local development.”

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For more information

Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44 (0)20 7324 6221; +44(0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44 (0)20 7324 6222; +44(0)7949 421356

Notes to Editors

1. The South East Wales Consortium is a partnership between the local authorities of Caerphilly, Newport, Monmouth, Vale of Glamorgan, Merthyr, and Rhondda Cynon-Taff. The Consortium, which covers 28% of Wales, serves the needs of more that 25,000 adults and 6,000 children. It was set up to transform the provision of social care services in the region through shared service delivery.

Travis Perkins selects the right tools from NorthgateArinso - HR contract renewed to strengthen workforce support

2010-01-11T00:00:00+01:00

Travis Perkins, a leading UK supplier in the building and construction industry, has re-signed its contract with NorthgateArinso to continue using its payroll and HR management solution until 2014. The firm has also introduced self-service functionality for its 25,000 employees.

Travis Perkins has used the HR and payroll software for the past nine years. It allows HR and employees from other departments to better manage processes in-house, from pay to absence management and training.

John Smith, IT Manager, at Travis Perkins commented: “We are highly self-sufficient when it comes to our internal IT systems. We have renewed our contract with NorthgateArinso, as we feel its HR service matches our high standards.

“The solution has served us very well over the last nine years and it was not a difficult decision to re-sign, it is important that we have every confidence in our HR and payroll systems.”

Malcolm Aldis, UK managing director at NorthgateArinso, said: “Renewing this contract will give us the opportunity to maintain the strong relationship we have built with the company. We’ve demonstrated our value through streamlining all HR processes and aligning our functionality to meet the needs of the business and will continue to do so in the future.”

Notes to editors

About NorthgateArinso
NorthgateArinso, the HR division of Northgate Information Solutions, was created in 2007 following the acquisition of ARINSO International, thus creating a merged entity with more than half a century of combined HR expertise.

NorthgateArinso is a leading global Human Resources software and services provider offering innovative HR business solutions to employers of all sizes, including Global Fortune™ 500 companies and many public sector organisations.

Our vision is simple: we want to be the trusted partner of HR decision makers for improving HR service delivery through smarter processes and more efficient technologies. We help HR executives optimize their HR service delivery through smarter process and more efficient technology, supporting key HR areas like workforce administration, payroll, benefits, recruitment, learning, and talent management.

NorthgateArinso’s 4,500 employees are dedicated to HR excellence through strategic business consulting, best-of-breed software solutions, outsourcing services and systems integration. NorthgateArinso has offices in 32 countries on 5 continents.

About Travis Perkins
A major PLC, Travis Perkins is a leading company in the builders’ merchant and home improvement markets, and is a main supplier to the building and construction market, one of the largest industries in the UK. The company operates eight businesses - Travis Perkins, Keyline, City Plumbing Supplies, CCF, Benchmarx, Wickes, Tile Giant and Toolstation - and has over 1,200 branches across the UK.

For more information

Ellen Spenceley
Account Executive
LEWIS – Global Public Relations
St. Nicholas House
31 – 34 High Street
Bristol
BS1 2AW

Tel: +44 (0)117 315 8586

Empowering local authorities key to tackling fuel poverty

2010-01-04T00:00:00+01:00

More power and resources should be handed to local authorities in order to combat climate change and reduce fuel poverty in our local communities asserts Northgate Public Services today.

Responding to the Welsh Assembly Government’s consultation on fuel poverty strategy, Northgate argues that the issue of climate change is so severe that a statutory role for local authorities in addressing energy efficiency is now essential. The organisation points out that local authorities are well placed to take into account specific issues of social equity and economic deprivation which are essential to combating fuel poverty at a local level. Northgate also calls upon the Assembly Government, the UK Government and local authorities to work together to encourage the take-up of energy advice and benefits to those affected by fuel poverty.

In their response, Northgate also outline a number of other recommendations, including:

• that services, such as health and education, should work together in order to provide a holistic approach to combating fuel poverty;
• that any reporting system take into account variables in order to ensure progress can be accurately measured;
• that information is readily available to citizens, and provided where necessary by frontline workers.

Russell Osborne, Managing Director of Citizen Solutions for Northgate Public Services, said today: “We welcome the Welsh Assembly Government’s commitment to eradicating fuel poverty in Wales. Given the economic climate, fuel poverty is an issue which is affecting more and more people. But the severity of the issue means that now is the time to take drastic action. By giving local authorities more powers to promote energy efficiency, communities will benefit from localised, specialised advice that meets their needs. Local authorities are better placed to co-ordinate collaborative action from a range of services that seeks to help those most at risk from fuel poverty.”

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For more information

Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton 020 7324 6221; 07966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis 020 7324 6222; 07949 421356

Notes to editors
1. Northgate Public Services is a leading provider of innovative services to the public sector and utilities markets. Its task is to enhance public value through the intelligent use of people and technology, and to share in the economic and social benefits that this brings. In the UK, Northgate works with 95% of local authorities, every police force and a half of all fire brigades and ambulance trusts. It supports public service transformation through sustainable performance partnerships. Founded in 1969, the company has nearly 8,000 employees.

Northgate gains place on Software Application Solutions framework agreement

2009-12-22T00:00:00+01:00

Northgate Public Services today announced that it has been successful in being awarded a place on the Software Application Solutions framework agreement by Buying Solutions, the national procurement partner for UK public services.

Launched on 17 December 2009, the new framework agreement provides end-to-end application solutions or individual elements and includes consultancy, integration with existing systems, data migration, training and ongoing maintenance.

Northgate has been included in all of the four Lots it was invited to tender for. All of Northgate’s application solutions can be bought through the new framework agreement. The framework agreement runs for two years with options to extend for a further two years.

Northgate’s applications are available via the following Lots:

• Lot 1 – Bespoke Applications
• Lot 2 – Customer/Citizen Relationship Management and Case Management Solutions
• Lot 3 – Document and Records Management Solutions
• Lot 5 – Information Management Applications

Kris Ross, Senior Software Category Manager said today: “We are delighted to be working alongside Northgate Information Solutions on the Software Application Solutions framework agreement, an integral vehicle for providing individual or end to end software solutions, for the lifetime of the framework agreement.”

Peter Rottier, Managing Director of Northgate’s Buying Solutions Business said:
“We are delighted to offer our solutions through this new framework agreement. It offers public services the opportunity to invest in value for money support in delivering effective, efficient and innovative public services. Now more then ever, it is essential that public services get better for less. The framework agreement is a crucial element to achieving this.”

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For more information

Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44(0)20 7324 6221; +44(0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44(0)20 7324 6222; +44(0)7949 421356

Notes to editors

4. The Lots that Northgate have been awarded are as follows:

Lot 1 Bespoke Applications
Services in this Lot may include solution identification, design, development, implementation, data take-on, migration, integration and security; user training, maintenance, application hosting and support for a range of applications. It may also cover the prototyping, configuring, tailoring and integration of existing products and also include some goods and services as part of a wider solution.

Lot 2 Customer/Citizen Relationship Management And Case Management Solutions
Provides for Customer/Citizen Relationship Management and Case Management solutions which may include solution identification, design, development, implementation, data take-on, migration, integration and security; user training, maintenance and support or managed service. It may also cover the prototyping, configuring or tailoring of existing products and also include some goods and services as part of a wider solution. Including the provision of call and contact centre and similar operational services.

Lot 3 Document & Records Management Solutions
Provides for Document and Records Management solutions which may include solution identification, design, development, implementation, data take-on, migration, integration and security; user training, maintenance and support as part of a wider solution. It may also cover the prototyping, configuring or tailoring of existing products and also include some goods and services as part of a wider solution.

Lot 5 Information Management Applications
Provides for Information Management application solutions or amendment of existing solutions which may include solution identification, design, development, implementation, data take-on, migration, integration and security; user training, maintenance and support. It may also cover the prototyping, configuring or tailoring of existing products and include some goods and services as part of a wider solution. This lot also covers data management services which may include Data Interfacing, Data Integration, Data Governance, Data Analysis, Data Architecture, Data Modelling, Data Management, Data Security, Data Quality Management, Master Data Management, Data Warehousing, Business Intelligence, Content Management and Meta Data Management

Stop the empty property rot says Northgate

2009-12-17T00:00:00+01:00

Billions of pounds are being wasted by the soaring problem of empty homes. Many of these properties continue to benefit from a 50 per cent discount for council tax, according to a leading provider of transformation services, which is calling on the government to stop the empty property rot that blights our local communities.

Northgate Public Services is today backing the call for a national strategy to end the scandal of empty property. It is demanding that government takes urgent action following the publication of the latest authoritative reports by the Audit Commission and Halifax Building Society in the last two months. It wants government to:

• remove the discretionary council tax on empty properties
• consider allowing local authorities to impose punitive levels of council tax for property for very long term empty properties
• introduce a statutory duty for local authorities to develop empty property strategies
• reduce VAT from 17.5% to 5% for the refurbishment of empty properties
• give housing associations the right to apply to the Homes and Communities Agency for the repair and purchase of run down empty homes
• enable empty properties in the public sector to be transferred to parts of the public sector or housing associations under the Public Request Disposal Order system which allows the public to request the disposal of empty public sector property

The latest Halifax Survey result shows that the number of long term private empty homes has risen to 303,285, the highest level since April 2003. There is a clear inequality gap and North/South Divide. Empty properties are associated with higher levels of deprivation – such as lower earnings and more unemployment. The recent Audit Commission report shows that by bringing only five per cent of empty homes back in to use, councils could cut their homelessness costs by as much as £500 million. Every £1 spent on providing housing support for vulnerable people can save nearly £2 in reduced costs of health services, tenancy failure, crime and residential care.

Russell Osborne, Managing Director of Citizen Solutions at Northgate Public Services, said today: “Many of the local authorities that we work with have good policies to tackle empty homes. Yet others are doing too little or nothing at all. My fear is that things will only get worse and not better. Therefore, we are calling on the government to attack the pernicious waste of empty property in our local communities, to introduce a statutory duty for local authorities, and to stop the council tax discount that is of negative public value. Why should we pay for the waste of an empty home when our council taxes could be better spent on promoting community well being? It is simply an economic nonsense that the government must not tolerate in an economic downturn.”

[Ends]

For more information

Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44(0)20 7324 6221; +44(0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44(0)20 7324 6222; +44(0)7949 421356

Notes to Editors

3. In the UK, Northgate works with ninety five per cent of local authorities, every police force, and a large number of health organisations, housing associations, utilities and transport companies. Founded in 1969, the company has nearly 8,000 employees. To support local authorities deliver their empty homes strategies, the company has recently launched an empty homes service that is supporting local councils to bring empty properties back into use.

£6.5m ICT services contract to deliver key efficiencies

2009-12-17T00:00:00+01:00

North Lanarkshire Council has forged an ICT Service Delivery Partnership worth £6.5m with leading ICT company, Northgate Managed Services (Northgate).

The five-year contract is part of the council’s drive to operate more efficiently and cost effectively in line with the Efficient Government programme impacting all Scottish Local Authorities.

The Partnership will support the Council’s ICT Strategy supporting over 8,000 IT users across 220 sites ultimately helping the Council to provide high quality services to its citizens.

With the rise in users’ expectations of what constitutes a high quality ICT service, Northgate’s Managed Service offers a flexible solution allowing for increased user productivity and satisfaction.

At the heart of the service is an ITIL Service Desk supported by continuous remote monitoring of the Council’s network and infrastructure.

The service, modelled on industry best practice, will promote high first time fix rates and ensure incidents and problems are managed efficiently.

The Service Desk together with the dedicated on-site team will provide an integrated managed service, supplemented where required with resources drawn across Northgate ensuring maximum flexibility and efficient delivery.

As part of the Partnership, Northgate will also provide support for ICT projects enabling the share of innovation and continuous improvements.

North Lanarkshire Council Finance Convener Councillor John Pentland said: “The council needed a partner with a long standing commitment to Scotland, one who will provide high quality services that will best assist us in achieving our vision to ‘put Service and People First.’

“Northgate’s approach fits in with our desire to address new ways of doing things.”

Commenting on the partnership, James Turnbull, Managing Director, Infrastructure Solutions, Northgate Managed Services said, “We are excited by the prospect of working with the council and feel that our strengths and capabilities in this market will allow us to bring innovative and value added ideas to the partnership on a regular basis.”

He continued, “We are strongly committed to the region, and to Scotland in general, where we have been conducting business for some 30 years now.

“Our aim is to develop North Lanarkshire as our Regional Centre of Excellence, bringing in more employment to the council area and supporting the local community wherever we can.”

NorthgateArinso to provide human resources solutions and services to AstraZeneca

2009-12-17T00:00:00+01:00

NorthgateArinso, a leading global Human Resources (HR) software & services provider, today announced it has signed a seven-year, multi-million pound contract to provide global HR software and services to AstraZeneca, a major international healthcare business.

The decision to work with NorthgateArinso to provide HR support services is part of AstraZeneca’s long term corporate initiative to improve efficiency and reduce costs. NorthgateArinso will provide AstraZeneca with the support and expertise to help achieve these goals:

•      Streamlining and consolidating HR services and solutions onto its globally deployed euHReka HR services platform, powered by SAP
•      Providing in-country payroll services from its global delivery network for over 100 countries
•      Delivering HR administration and talent management services from HR service centres in Manila, Buenos Aires, Granada and Katowice

AstraZeneca has approximately 65,000 employees in over 100 countries.

“This agreement underscores our global delivery capabilities and the unique benefits of our euHReka platform with standardised out-of-the box HR processes and services. Employees, managers and HR professionals can now benefit from easy-to-use self-service applications, accessible for everyone over the Internet, across 105 countries supporting a wide range of local languages,” commented Mike Ettling, CEO at NorthgateArinso.

“Our investment in a software-based OnDemand HR outsourcing platform changes the HR outsourcing landscape as it efficiently leverages a multi-tenant HR solution while avoiding the pitfalls and risk associated with traditional mega-deals. A standard and straightforward HR services solution empowering employees, managers and HR teams is what drives our vision as a global workforce administration, payroll and talent management service provider. Together with our partners SAP and BDO, this agreement illustrates our commitment to delivering HR excellence across the globe,” continued Ettling.

“We were pleased to find a service provider that can administer and pay all of our employees across more than 100 countries supporting an impressive number of local languages. Our search for a service provider and solution has been anchored by a strong desire to improve the experience for our employees and leaders,” said Penny Stoker, VP Global HR Services for AstraZeneca.

About NorthgateArinso
NorthgateArinso is a leading global Human Resources software & services provider offering innovative HR business solutions to employers of all sizes, including Global Fortune 500 companies and many Public Sector organisations. We help HR executives optimise their HR service delivery through smarter process and more efficient technology, supporting key HR areas like workforce administration, payroll, benefits, recruitment, learning, and talent management.

Our 5,000 employees are dedicated to HR excellence through strategic business consulting, outsourcing services, systems integration and best-of-breed software solutions. We are one of the 5 largest HR service providers worldwide and have offices in 31 countries on 5 continents.

www.northgatearinso.com <http://www.northgatearinso.com>

For more information:

LEWIS – Global Public Relations
St. Nicholas House
31 – 34 High Street
Bristol
BS1 2AW

Tel: +44 (0)117 315 8586
Web: www.lewispr.com, www.lewiswire.com & www.lewismediacentre.com

Citizen services in Melton Borough Council improve in record time

2009-12-16T00:00:00+01:00

A partnership between Melton Borough Council and Northgate Public Services has led to the rapid improvement of services for local citizens, at a time when hard pressed local authorities are faced with increased demand for quality public services.

Northgate’s citizen relationship management solution was installed in just twelve weeks, faster than the standard time of four to five months for such systems. The partnership enables Melton Borough Council to provide better and faster services. Council staff benefit from seamless integration with back office systems that grant them with access to all the information they require. As a result, citizens can get reliable answers to their queries on council tax and benefits at the first point of contact.

The innovative solution has proven vital to the rural area of Melton. Citizens now have better services available to them with a reduced need to travel. Council staff also benefit from a simple interface, an easy to learn system and speeded up transactions. The user friendly nature of the system has allowed Melton to empower non-specialist advisors, freeing up specialist staff.

Melton Borough Council has been working with Northgate since 1992, using Northgate systems in revenues and benefits and housing, providing the highest quality service to its citizens in the most cost-efficient way.

Jill Simpson, Customer Services Manager, Melton Borough Council said: “The implementation went extremely smoothly. This solution gives us an easy to use platform for handling citizen queries reliably at the first point of contact. Northgate staff ensured that the system went live on time and without problems.”

Russell Osborne, Managing Director of Citizen Solutions at Northgate Public Services said today: “We are very proud of the work we are doing with Melton Borough Council. Whilst the Council gains from the quick implementation of the service, it is the local citizens that benefit from better and faster services. Every member of our local communities should enjoy high quality public services, especially those considered most vulnerable, and that is what Melton has achieved.”

For more information
Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44(0)20 7324 6221; +44(0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44(0)20 7324 6222; +44(0)7949 421356

Notes to editors

4. ‘Front Office’ is Northgate’s leading citizen-relationship management system, helping public sector bodies to improve transactions with customers, track the progress of queries, and review performance and other management information.

Mycompanyfleet identifies five-point plan for fleets for 2010

2009-12-14T00:00:00+01:00

With the UK still in recession, fleet cost control will continue to be the key priority for most companies in 2010. Fleet software provider Mycompanyfleet has devised a five-point plan for fleet managers to help them keep costs under control by tackling five key issues: the grey fleet, fuel management, vehicle utilisation, fleet servicing and data entry.

Most companies look set to keep a tight control on all aspects of corporate expenditure next year, as the UK economy struggles to recover from the depths of recession. Julie Jenner, chairman of the Association of Car Fleet Operators, underlined the point recently in confirming that she expects there to be three key priorities for fleets next year – cost, cost and cost.

Mycompanyfleet has identified five key areas of cost control that, with the appropriate use of fleet management software, will improve cost effectiveness for fleet managers.

1 Grey fleet management
An often-invisible cost that the BVRLA, amongst others, calculates is too high on most fleets. Mycompanyfleet offers a solution through its intuitive Driver Self-Serve web portal, which stipulates that drivers sign a declaration confirming that their cars have been regularly checked and serviced in accordance with manufacturer instructions before they can claim their business mileage expenses.

This not only also meets duty of care requirements by confirming vehicle condition, but reduces administration time and costs as drivers are required to verify and input mileages themselves. The system also proactively informs the driver of the number of miles before the next service is due and when the vehicle will need to be booked in for a service to be carried out.

2 Fuel management
The average price of diesel has passed the £5 a gallon mark, and is set to go higher from January following the Pre-Budget Report, putting the emphasis on controlling fuel costs and cutting business miles. This can be achieved by the use of fuel cards integrated within the fleet management system, linked to the use of exception reporting to highlight those drivers who are exceeding pre-agreed spending parameters.

The use of fuel management modules, such as Mycompanyfleet’s ‘fuel optimiser‘, which identifies the most fuel-efficient cars and vans from all major motor manufacturers, can also help fleet managers select the right mix for the fleet. They can also be used to produce fuel cost reports of existing fleet models to flag up the best and worst performers, showing which vehicles and drivers are the most expensive for the company to operate.

3 Vehicle utilisation
Fleet managers can cut vehicle hire costs through better utilisation of vehicles already on the fleet. Vehicles that are freed up when employees leave through redundancy or natural wastage can often lay unused for days sometimes weeks before they are re-allocated or returned to the vehicle supplier.

By using a fleet management system, such as Mycompanyfleet’s FleetAcumen platform, to log and pinpoint the location of all vehicles it is possible to keep a much closer control of the whereabouts of vehicles across different sites at various locations.

The system can be pre-set to flag up when vehicles become free across multiple locations within the business, allowing the fleet manager to take the appropriate action to re-allocate vehicles as quickly and effectively as possible, so avoiding expensive extra hire charges.

4 Fleet servicing
By utilising up to date vehicle information including mileage details, the current generation of fleet management software systems flag up, through exception reporting, those vehicles due for servicing, well in advance of their allotted service interval. This ensures that service intervals are not missed, which would invalidate vehicle warranties, and that the fleet does not face the potential for expensive corrective maintenance bills.

5 Data entry
Fleet managers can reduce administration costs and time by the use of modern fleet management systems which allow data input from third parties, including drivers and suppliers. Systems, like FleetAcumen, integrate with the back office of leasing companies, for example, which avoids the need for time-consuming double-keying of data. Key information such as monthly vehicle contract hire rates can be integrated seamlessly within the company system without the need for manual intervention, saving both time and money.

Andrew Leech, business manager at Mycompanyfleet, said: “Without doubt the major focus for fleet operators next year will be tighter cost control.

“We have devised a five-point plan for fleet managers which we believe will have a significant impact on fleet costs and will be able to help save between10 and 15% of total fleet operating costs.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

About mycompanyfleet
Mycompanyfleet is NorthgateArinso's automotive software division, focused on the fleet, leasing and general automotive sector. Mycompanyfleet provides fleet managers with the systems they need to more efficiently and cost-effectively run their vehicle fleets, as well as tackling the latest issues that affect day-to-day fleet operations, such as duty of care and environmental issues.

As part of NorthgateArinso, we have customers from every conceivable marketplace, spread over 46 countries and spanning five continents. We pride ourselves on delivering cost effective solutions that become integral to your business, with technology as an enabler.

NorthgateArinso is the specialist HR division of the Northgate Information Solutions Group. The Northgate Group is owned by private equity company Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and currently employs over 7,500 staff and operates in 46 countries across 5 continents. For more information please email marketing@mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Contact information:
Andrew Leech,
Business Manager
Mycompanyfleet
Tel: 07939 509273
Email: andrew.leech@mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Press enquiries:

Mike Gunnell
MGMedia Services
Tel: 01832 275060
Email: mike@mgmediaservices.com

Wellingborough invests in radical improvements to its front line services

2009-12-10T00:00:00+01:00

Over 75,000 citizens in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, are set to benefit from radically improved front line services thanks to a new initiative from their local council and Northgate Public Services.

The Borough Council of Wellingborough is implementing Northgate’s citizen relationship management solution (CRM), which will provide a better, more efficient and more responsive service.

The development will deliver measurable benefits to the local community and council employees alike. Among other improvements, Northgate’s CRM will:
• increase the number of queries dealt with at the first point of contact
• raise citizen satisfaction through better services
• empower employees to enhance the quality, consistency and range of services they offer by equipping them with information to satisfy enquiries from citizens
• ensure efficiencies across the Council’s services
• support an associated initiative to enable citizens to make better use of the Internet to obtain services and information.

Lyn Martin-Bennison, Chief Executive of the Borough Council of Wellingborough, said today: “Our mission is to make Wellingborough a place we can all be proud of. We want to deliver efficient and high quality services for our local communities and we recognise that some of our systems need to be improved.

This is why we are delighted to work with Northgate. We were looking for a proven local government solution that would take our service delivery to the next level, drive future service improvements and increase efficiency. With Northgate, this is exactly what we have found. I am confident that investing in their solution will significantly enhance the quality of our citizens’ lives by improving the services they receive."

Russell Osborne, Managing Director of Citizen Solutions at Northgate Public Services, said: “At Northgate, we focus exclusively on meeting the evolving demands of the public sector. We work closely with local authorities to maximise the benefits of collaboration. Our knowledge and expertise helps us to work in partnerships with our customers that enable citizens to enjoy the benefits of effective and efficient services.

“The Borough Council of Wellingborough looked for a solution capable of meeting the current and future needs of its citizens. While many areas in the Borough are relatively affluent, we want to reach less advantaged members of the community and ensure that they receive the services they deserve in the right way and at the right time.”
-Ends-

For more information

Fellows’ Associates:
Kathy Sutton +44 (0)20 7324 6221; +44 (0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44 (0)20 7324 6222; +44 (0)7949 421356

Notes to editors
1. The Borough of Wellingborough is situated eleven miles from the county town of Northampton and just south of Kettering. It has a population of 75,500. Wellingborough has approximately 2,500 businesses within its boundaries.

2. Northgate Public Services is an innovative provider of transformation and improvement services to the public sector. It is committed to high quality public services that place individuals and their communities at their heart. Its knowledge and understanding of people’s needs is core to its business, as too, is its depth and breadth across public services.

4. In the UK, Northgate works with 95% of local authorities, every police force, and a large number of health organisations, housing associations, utilities and transport companies. Founded in 1969, the company has nearly 8,000 employees.

5. Front Office is Northgate’s leading citizen relationship management system. It has an established reputation for helping public sector bodies to improve transactions with customers; track the progress of queries; and review performance while providing other management information.

Northgate Public Services gains gold award from Investors in People

2009-11-27T00:00:00+01:00

Northgate Public Services has achieved the highest recognition from Investors in People and achieved the Gold award. Less than two per cent of public and private sector organisations have achieved this elite status.

The prestigious award was awarded to its specialist transformation division, Northgate Kendric Ash, following a rigorous inspection process which judged the organisation on business strategy, learning and development strategy, people management strategy, leadership and management strategy, management effectiveness, recognition and reward, involvement and empowerment, learning and development, performance measurement and continuous improvement.

The Gold award represents achievement of world class best practice. It shows a truly cutting-edge organisation is operating at the very highest levels of people management practice using Investors in People to drive the business forward.

Trish Fraser, Managing Director at QSE said today: “The Northgate Kendric Ash division of Northgate Public Services has an empowering and highly supportive approach to people management which underpins their clear business goals. Their commitment to continuous improvement, their highest quality of standards and delivery of results are underpinned by a set of people focused values which are believed and lived by everyone in the company. This achievement of Investors in People Gold is a rare accomplishment of which all staff should be proud.”

Joe Bradley, Managing Director, Citizen Services, Northgate Public Services added: “Our transformation business has had unprecedented success in working with people in the public sector to create better and efficient services built around the needs of all within the community, including the most disadvantaged. A central part of our strategies is that we offer organisations sustainable solutions by building up the capacity and capabilities of their own employees through skills transfer.

“We practice what we preach. Our investment in our people is an integral and vital part of our organisational development. Now more than ever, in times of unprecedented economic demand, it is essential to invest in people to provide them with the capability to respond to change through innovation.”

[Ends]

For more information
Fellows' Associates
Kathy Sutton +44 (0)20 7324 6221; +44 (0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44 (0)20 7324 6222; +44 (0)7949 421356

Mycompanyfleet backs BVRLA's grey fleet position

2009-11-27T00:00:00+01:00

Fleet software provider Mycompanyfleet is backing the British Vehicle Rental’s position on grey fleet drivers and agrees that employers should prevent staff from using their own vehicles for business, unless they can give proof that their car is roadworthy and insured.

The view came from BVRLA chief executive John Lewis, who, according to reports, told delegates at the Office of Government Commerce grey fleet conference last week that they needed to adopt a ‘zero tolerance’ policy on staff who were unable to prove that their vehicle was properly maintained and insured or give details of their driver licence status.

Mycompanyfleet recently launched its Driver Self-Serve portal to meet demand from fleet customers worried about the duty of care implications posed by their grey fleet drivers, and believes it has found the answer to the problem.

“We very much support the BVRLA’s position on grey fleet drivers and believe that fleet operators, perhaps especially those in the public sector, need to be seen to do more to verify the condition of their grey fleet vehicles,” said Andrew Leech, business manager at Mycompanyfleet, the automotive software division of NorthgateArinso.

“All too often we hear stories of the problems faced by fleet managers in verifying the condition of their grey fleet vehicles. Duty of care requirements state that companies must check and verify the condition of the vehicles that employees use on company business and that they are fit for purpose, even if employee-owned.

“Our new Driver Self-Serve not only tackles this problem, and provides a clear audit trail, but reduces the amount of administration time spent by the fleet manager as the drivers have to enter the mileage and service history details online themselves.

“Without that update and a signed agreement, the drivers do not receive their monthly mileage expenses - which is a major incentive for them to update the vehicle records as required,” he said.

Drivers, both grey fleet and company drivers, log on to the Driver Self-Serve portal and enter their current business mileages and their mileage expenses claims online as normal.

In doing so, they sign an agreement that they accept the company’s terms and conditions and that they have had their vehicle serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s approved service schedule, or with the company’s own bespoke servicing schedule.

Once the vehicle details and business mileages are entered by the driver, the fleet software system that sits behind the portal compares them against the manufacturer’s approved service schedule, and the company conditions, for the vehicle in question.

It then proactively informs the driver of the number of miles left before the next service or the next check and when the vehicle will need to be booked in for the service to be carried out.

“Used in this way, our Driver Self-System provides the fleet manager with a confirmation that a service has taken place and a record of the date, in an easily visible audit trail that meets duty of care requirements and effectively tackles grey fleet problems,” added Andrew Leech.

Ends

Notes to Editors

About mycompanyfleet

Ends

Contact information:

Andrew Leech,
Business Manager
Mycompanyfleet
Tel: 07939 509273
Email: andrew.leech@mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Press enquiries:

Mike Gunnell
MGMedia Services
Tel: 01832 275060
Email: mike@mgmediaservices.com

Northgate picks up top accolade at UK IT Industry Awards

2009-11-18T00:00:00+01:00

Northgate Managed Services confirms its position as one of the UK’s leading IT providers after being named as IT Services Supplier of the Year.

Northgate Managed Services (Northgate) has been crowned Best IT Services Supplier of the Year at the British Computer Society (BCS) & Computing UK Industry Awards.

Up against several big names in the UK’s IT industry, Northgate beat the competition to secure the title based on investing in its people and communities without compromising on business growth. Northgate demonstrated high levels of customer satisfaction which resulted in a significantly increased order book and pipeline, winning new customers and renewing or extending all major contracts, whilst increasing permanent headcount and delivering innovative schemes for apprentices and graduates across the UK.

As a company, Northgate has consistently met its own challenging objectives to ensure the successful use of IT while continually exceeding the requirements and expectations of customers. With business growing and sales success on the up, Northgate is continuing to make headway across the UK, providing IT services to a wide portfolio of customers in a range of sectors such as AAH, Balfour Beatty, Viridian PLC, NI Water, DVA, Hartlepool Borough Council and Kent County Council.

Andy Ross, Chief Executive, Northgate Managed Services commented, “Our continued ability to successfully deliver IT systems across a breadth of sectors has enabled us to strengthen our business by winning over £100m in new contracts, increasing our order book by 85% to £185m and developing a sales pipeline in excess of £200m. The judges based their decision not only on our substantial business growth over the last 12 months but on our continued investment in our people and the communities we work in. We are delighted to have been able to showcase our achievements against some of the biggest players in the industry.“

David Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, said: “This year’s Awards have been exceptional. I was delighted to take part in the judging day and witness firsthand the quality of the winners and medallists. To qualify as a finalist is terrific, to win is an absolutely fantastic achievement, and I offer my heartfelt congratulations to all those who took part. They not only provide examples of best practice but also demonstrate how IT is enabling today’s information society from entertainment to healthcare, manufacturing to retail.”

The UK IT Industry Awards see a new venture between BCS and Computing, merging the BCS IT Industry Awards and the Computing Awards for Excellence to create one platform for the entire profession to celebrate best practice, innovation and excellence.

Northgate was also short-listed for Promoting IT Professionalism Award.

Ends

Huge savings from whole life costs, says Mycompanyfleet

2009-11-18T00:00:00+01:00

Huge savings can be made from adopting a whole life cost approach when adding new vehicles to the fleet, and not relying on their upfront monthly leasing rentals or front end price, says Mycompanyfleet, the fleet software solutions provider and automotive division of NorthgateArinso.

For many fleet managers, a vehicle's monthly rental often helps them in their vehicle choice. However, this quick and easy snapshot is not an accurate method of assessing the true financial impact on the operation of a company fleet.

The true cost of a vehicle is its whole life cost which includes manufacturer discounts, taxation, national insurance, fuel economy and CO2 emissions. Special offer rentals that draw buyers in on a short term basis could end up costing more in the long run if you choose the wrong vehicle.

To illustrate the point, Mycompanyfleet compared two vehicles over a typical three year contract hire agreement - a Volkswagen Passat 1.8 Highline TSI 4dr and a BMW 320d ES 4dr.

At around £357 per month to contract hire, the BMW is some £30 per month more expensive than the Passat. But the Passat emits 178g/km of carbon dioxide compared to just 128g/km for the BMW.

And over three years, the Passat’s whole life costs are £23,255 including fuel, national insurance and the tax on the lease rental restriction as its emissions are above 160g/km, the limit at which cars can qualify for full deduction of their lease rentals against profits.

This compares unfavourably to the BMW’s whole life costs of £21,700, with the BMW’s lower CO2 output meaning that it is cheaper to operate over three years by more than £1,500.

Choosing cars that emit less than 160gm/km of carbon dioxide makes perfect sense as these are the most financially attractive under the new rules governing capital allowance and leasing rentals that were introduced in April this year.

Mycompanyfleet’s FleetHR and FleetAcumen software solutions are designed to help fleet managers make the right model choices, identify those which are the most cost efficient and help keep fleet operating costs under control.

Both fleet management systems use a traffic light system to rank each car on the policy list with an environmental rating, with the cleanest cars given a ‘green’ carbon rating and the most polluting, a ‘red’ one.

If the particular model is in the ‘red’, then it is above the 160g/km limit and the fleet manager has the option of introducing a financial penalty for choosing such vehicles, or insisting that drivers have to make a personal contribution towards its cost.

Similarly, financial incentives can be offered to drivers to choose those cars that fall within the ‘green’ zone, as there are both financial and environmental benefits for the company.

Mycompanyfleet business manager Andrew Leech said: “Moving as many cars as possible into the 160g/km or less category will not only offer clear whole life cost benefits, as well as reducing the fleet’s carbon footprint – and this in the perfect time to do it.

“We have designed our fleet management systems to allow fleet managers to help set fleet policy that cuts costs and rewards environmental initiative at the same time,” he said.

Notes to Editors

About mycompanyfleet
Mycompanyfleet is NorthgateArinso's automotive software division, focused on the fleet, leasing and general automotive sector. Mycompanyfleet provides fleet managers with the systems they need to more efficiently and cost-effectively run their vehicle fleets, as well as tackling the latest issues that affect day-to-day fleet operations, such as duty of care and environmental issues.

As part of NorthgateArinso, we have customers from every conceivable marketplace, spread over 46 countries and spanning five continents. We pride ourselves on delivering cost effective solutions that become integral to your business, with technology as an enabler.

NorthgateArinso is the specialist HR division of the Northgate Information Solutions Group. The Northgate Group is owned by private equity company Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and currently employs over 7,500 staff and operates in 46 countries across 5 continents. For more information please email marketing@mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Contact information:
Andrew Leech,
Business Manager
Mycompanyfleet
Tel: 07939 509273
Email: andrew.leech@mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Press enquiries:

Mike Gunnell
MGMedia Services
Tel: 01832 275060
Email: mike@mgmediaservices.com

Northgate Managed Services appointed preferred bidder for ICT provision in Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton Councils' Building Schools for the Future programme

2009-11-17T00:00:00+01:00

Northgate Managed Services (Northgate), a leading provider of ICT services and solutions, has been announced as Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton Councils' preferred bidder for the supply of ICT in the £450million Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

The new public private partnership consisting of Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton Councils, Balfour Beatty Education and Partnerships for Schools (PfS) will refurbish or rebuild nine Blackburn with Darwen secondary schools (one phase) and 15 Bolton schools (three phases), providing flexible and attractive learning environments that better support learning. Northgate will provide and manage the very latest innovative learning and teaching tools to make learning more engaging and exciting.

Northgate already supplies managed services to over 1,200 school and college networks across the UK and is responsible for 14 out of 127 schools currently benefitting from BSF investment as well as providing interim managed services to an additional 10 BSF schools. This is Northgate’s fourth BSF contract win, in addition to recent success in the single schools and academies market.

David Hyland, Managing Director, Education, Northgate Managed Services said: “We are delighted to be a part of the preferred bidder consortium for Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton. Northgate is in an outstanding position to supply state-of–the-art ICT managed services across the boroughs. By working in partnership with the schools and local authorities, we will be able to challenge the thinking of what is possible with ICT provision to help deliver personalised learning tailored to the needs, interests and aptitudes of their learners.”

For further information about Northgate Managed Services, please visit the web site at: www.northgate-is.com/managedservices.

Ends

Better vehicle utilisation can cut fleet hire costs, says Mycompanyfleet

2009-11-16T00:00:00+01:00

Fleet managers can cut rental and other vehicle hire costs through better utilisation of vehicles already on the fleet. That’s the view from Mycompanyfleet, the fleet software solutions provider and automotive division of NorthgateArinso, which says that companies can save money by improving the way they utilise the vehicles they already have.

Vehicles that are freed up when employees leave through redundancy or natural wastage can often lay unused for days sometimes weeks before they are re-allocated or returned to the vehicle supplier, especially in a multi-site situation.

Quite often they can be in locations very near to where they are required. In one example, a Mycompanyfleet customer that had been resorting to short term hire to meet local mobility needs, was able to identify that it had spare vehicles in the car park at another office only 20 minutes away through the use of its FleetHR fleet software system.

By utilising those spare vehicles back within the fleet, it was able to make savings running into thousands of pounds that would have otherwise been incurred in terms of short term hire costs.

By having all vehicle details entered and up-to-date on a fleet software system, such as FleetHR, it is possible to keep a much closer control of the whereabouts of vehicles across different sites at various locations.

FleetHR employs Mycompanyfleet’s acclaimed exception reporting methodology within a highly visual dashboard environment that highlights areas that require immediate management action.

This can be pre-set to flag up exceptions such as vehicles becoming free across multiple locations within the business, allowing the fleet manager to take the appropriate action to re-allocate vehicles as quickly and effectively as possible.

Andrew Leech, Mycompanyfleet business manager, said: “Companies are all too ready to bring in daily rental or short term hire vehicles to meet their short term mobility needs, without first taking stock of what vehicles they already have on the fleet which are currently being under-utilised.

“By having up-to-the-minute vehicle details on the fleet management system in real time, any changes to the status of a vehicle can immediately be flagged up, and that vehicle can then be reallocated to fill a short term need, thus avoiding additional hire costs.

“By keeping better control of all vehicles on the fleet through the fleet management system in this way, available vehicles can be matched to those locations where they are most needed and vehicle utilisation and cost control improved dramatically,” he added.

Ends

Notes to Editors

About mycompanyfleet

Contact information:
Andrew Leech,
Business Manager
Mycompanyfleet
Tel: 07939 509273
Email: andrew.leech@mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Focusing on data security

2009-11-16T00:00:00+01:00

Northgate Managed Services (Northgate) addresses data security issues by sharing customer experiences to members of Scotland’s public sector on how leading-edge protection technology can safeguard citizens' data.

Northgate hosted a data security seminar at Falkirk Wheel for Scottish public sector representatives responsible for safeguarding public data. Following recent well publicised security breach incidents the seminar highlighted security issues to consider, the impact and the need to ensure that ICT systems are robust and offer the proper levels of security. Two public sector organisations within Scotland shared their experiences managing data security for large public sector organisations, the solutions which have been put in place, results and future plans.

James Turnbull, Managing Director, Northgate Managed Services, Scotland added, “The issue of data security is one that is affecting more and more organisations in today’s technology-based business environment. It is important for data management to be carefully monitored and constantly reviewed, this seminar was an excellent platform to identify areas of concern around data security and discuss the solutions which are available to address these issues.”

One size doesn't fit all! - schools and academies to transform learning supported by ICT with Northgate Managed Services' personalised solutions

2009-11-11T00:00:00+01:00

Every school and academy across the country can now benefit from a truly personalised ICT solution tailored to the needs of staff and students with Northgate Managed Services (www.northgate-is.com/education). Building upon its significant experience working with Building Schools for the Future programmes in Leicester, Kent and Bristol, Northgate is now working with a plethora of exceptional centres of learning, including Trent Valley Academy in Gainsborough, Bristol Cathedral Choir School in Bristol, Havelock Academy in Grimsby and Litherland High School and Abraham Guest High School, one school BSF Pathfinder projects school in Sefton and Wigan.

Every school has its own development and improvement plan so Northgate takes a flexible approach to solutions and designs the service to each school’s needs. Appreciating the individuality of every school and the concept that one size doesn’t fit all, Northgate’s team works closely with the leadership team from the outset to foster a flexible, dynamic partnership to support this vision and ultimately help to transform learning. Northgate’s services are built from a number of key components including, infrastructure design and installation, device and software procurement, service desk, problem and incident management, infrastructure management and remote management and monitoring. The service is designed to meet the needs of the school and can also include elements of outsourcing of technical and support staff.

Northgate believes it is employed to challenge as well as support a school’s ICT provision so it is vital that there is a constant two-way dialogue. Both parties need to be continuously engaged and challenge each other every step of the process to improve ICT provision. For example, Northgate’s team will analyse the efficiency of existing resources before making recommendations for new technology so believe feedback from the school about the current efficiency, usage and uptake of technologies is vital.

Northgate’s approach to TUPE* (whereby school ICT technicians work directly for the company) is helping to improve standards, ensure a smooth transition for ICT and ultimately transfer risk, establishing confidence across the school community. As schools face the challenge of developing a shared vision for ICT, this approach ensures that Northgate’s team of professionals gain a much deeper understanding of the different ICT needs and issues experienced by individual schools. It also helps to build a solid working relationship imperative for successful change management. Working alongside school technicians from such an early point also means that extensive evaluation of existing resources can be carried out to ensure best value for the school.

Abraham Guest High School, the BSF One School Pathfinder in Wigan, is due to open its doors in spring 2010. Keen to implement robust technologies which facilitate anytime true personalised learning for students, its senior leadership team is working closely with Northgate to ensure solutions are tailored to the needs of staff and students and will also stand the test of time. The new school will be fully wireless-enabled allowing students to access their work via a range of fixed, mobile and handheld devices wherever they are in the building. This will also help staff to achieve their vision of delivering anytime, anywhere learning for every student.

Roy Caslake, Headteacher at Abraham Guest High School, comments: “It is vital that all our partners share the common goal of building a learning environment which is meaningful for students of the future. From the outset, Northgate has been incredibly flexible and adaptable in its approach and as a result, truly understands and has helped shape our school’s vision. A relationship built upon confidence and trust is so important so all our heads of department, teachers and students have been involved in this vision. Technology is moving so fast that we are already adapting parts of the ICT so Northgate’s flexible approach is enabling us to achieve great things.”

Exciting technology plans for the new school include Northgate’s Thin Client solution which will enable students to log-on to any computer, anywhere and access the school’s full range of applications, and the school’s ‘Faraday Project’ which aims to incorporate science into the building and grounds. Northgate is integrating technology to take readings from the school’s new wind turbine, 60-year clock and a Knowledge Garden which will see waste products from the science blocks filtered into a tank and pumped through reed beds to create recyclable water. All this data will be available on the school’s intranet for staff and students to interpret in class.

For further information about Northgate Managed Services, please visit the web site at: www.northgate-is.com/managedservices or contact our Schools and Academies team via email info@northgate-is.com

*The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations

Teachers across the country join Northgate Managed Services' experts to share best practice for ICT at BETT 2010!

2009-11-04T00:00:00+01:00

** BETT PREVIEW 2010 *** BETT PREVIEW 2010 ***

NORTHGATE MANAGED SERVICES,
STAND D70,
BETT 2010,
OLYMPIA, LONDON,
13-16 JANUARY 2010

Teachers from around the UK will be joining experts from Northgate Managed Services (www.northgate-is.com/education) on stand D70 at BETT 2010 to share best practice for ICT to enhance learning. Teachers and technology partners will be running Northgate’s Seminar Zone throughout the show, discussing their personal experiences of the dynamic partnership with the ICT specialist and the innovative ways they use technology to engage and improve learning for students. Visitors to the stand can also learn about the benefits of Northgate’s ICT managed service by entering its Interactive Video Pod where they will be able to explore some of Northgate’s schools..

Teachers can also visit Northgate’s School Demonstration Area where each day a teacher will be promoting innovative usage of ICT that they are using to engage students. For example, using the Apple iPod Touch as a teaching tool in music classes

Working closely with many Building Schools of the Future (BSF), Academies and Pathfinder schools Northgate is keen to share its vast experience and expertise in the field of ICT and demonstrate how a flexible, dynamic partnership between ICT provider and school can support transformation in learning. Northgate’s team will be available throughout BETT to discuss the benefits of a Managed Service for those schools due to embark on BSF; helping to improve standards, ensure a smooth transition for ICT and ultimately transfer risk, establishing confidence across the school community.

Each and every school has its own development and improvement plan so Northgate takes a flexible approach to solutions and personalises service delivery to each school's needs. Northgate believes it is employed to challenge as well as support a school’s ICT provision so it is vital that there is a constant two-way dialogue. Both parties need to be continuously engaged and challenge each other every step of the process to improve ICT provision. For example, Northgate’s team will analyse the efficiency of existing resources before making recommendations for new technology so believe feedback from the school about the current efficiency, usage and uptake of technologies is vital.

In the Interactive Video Pod, visitors can submerge themselves in the real-life experiences of schools currently working with Northgate. Just one of many engaging case studies, teachers will hear from Hugh Christie Technology College in Tonbridge, Kent; a state foundation, mixed PFI school, which is at the forefront of introducing innovative resources to improve the learning experience for its students. Collaborating with Northgate, Hugh Christie is engaged in a ‘discovery programme’ using the company’s expertise to maximise its ICT efficiency and to offer students the best education.

Just one of a number of key seminars held at the show, Northgate will be discussing the company’s approach to TUPE*, whereby school ICT technicians work directly for Northgate. Helping to improve standards for ICT within schools and ensure a high level and continuity of service, Northgate is working with school technicians to determine their skill levels, providing professional training, guidance and support. This combined with early engagement makes the process much more effective and less stressful, ensuring technician time is better channelled into supporting staff and developing the school’s new ICT strategy.

David Hyland, Managing Director, Education at Northgate Managed Services, comments: “Our extensive experience of working closely with schools has taught us that a relationship built upon openness, flexibility and trust enables a partnership to innovate, challenge and ultimately improve learning through ICT. We welcome teachers from all schools, whether they are beginning BSF, an academy, or a single school to come along to our stand and meet our teachers, partners and team to hear more about how we can support them in their transformation.”

Northgate will be running seminars throughout the show exploring many different topics including those dedicated to specific pieces of technology and schools’ personal experiences. For further information about Northgate and its seminars, please email info@northgate-is.com or check the website for regular updates www.northgate-is.com/managedservices

*The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations

Truro and Penwith College scores top marks with NorthgateArinso - college implements flexible HR and payroll platform to deliver more efficient HR to all staff

2009-11-04T00:00:00+01:00

Truro and Penwith College has signed a seven-year deal with NorthgateArinso to implement ResourceLink Aurora, its web-enabled HR and payroll solution.

Prompted by changes with its current bureau service and the desire to achieve an integrated HR and payroll solution, the College has chosen the ResourceLink Aurora solution to provide a more efficient and flexible back office service for HR and payroll. The overall strategy is to deliver a more joined up service for employees, supporting their day-to-day activities, with an emphasis on empowering Team Leaders and staff across the college to concentrate on the key issue of supporting students.

As ResourceLink Aurora is delivered via the web as a zero footprint solution, the system will deliver significant savings by reducing paper flow and duplication of data. From an IT perspective, the College is able to deploy the solution through a web browser, utilising web technologies. This will not only reduce the day-to-day management that can hamper more traditional client server applications, but also open up the opportunity for greater accessibility from home.

The solution is highly configurable, meaning processes can be streamlined and personalised to an employee’s role or task. It puts vital information at the fingertips of each person in the HR and finance team, giving them the tools and data needed to do their jobs in an integrated view. Managers and staff members will be able to interact with HR and have their own self-service view of the information they need, wherever they go.

Andy Goodman, project manager for Truro and Penwith College, said: “We have ambitious plans and we're keen to make use of the web-enabled technologies in ResourceLink Aurora to drive forward our HR and payroll strategy. We will be able to streamline our working practices, bringing payroll and HR information together so that it can be used efficiently and intelligently on one platform. It was important to select a tried and tested supplier that was keen to work in partnership with us. NorthgateArinso invested time in us during the evaluation process and the company has proven it has a strong relationship with other colleges”.

Dave Proctor, business development director for NorthgateArinso, said: “We’ve worked closely with the College to bring the HR team a more efficient way of working with all the benefits of an e-HR solution, based on a proven and reliable platform. Additionally, we have created a Further Education User Group to work with us on ongoing developments in our ResourceLink Aurora Solution. We look forward to embracing Truro and Penwith College into this community and seeing them deliver the best HR in line with the College’s strategic objectives”.

(437 words)

NOTES TO EDITORS

About NorthgateArinso
www.northgatearinso.com

NorthgateArinso is a leading global Human Resources software & services provider offering innovative HR business solutions to employers of all sizes, including Global Fortune 500 companies and many Public Sector organisations. We help HR executives optimise their HR service delivery through smarter process and more efficient technology, supporting key HR areas like workforce administration, payroll, benefits, recruitment, learning, and talent management.

Our 5,000 employees are dedicated to HR excellence through strategic business consulting, outsourcing services, systems integration and best-of-breed software solutions. We are one of the 5 largest HR service providers worldwide and have offices in 31 countries on 5 continents.
--

For information:
Ellen Spenceley
Account Executive
LEWIS – Global Public Relations
St. Nicholas House
31 – 34 High Street
Bristol
BS1 2AW

Tel: +44 (0)117 315 8586
Web: www.lewispr.com, www.lewiswire.com & www.lewismediacentre.com

Councils could save up to £90 million a year in council tax

2009-10-28T00:00:00+01:00

Over seven million pounds has been saved since 2008 by local authorities working in partnership with Northgate Public Services through targeting ineligible discounts for single people claiming council tax according to figures released today as the company mounts a campaign to persuade other councils to gain significant additional revenue of up to £90 million by taking advantage of its self-funding service.

In unique public private partnerships that link fees to performance, offering councils a self-financing approach to sharing risk with the private sector, Northgate provides local authorities with a fully managed Single Person Discount Review Service. This helps to promote revenue assurance as an integral part of transforming revenue and benefits services based upon citizen needs. Local authorities who sign up only pay up when cancellations have generated a direct cashable saving. Councils who have benefited from the service include Kirklees and Walsall.

Since 2008 twenty three local authorities have taken advantage of this service, with over 500,000 records reviewed, and 30,000 ineligible discounts removed. This has generated £7.8 million of savings to the local authorities at a time when the public sector is under great pressure to make further efficiencies.

A recent Audit Commission report has highlighted the fact that council taxpayers could be losing as much as £2 million a week to people who are ineligibly claiming single person discount on their council tax (Protecting the Public Purse – Local Government Fighting Fraud, September 2009).

Northgate offers councils a service which:
• provides the most accurate reporting of occupancy status available - using the most extensive data sources including over 300 million name and address links;
• covers the electoral register, over 400 million credit records and Mosaic lifestyle data on over 10 million households and individuals;
• reaffirms the vast majority of legitimate claims with no need for contact with the household and updates the councils’ council tax records;
• delivers results rapidly through dedicated project teams with an exercise typically taking twelve weeks to complete.

Mike Carr, Revenues Manager at North Kesteven District Council said today: “I do feel that the partnership has worked very well over the period of the review and again would thank you all for the professional way in which the contract has been handled …The exercise has not only proved very beneficial for North Kesteven from a financial point of view, but has now been highlighted as “good practice” in the recent Audit Commission report on “Protecting the Public Purse” which is also rewarding.”

Joe Bradley, Managing Director of Citizen Services for Northgate Public Services said today: “As the pressure on public services increases as a result of the economic squeeze, it is now more vital than ever that councils take quick steps to ensure that our communities receive their proper entitlements. This requires proactive campaigns to increase take up of benefits where this is low, particularly for those most vulnerable in our communities. It also means making sure that people pay the right amount of council tax and do not claim benefits to which they are not entitled.

“I am delighted that we have helped councils to make these cashable savings and we urge other councils to take advantage of our self-funded service to create more cash to spend on vital frontline services.”

[Ends]
For more information
Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44 (0)20 7395 1516; +44 (0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44 (0)20 7395 1518; +44 (0)7949 421356

Notes to editors
1. Northgate Public Services is an innovative provider of transformation and improvement services to the public sector. It is committed to high quality public services that place individuals and their communities at their heart. Its knowledge and understanding of people’s needs are core to its business, as too, is its depth and breadth across public services.
2. Northgate’s task is to enhance public value through the intelligent use of people and technology; to understand why and what change is necessary; to provide new thinking leading to improved performance; and to link company rewards with positive outcomes for the communities for whom it works. It supports transformation through sustainable performance partnerships.
3. In the UK, Northgate works with ninety five per cent of local authorities, every police force, and a large number of health organisations, housing associations, utilities and transport companies. Founded in 1969, the company has nearly 8,000 employees.

Teachers asked to share best practice in the innovative use of ICT in the classroom

2009-10-28T00:00:00+01:00

Entry Deadline - 20th November 2009

Teachers from schools throughout Northern Ireland are to be recognised for their innovative ideas and forward-thinking use of ICT in the classroom, thanks to a unique competition organised by Northgate Managed Services, the ICT managed services provider.

The province-wide competition aims to harness and share the very best ideas generated by NI’s teaching community, with the long term objective of enhancing the learning of our children and young people.

Northgate‘s aim is to maximise the very real and practical skills of the teachers by offering a vehicle to share how they use ICT to enhance teaching and learning in their school.

“Teachers are at the forefront when it comes to shaping the workforce of the future – and when it comes to ICT their input is vitally important,” said Stuart Gunning, Regional Director, Education, Northgate Managed Services. “From our work with schools province-wide we know there is a wealth of innovative talent out there – with many teachers creating fantastic, innovative learning techniques by using ICT in ways which others might never consider, for example using Nintendo Wii Fit for PE classes and incorporating Apple I-touch into music lessons. Our aim is to use the insights of our teachers to create a ‘best practice’ platform which can be shared by all teachers. Only by hearing from those at the coal face can we really appreciate how ICT will continue to play an inclusive and fully effective role in teaching today and in the future.”

Thanks to the success of its partnership with Classroom 2000 (C2K), Northgate works closely with every school in Northern Ireland in the delivery of ICT Managed Services and network support. Yet the company feels it can go further still to fully understand how education can benefit from ICT, and more importantly how Northgate can help teachers and pupils maximise their learning potential.

Open to teachers from all primary, post-primary, special educational needs and nursery schools throughout NI, the competition will highlight what ICT is achieving in the classroom, how it helps deliver the learning process, and the key educational benefits resulting from ongoing investment in ICT.

Teachers spanning all subjects and modules are asked to submit a short summary (maximum 400 words) detailing how they’ve used ICT innovatively and effectively in their classroom. Two members of staff from two schools in NI will each win all expenses paid trips to BETT 2010, the world’s largest education, information and ICT event. Held in London in January, BETT showcases the best examples of international educational technology and is widely anticipated by teachers throughout the UK.

For competition details and terms and conditions, please contact ciara.mccoy@northgate-is.com, the competition deadline is Friday 20 November 2009. For further information on Northgate Managed Services visit www.northgate-is.com/managedservices

Ends

For further information contact Claire Bonner, Morrow Communications Tel: 028 9039 3837

Mycompanyfleet tackles grey fleet problem with Driver Self-Serve

2009-10-14T23:00:00+01:00

Fleet software provider Mycompanyfleet is helping fleet managers tackle the problem of grey fleet drivers and remote company workers with the launch of its new intuitive Driver Self-Serve web portal.

With grey fleet drivers who use their own cars on company business and remote-lying field sales staff and engineers who may visit head office infrequently, verifying vehicle condition, servicing and business mileage is a constant battle for fleet managers.

Now Mycompanyfleet has developed Driver Self-Serve to meet demand from fleet customers worried about the duty of care implications posed by their grey fleet drivers, and believes it has found the answer to the problem.

Drivers, both grey fleet and company drivers, log on to the Driver Self-Serve portal and enter their current business mileages and their mileage expenses claims online as normal.

The company has the option to add a bespoke element to the service schedule by including items, such as additional tyre pressure and fluid level checks at various mileage intervals, and making them part of the company terms and conditions.

It then proactively informs the driver of the number of miles left before the next service or the next check and when the vehicle will need to be booked in for the service to be carried out.

Used in this way, the system provides the fleet manager with a confirmation that a service has taken place and a record of the date, in an easily visible audit trail that meets duty of care requirements.

Andrew Leech, Mycompanyfleet business manager, said: “We all too often hear stories of the problems faced by fleet managers in verifying the condition of their grey fleet vehicles.

“Duty of care requirements state that companies must check and verify the condition of the vehicles that employees use on company business and that they are fit for purpose, even if employee-owned.

“Driver Self-Serve not only tackles this problem, and provides a clear audit trail, but reduces the amount of administration time spent by the fleet manager as the drivers have to enter the mileage and service history details online themselves.

“Without that update and a signed agreement, the drivers do not receive their monthly mileage expenses - which is a major incentive for them to update the vehicle records as required,” he said.

Northgate Managed Services supports Northern Ireland's first all-girl ICT conference

2009-10-08T23:00:00+01:00

Glengormley High School puts the I.T. in Femininity

Belfast’s Waterfront Hall opened its doors to 500+ female school pupils today for a special ‘Girls Only’ ICT event designed to highlight the exciting career opportunities in what is predominantly perceived as a ‘male’ industry.

Organised by Glengormley High School and ICT Academy, one of Northern Ireland’s specialist ICT schools, the ‘FemininITy’ conference is a first for Northern Ireland. It is one of the latest in a range of ICT initiatives pioneered by the school.

Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane attended the event along with leading females within the ICT industry including figureheads from Microsoft and Google as well as representatives from Northern Ireland’s Universities. Several interactive workshops were held throughout the day with topics ranging from the practical side of ICT to the future of robotics. The workshops incorporated break out sessions allowing the pupils to put questions to the guests, discuss some of the stereotypes that surround the industry and the prospects available should they decide to pursue a computing related career.

Speaking at the event, Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane commented: “It is vital that today’s female pupils are aware of the excellent careers available within the software profession and that they make informed subject choices based on this. It is a well known fact that the ICT industry is typically viewed as a male dominated sector and I would like all our young people to have the chance to excel in these areas. I’d like to congratulate Glengormley High on hosting a wonderful event in an attempt to dispel these myths for good and get the north’s female pupils thinking about ICT. Hopefully they will be inspired by the successful women they have met here today and will themselves make steps to becoming the leaders of the future.”

During his address, Glengormley High School principal, Alex Hayes took time to thank the Minister and industry representatives, “After many long nights and lengthy meetings, we are delighted to have made it to the day of the conference and have our vision of a ‘girls only’ ICT conference realised. We, as teachers, are excited about the prospects within Northern Ireland’s ICT industry and we want to encourage that excitement in all pupils, especially girls. I would like to extend my gratitude to all partnering bodies and organisations, as without their participation and generosity, this event wouldn’t have happened.”

Stuart Gunning, Regional Director, Education, Northgate Managed Services Commented “We are delighted to support Glengormley High School in this initiative and congratulate them in a highly successful event. As a leading IT company, working with every school in Northern Ireland we are committed to working with young people including females to encourage them into a career in IT. We already offer a number of initiatives including career workshops, IT apprenticeship schemes, graduate placement and training programmes and were pleased to be involved in this event to further promote IT as a career for girls”

The event falls under the ‘BringITon’ banner; a partnership between Momentum, the Department for Employment and Learning, Invest Northern Ireland and eSkills UK that encourages GCSE and A-level pupils to consider a computing related pathway through school and at University.

Improving citizen service in Scotland

2009-10-04T23:00:00+01:00

The Improvement Service and Northgate Public Services today announce that Inverclyde, North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire councils have entered into five year agreements to promote high quality benefits services.

In a shared procurement led by The Improvement Service, the three councils will work with Northgate to ensure that vital revenues and benefits information is available to customer service officers serving over 331,000 citizens. Northgate’s leading Revenues & Benefit system is set to be integrated with the councils’ implementations under the National Framework Agreement in Scotland. The National Agreement has now enabled 17 Scottish councils to standardise on a common caseload management platform and has facilitated a number of additional collaborative benefits.

The deals support The Improvement Service Customer First programme aimed at supporting councils deliver 'first time' public services by re-designing them around customers' needs. Through joined up systems citizens will benefit from:

• speedier responses with vital back office information relating to revenues and benefits easily accessible by front line employees;
• better quality services with more queries dealt with at the first point of contact;
• cost-effective services with less duplication and a reduction in bureaucracy.

At a time of unprecedented economic and social demand, the councils have benefited from the value from money gained through working with The Improvement Service in a collaborative procurement with Northgate.

Hilary Horton, National CRM Project Manager for The Improvement Service said: “Through collaborative procurement and deployment local councils can take advantage of a more cost effective approach to joining up services, as well as helping to improve customer service and increase efficiency. We are delighted that we were able to conclude these contracts with Northgate on behalf of the three councils and look forward to developing our partnership further.”

Joe Bradley, Managing Director of Citizen Services, Northgate Public Services said: “All of us need to work collaboratively and develop new ways of working to deliver citizen-centred services at a time of great need. We are delighted to be supporting the work of the Improvement Service in promoting its national programme. We are committed to working with Scotland’s councils and the not for profit sector to deliver better services and to reach out to all, particularly the most disadvantaged within our communities.”
[Ends]

For more information
Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44 (0)20 7395 1516; +44 (0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44 (0)20 7395 1518; +44 (0)7949 421356

Notes to Editors
1. The Improvement Service was set up in 2005 to help improve the efficiency, quality and accountability of local public services in Scotland by providing advice, consultancy and programme support to councils and their partners.

2. Its purpose is to help councils and their partners to improve the health, quality of life and opportunities of all people in Scotland through community leadership, strong local governance and the delivery of high quality, efficient local services.

3. The Improvement Service is a partnership between the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE). It is a Company limited by guarantee.

4. Northgate Public Services is an innovative provider of transformation and improvement services to the public sector. It is committed to high quality public services that place individuals and their communities at their heart. Its knowledge and understanding of people’s needs are core to its business, as too, is its depth and breadth across public services.

5. Northgate’s task is to enhance public value through the intelligent use of people and technology; to understand why and what change is necessary; to provide new thinking leading to improved performance; and to link company rewards with positive outcomes for the communities for whom it works. It supports transformation through sustainable performance partnerships.

6. In Scotland, clients include NHS trusts, local authorities, fire and rescue services and passenger transport services as well as many in the commercial sector. Northgate works with 4 out of 5 local authorities and every police force in Scotland. Its human resources services are used by over thirty public sector bodies in Scotland. .In the UK, Northgate works with ninety five per cent of local authorities, every police force, and a large number of health organisations, housing associations, utilities and transport companies. Founded in 1969, the company has nearly 8,000 employees.

Northgate Managed Services announces �100m of new contracts

2009-10-04T23:00:00+01:00

Northgate Managed Services today announced that during the last 6 months it has secured more than £100m of new contracts.

Northgate Managed Services, an Invest Northern Ireland client company, and one of the largest IT services providers in Northern Ireland, has secured a number of new contracts, including an ICT and Business Process Outsourcing contract with Viridian, an extension with C2k to provide further ICT services to secondary schools in Northern Ireland and an ICT outsourcing contract with Northern Ireland Water. Using Northern Ireland as a near-shore delivery centre, Northgate is continuing to export skills and expertise to help secure contracts in other parts of the UK, and has won new business in the Local Government market with Hartlepool, Greenwich and North Lanarkshire councils, and in the Education Sector with 5 new Academies.

Andy Ross, Chief Executive of Northgate Managed Services said: “ As a result of tough trading conditions due to the global economic downturn we set ourselves three key objectives at the start of the year; delivering financial results to our shareholders, fulfilling delivery commitments to our customers and protecting the jobs of our permanent employees. It is very pleasing that we have achieved all these objectives; strengthening our business winning over £100m in new contracts, increasing our order book by 85% to £185m and developing a sales pipeline in excess of £200m. In addition we are at preferred bidder stage on business worth a further £60m, and expect to sign these contracts over the next four months.

“We continue to be committed to Northern Ireland as a Centre of Excellence and our recent successes are testament to our ability to compete and win, in particular against strong off-shore competition, proving that Northern Ireland can be a credible and viable near-shore alternative.

“Notwithstanding the tough economic conditions we are continuing to invest significantly to expand our business activities, which is vital if we are to continue to deliver value to our customers, long term career opportunities for our employees and profitable sustainable growth for our shareholders.

Congratulating Northgate Managed Services on its recent successes Alastair Hamilton, Chief Executive Invest NI said: “Northgate Managed Services is a key player in the growing IT and business services sector, employing more than 1000 staff in the UK, 500 of which are based in Northern Ireland. Over the past 12 months, the company has engaged in a major drive to renew existing and win new contracts, which has resulted in more than £100 million of additional business.

“This is a remarkable achievement for Northgate Managed Services at a time when many companies continue to experience difficulties in the current economic climate and I commend their clear drive and determination to succeed. It demonstrates how market challenges can be overcome if a company invests in its people, products and services, and remains focused on targeting new opportunities.”

Northgate Managed Services supports ICT for every secondary and special education needs school in NI freeing up valuable teacher time

2009-10-04T23:00:00+01:00

£24m C2k contract extension awarded to ICT specialist Northgate Managed Services

Teachers and students at 238 Northern Irish post-primary and 47 special educational needs schools are to continue to benefit from an ICT managed service and technology refresh from Northgate Managed Services (www.northgate-is.com/managedservices) as part of a £24milllion investment by the Department of Education and Classroom 2000 (C2k).

Northgate will install 22,000 new workstations and 1,600 printers, and continue to manage the ICT infrastructure to ensure teachers and students can rely on technology in their schools. Northgate manage all school based technology from the network to access devices and curriculum software. As part of the new service, Apple Macs will also be integrated into the managed network and supported by Northgate. .

Northgate manage the schools ICT across Northern Ireland from their centre of excellence in Newtownabbey. Dedicated teams constantly monitor the school based systems intervening to resolve any problems often before schools are aware there is an issue either remotely or through the team of engineers. Schools now rely on availability of technology in the classroom and Northgate works hard to ensure that teachers and students are provided fully access to the technology.

Providing further peace-of-mind for schools, Northgate will implement advanced security updates with encrypted backup to protect school networks and data from unauthorised access due to hacking or unpermitted usage.

Jimmy Stewart, Director, C2k, commented: “I am delighted to announce Northgate’s continuance as the main partner on the C2k network. The company has played a pivotal role in the implementation of Northern Ireland’s Education Technology strategy and opening new e-learning pathways into further and higher education. By removing the burden of managing and maintaining IT systems from the school and replacing it with a reliable, supportive and more effective alternative, Northgate has demonstrated its true leadership in the education sector.”

David Hyland, Managing Director, Education, Northgate Managed Services added, “I am delighted that C2k has taken the decision to further extend our partnership to help transform teaching and learning for students in Northern Ireland. It is an honour to continue working with such forward-thinking schools and we remain dedicated to ensuring that our ICT solutions work to provide the Department of Education and C2k with the flexibility and enhanced services needed by students and teachers alike.”

Northgate Managed Service has been working with C2k since 1998 providing over 1,200 primary, nursery, post primary and special needs schools across Northern Ireland with the ICT infrastructure to access a wide range of education technology content and services to support the Northern Ireland curriculum.

For further information please visit the web site at www.northgate-is.com/managedservices or contact Northgate Managed Services on Tel: +44 (0) 28 90859085 or e-mail education@northgate-is.com.

Issued: Ends Ref: NG024

Notes to editors:

Established by the Department of Education, C2k’s main remit is to deliver on the Department’s strategy for Education Technology in Northern Ireland. The strategy’s main aim is to address the issues constraining the uptake of ICT in schools across Northern Ireland and to provide a high quality, reliable and equitable ICT service for all pupils in every school in Northern Ireland.

Northgate wins contracts with Viridian Group companies

2009-10-04T23:00:00+01:00

- Major contract win safeguards jobs in Newtownabbey
- Contract award consolidates Northgate’s position as Managed Service Specialist

Northgate Managed Services has won a number of 5 year managed service contracts with Viridian Group companies against stiff competition.

Viridian, Ireland’s leading independent energy group, which includes Northern Ireland Electricity, NIE Energy and Viridian Power & Energy, has awarded Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) contracts to Northgate following a lengthy procurement process, which attracted submissions from a number of the world’s leading technology and outsourcing specialists.

With the overall aim of providing Viridian Group companies with the most cost effective, flexible and high performing ICT systems and services available, Northgate will retain responsibility for managing the Group’s ICT infrastructure, networks, software applications and disaster recovery facilities. Northgate will also provide a range of BPO services to two of the Viridian Group companies.

Northgate will be working in partnership with eircom Northern Ireland on the implementation of a fully refreshed data network and upgraded IP telephony service.

“The ultimate aim of this contract is to enhance efficiencies and deliver improved services to our business users,” said Caroline Murphy, Head of Technology, Viridian Group.

Congratulating the team on their success Ed Brown, Managing Director, Utilities and Public Services NI for Northgate added:

“This is a tremendous achievement, not only for Northgate Managed Services, but for the Northern Irish economy as a whole, securing jobs for our workforce and creating a number of new positions within the fast moving technology sector.

“With a proven track record in the utilities sector the team at Northgate relishes this opportunity to work in partnership with Viridian Group companies as they seek to further improve operational efficiencies and benefit from world class systems and services”

Ends

For further information contact Claire Bonner/Gareth Colhoun, Morrow Communications
Tel: 028 9039 3837

Online citizen self-service support

2009-09-30T23:00:00+01:00

Innovation in delivery is essential for the long term sustainability of the social care system. Northgate Public Services today launches an online self-service support solution which gives the citizen greater control and promotes enablement and early intervention in adult social care.

Supporting a pro-active and preventative model of personalised social care centred on improved wellbeing, with greater choice and control for individuals, My Support helps citizens to shape their own lives and the services that they receive. It helps people access care and support through a number of features including:

• My Assessment – a self assessment tool that allows citizens to directly and simply express their needs and requirements.

• My Money – an on-line view of the money that the person has in their personal budget, it shows a statement summary including the amounts, payee, date and description of service.

• My Schedule – the citizen is able to see what visits they are getting, who is seeing them, and at what time

• My Plan – this provides guidance and structure for individuals and their support networks by putting together a personalised support plan. The plans can be amended by the individual. Supporting documents including video clips and images can be stored against the plan.

• My People - this gives the citizen their key contacts in a simple address book.

• My Details – this enables the citizen to manage their basic personal details

• My Views – this gives the citizen the ability to provide feedback on their support plan such as the services that they receive and the outcomes of different forms of support

• My Docs – an online repository of documents relating to an individual and their support. It can include support plans, care plans, letters from the GP, copies of correspondence and evidence including photographs

• My Shopping – a catalogue that contains the details of goods and services. It has a simple built in inventory and comes with a portal for providers to upload their own products and for citizens to purchase online.

Whilst online self service will not be appropriate for all citizens, Northgate Public Services believes that for many it will provide a means of increasing citizen satisfaction with their social care support. Citizens will benefit from 24x7 access to information and services from the comfort of home at a time that suits them. The company is now mounting a campaign for local authorities to introduce self service in adult social care as a means of improving delivery and making efficiencies through the reduction in visits and paperwork.

Russell Osborne, Managing Director, Citizen Solutions, Northgate Public Services, said today: “Many citizens want to be active participants in the care and support they receive. They do not want to be recipients of standardised packages and they want to be at the centre of identifying what is personally important to them to deliver effective and efficient outcomes.

“Our self service solution places the dignity and respect that people have a right to expect at its heart. At a time of unprecedented pressure on our health and social care system, there is a need to introduce change now. Over the next few months we will be working with our partner authorities to deliver self service as an essential element of radical change that our social care system so desperately needs.”

[Ends]

For more information
Fellows’ Associates;
Kathy Sutton +44 (0)20 7395 1516; +44 (0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44 (0)20 7395 1518; +44 (0)7949 421356

Notes to Editors
1. Northgate Public Services is an innovative provider of transformation and improvement services to the public sector. It is committed to high quality public services that place individuals and their communities at their heart. Its knowledge and understanding of people’s needs are core to its business, as too, is its depth and breadth across public services.

3. In the UK, Northgate works with ninety five per cent of local authorities, every police force, and a large number of health organisations, housing associations, utilities and transport companies. Founded in 1969, the company has nearly 8,000 employees. Northgate’s social care solutions are used by 40 per cent of local authorities.

Northgate Launches IT Apprenticeship

2009-09-30T23:00:00+01:00

New job opportunities and training for school leavers offered by Northgate Managed Services

Northgate Managed Services is bucking the current economic trend for downsizing with the launch of an IT Apprenticeship Scheme - offering school leavers a direct route to develop a long-term career in the IT sector.

Northgate employs over 1000 people, and services customers across the UK from its base in Northern Ireland. It is the first company in the IT sector in NI to officially recognise the potential talent pool that exists locally, and is directly targeting 16 to 19 years olds via an on-the-job training scheme. In addition to its existing Graduate schemes, Northgate is commencing the 18 month training scheme with the recruitment of six apprentices in September and intends to extend the scheme significantly over the next few years.

In addition to studying for the NVQ Level 2 IT systems and support qualification, the apprentices will ‘earn as they learn’, combining educational study with hands-on training as part of the IT service team in Northgate’s head office. Each apprentice is also allocated a mentor and ‘buddy’ to support and advise them throughout the 18 month programme. As with every employee in Northgate, the apprentices will have their own personal development plan and upon completion of the Scheme, there is potential for them to move into permanent positions in Northgate with opportunities to develop their skills within a wide variety of career paths in the company.

“As a leading IT company, working with every school in Northern Ireland, I feel it is important to encourage young people into a career in IT, offering job opportunities to those people who for whatever reason choose not to go on to University. The typical 16 to 19 year old is already IT literate, and can very quickly become productive in an IT services environment. As a successful and growing IT services company Northgate Managed Services is committed to working with young people in the communities where we are based and I am delighted we have been able to launch the IT Apprentice Scheme” said Andy Ross Chief Executive, Northgate Managed Services.

“Many people seem to believe that a university degree is the only route to a career within the IT sector. This isn’t the case and by offering an IT Apprenticeship Scheme as an additional option to our existing Graduate schemes, we are developing a qualified and talented workforce that will help us grow our business.

Northgate Managed Services has also commenced the roll out of the IT Apprentice Scheme across the UK with the recruitment of Apprentices to IT teams in Kent, Bristol and Leicester already underway.

Supporting the progressive move by Northgate, Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey said:
“This is a welcome development which offers great potential benefits for Northgate as a company and for the new IT Apprentices employed here. We have been convinced for some time that Apprenticeships could offer a viable route into this exciting industry and I am therefore delighted that a major IT employer like Northgate has decided to launch an Apprenticeship scheme.

“I wish Northgate and their new employees all the very best with this new initiative and hope that the scheme goes from strength to strength.

“I would also encourage other IT companies in Northern Ireland to look carefully at what Northgate have done and follow their lead in bringing future talent into the industry at an early stage.”

The first six apprentices started in August, and Northgate will visit schools and colleges to promote the Scheme during the autumn term with the next assessment centres being held in Feb/March, aiming for another batch of new recruits to start in June 2010. Those interested in finding out more about the IT Apprentice Scheme should contact info@northgate-is.com or via www.northgate-is.com/managedservices

G2G3 simulations point towards success for Northgate Managed Services

2009-09-30T23:00:00+01:00

G2G3 (www.g2g3.com), the leading provider of simulations and immersive readiness programs, today announced an exciting new partnership with Northgate Managed Services, the leading provider of infrastructure services to both public and private sector organisations and specialist managed services to the education, government and utilities sector.

Northgate Managed Services (www.northgate-is.com/managedservices) will license G2G3's Polestar ITSM simulation to add value to its ICT managed services solutions portfolio.

Polestar ITSM from G2G3 is energetic and fun way to accelerate understanding, involvement, and acceptance of ITSM and ITIL V3 best practice in any organisation. Facilitated in a familiar high technology scenario, Polestar ITSM brings to life the behavioral and process issues faced by IT organisations. This unique experiential learning approach causes breakthrough understanding of ITSM and ITIL V3 best practice and transforms learning into an engaging, fun, and highly memorable shared experience. Polestar ITSM was the world's first ITIL simulation to be based around the latest version of the Service Management best practice framework, the IT Infrastructure library (ITIL) Version 3.

Northgate Managed Services support over 2,000 customers and 420,000 IT users across the UK. It’s ITIL based, accredited ICT managed services offer customers a range of options from outsourcing a single element of their IT to a full outsource including TUPE transfer of staff. Working in partnership with their customers, Northgate’s goal is to make IT work harder, delivering efficiencies and unlocking the potential of IT to transform organisations.

Mark Ross Sutherland, CEO at G2G3 commented: “We are delighted to welcome Northgate Managed Services to our global partner community. Simulations are an ideal platform to create a holistic level of awareness and understanding around the power of the Managed Services model of business and the benefits it can ultimately deliver.”

James Turnbull, Managing Director, Infrastructure, Northgate Managed Services commented: “Northgate can bring together all the aspects of our customer service provision into a single dedicated unit that can deliver prompt, professional and high quality IT services. We feel it is important to engage with our customers from the outset to ensure they receive the best solution to meet their needs. The addition of the G2G3 product will enable both our internal and external customers to understand and experience the tangible benefits that our ITIL ICT managed service can offer them. We have trialled the simulation and have found it both useful and interesting and we look forward to rolling it out with our customers”

For more information on G2G3's products and services please contact Linda King at lk@g2g3.com or +44 (0) 131 461 3333.

For more information on Northgate Managed Services please contact 028 9085 9055 or info@northgate-is.com

IRRV accredits Northgate as training provider in revenues and benefits

2009-09-28T23:00:00+01:00

The Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV) and market leader Northgate Public Services today announce that they have joined forces to provide accredited training in revenues and benefits in a concerted attempt to drive up standards, improve service delivery and deliver efficient and effective services at a time of unprecedented demand and economic recession.

Northgate is the first organisation to participate in the Institute’s new accreditation scheme as a training provider. Its user-focused revenue and benefits training programme will be the first of its kind to be accredited by the IRRV. The training is designed to encourage excellence and performance improvement for Northgate’s clients’ employees using Northgate’s systems. It is focused on achieving best practice and working with and assessing staff on the systems that they use in their workplaces.

Northgate clients stand to benefit from the introduction of end-user training through skills enhancement for their employees and improved performance. In an innovative offer, Northgate clients who put their staff forward will receive preferential rates from Northgate on the basis that they are less likely to call on Northgate for help and support.

Northgate believes that by tackling end-user improvement it will ensure that best practice and excellence amongst its clients can be attained by all. Northgate clients consistently outperform local authorities that use other revenues and benefits systems as measured by official data such as comprehensive performance assessments and best value performance indicators.

The courses are intended to fully complement the suite of vocational and non-vocational qualifications provided by the IRRV and other training providers in the practical interpretation of legislation and customer service. They are uniquely targeted at the 10,000 employees who use Northgate’s system on a regular basis. Best practice will be defined and maintained through close consultation with customers and third party training providers.

End users will gain a certificate accredited by the IRRV if they complete their course and pass a formal test. If successful, they will also receive a unique license that can be recorded against their user account. It is anticipated that the average time to complete the course will range between three to six months.

Learners will be able to work through the course at their own pace using online facilities. Each will have access to On Line Tutorials and a course database for self learning and assessment. A mentor will be on hand throughout their studies to provide help and support.

Cont.
David Magor, Chief Executive of IRRV said today: “Our accreditation scheme rewards quality training providers focused on improving performance. Northgate has passed our robust test with flying colours. We believe that investment in training creates opportunities for employees and authorities alike. Whilst employees benefit
from skills enhancement, authorities gain by improving performance in revenues and benefits and maximising their subsidy.”

Joe Bradley, Managing Director, Citizen Services, Northgate Public Services, said today: “Working alongside and valuing public service employees is an essential part of improving performance. Our courses are designed to improve job satisfaction, motivation and morale, as well as to build and develop capacity and capability. They are also focused on providing better for less with Northgate clients benefiting from our preferential rates at a time when they need them most. We are delighted that the IRRV has accredited our organisation. This is an integral part of our campaign to transform public services through innovation in how and what we do in partnership with the public sector.”

[Ends]

For more information
Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44 (0)20 7395 1516; +44 (0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44 (0)20 7395 1518; +44 (0)7949 421356

The Accord Group looks to a greener future through web-based HR and payroll - integrated technology supports goal to be the greenest housing association

2009-09-22T23:00:00+01:00

The Accord Group, comprising several housing associations and over 1,000 employees, has signed a seven-year contract with NorthgateArinso to implement its fully integrated web based HR and payroll solution, based on the ResourceLink-Aurora platform.

Working with NorthgateArinso will enable the Group to focus on its business objectives for growth. It will streamline and consolidate its operational practices through the use of web-based HR and payroll technologies, underlining Accord’s aims to become a more efficient and greener organisation.

NorthgateArinso’s ResourceLink will support the Group in delivering an organisational development strategy, which is focused on performance improvement and aligned to the development of managers and employees, who will drive the business forward.

Allison Taylor, head of organisational development at The Accord Group commented: “We were looking for a provider that understands the challenges Housing Associations face. NorthgateArinso recognised these challenges and highlighted how its solution and a close working partnership could assist us to meet our objectives.”

“We have bold plans in organisational development, and we needed a solution which would allow us to get the basics of HR and payroll right, whilst empowering managers and employees with better information to make proactive decisions,” Taylor continued.

Access to management information and the ability to use that to develop new policies and procedures is key to the success of The Accord Group HR and payroll project. ResourceLink will deliver a comprehensive set of reports for the HR and payroll user, and for managers, the ability to access KPIs through a web-based solution on turnover, absence, training etc.

Lakhbir Jaspal, Deputy Chief Executive of the Accord Group commented: “With social housing high on the political agenda, the Accord Group has ambitious plans for the future and our partners need to be aware that we will change as an organisation to meet these challenges. The NorthgateArinso team proved they wanted to work with us to support our business and the organisational development strategy that will underpin our overall business strategy. Our new organisational development team is playing a key role in creating the environment in which Accord and its people will grow and thrive today, tomorrow and far beyond, and ResourceLink will play a key part in this strategy.”

“NorthgateArinso has seen some great results with housing associations, based on a partnership approach, which The Accord Group highlighted as a key requirement in its evaluation process. I am confident that our partnership will go from strength to strength,” said Dave Proctor, Public Sector Director at NorthgateArinso. “The Accord Group has ambitious plans for the ResourceLink solution, providing an enhanced level of business intelligence to managers and employees to become more empowered in their roles. Furthermore through the use of web-based technologies, for example online payslips and timesheets, our solution ensures that we support The Accord Group’s goal to become the greenest housing association in the UK.”

(496 words)

NOTES TO EDITORS

About NorthgateArinso

www.northgatearinso.co.uk <http://www.northgatearinso.co.uk>

NorthgateArinso is a leading global Human Resources software & services provider offering innovative HR business solutions to employers of all sizes, including Global Fortuneä 500 companies and many Public Sector organisations. We help HR executives optimise their HR service delivery through smarter process and more efficient technology, supporting key HR areas like workforce administration, payroll, benefits, recruitment, learning, and talent management.

Our 4,500 employees are dedicated to HR excellence through strategic business consulting, outsourcing services, solutions integration and best-of-breed software solutions. We are one of the 5 largest HR service providers world wide and have offices in 31 countries on 5 continents.

The Northgate Group is owned by private equity company Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and currently employs over 6,500 staff and operates in 46 countries across 5 continents.

More information:
Ellen Spenceley
Account Executive
LEWIS – Global Public Relations
St. Nicholas House
31 – 34 High Street
Bristol
BS1 2AW

Tel: +44 (0)117 315 8586
Web: www.lewispr.com, www.lewiswire.com & www.lewismediacentre.com

Standardised information key to improving service delivery

2009-09-13T23:00:00+01:00

Regional policing information must be standardised to allow accurate comparison between forces to take place, asserts Northgate Public Services today in a response to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary’s (HMIC) consultation on Value for Money (VfM) profiles.

Commenting on the proposed content, Northgate suggests that differences in operational data may undermine the profiles, which were designed to highlight opportunities for service improvement. The company recommends that HMIC develop a rationalisation mechanism for police service information. This would allow the differing operational requirements of forces to be taken into account whilst still allowing an accurate comparison to take place.

Northgate welcomes the emphasis placed on value for money as a means of assessment. Its response stresses the importance of maintaining a balance between value for money and service improvement, with a clear focus on achieving better for less.

The company also makes suggestions as to how the use of VfM profiles can be supported and encouraged. These include:

• the provision of a sample analysis and sample business change plan;
• dedicated resources to support forces in the analysis process;
• identification of VfM profile champions; and
• sharing of success stories and lessons learnt.

These actions would be supported by the creation of a user guide to VfM profiles. Northgate recommends that these material should be provided via a range of channels including specialised portals, audio-visual material, web-training services and new media.

Ian Blackhurst, Managing Director of Public Safety for Northgate Public Services, said today: “We welcome this opportunity to respond to HMIC’s consultation on VfM profiles. The profiles come at a time when, due to the economic climate, police forces are under increased pressure to do better with less.

“VfM profiles will provide a useful tool for police forces across the country to measure their performance. This will open up opportunities for improved service delivery to be identified by them. Effective delivery of service improvements is vital to building public trust. We are committed to working in partnership with the police service to build efficient and effective services built around the needs of our diverse communities and placing the citizen at their heart.”

-Ends-

For more information
Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44 (0) 20 7395 1516; +44(0) 7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44 (0) 20 7395 1518; +44(0) 7949 421356
Notes to Editors

Councils opt for Northgate Revenues & Benefits system

2009-09-13T23:00:00+01:00

Two councils have chosen to become early adopters in switching to Northgate Public Services’ Revenues & Benefits system following the company’s acquisition of Anite Public Sector in November 2008, the company announced today.

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and Wrexham Borough Council have chosen to replace the former Anite Public Sector’s overlapping Pericles system with that of Northgate’s leading system.

Following extensive consultation with clients and employees over the future of Anite Public Sector’s overlapping product, Northgate has decided to close down Pericles over the next few years, offering clients the opportunity to gain the benefits from switching to Northgate systems.

Unlike Pericles, Northgate’s Revenues & Benefits system has been subject to substantial investment and has functional additions, and the councils are confident that their early transition will deliver improved levels of service to citizens in the most efficient and effective manner at a time of unprecedented demand. Sixty one per cent of Northgate’s clients to whom Comprehensive Performance Assessment for Benefits applies scored 4* in 2008, with the remaining thirty nine per cent scoring 3*.

Mark Horrigan, Head of Revenues and Benefits at Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council said: “I am satisfied that the early adoption of Northgate’s system will improve the revenues and benefits services we provide to our customers. We have held detailed discussions with Northgate since the decision was taken to de-support Pericles, and we believe it is a company that is constantly looking for ways to improve its products, to meet our customers’ needs”

Mark Owen, Head of Finance at Wrexham County Borough Council said: “We already work with Northgate and they have an excellent track record with us. We are committed to delivering citizen-centred services at a time of increased demand. We believe that by making the switch early we will reap in the benefits of improved service. Northgate has a good track record in Revenues & Benefits and we are delighted to be extending our relationship with the company.”

Joe Bradley, Managing Director of Citizens’ Services, Northgate Public Services added; “The early adoption of our system is a sign that our post- acquisition strategy is working. We have closely consulted our employees and clients over this decision which was not taken lightly. We believe that the decision to focus solely on one system in the future will bring our clients added public value over the years to come and bring citizens efficient and effective public services.”

[Ends]
For more information
Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44 (0)20 7395 1516; +44 (0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44 (0)20 7395 1518; +44 (0)7949 421356

Notes to Editors

Four new appointments reinforce Northgate"s success in local government

2009-09-07T23:00:00+01:00

Northgate Public Services today announces the appointment of four directors as the company gears up its activities to drive transformation through innovation in local government and public services.

Michael Parry leaves Computershare to join Northgate as Director of Specialist Solutions managing Northgate’s energy, financials and elections businesses. Michael has worked with the public sector for over 20 years and has a background in project management, consultancy, sales and business development. Ten of these years were spent as a practitioner in local government working with West Lancashire District Council and Liverpool City Council.

Peter Houselander is appointed as Director of Health and Social Care. Previously Director of Anite Social Care acquired by Northgate in 2008, Peter has twenty five years of experience in developing solutions for the public sector and ten years working directly in social care. Northgate’s social care solutions are currently used by forty per cent of local authorities. Its healthcare business is rapidly expanding. It has recently won the contract for the NHS Newborn and Infant Physical Examination Programme (NIPE) in which every child is offered a top-to-toe physical examination shortly after birth and again at 6 to 8 weeks of age

Trevor Hampton is promoted to become Director of Enabling Technologies. Trevor joined SX3 in 2003 acquired by Northgate in 2005. He has over twenty years of work experience in the public sector focused on business innovation and product design and development. Enabling Technologies will focus primarily on innovation using mobile and information management to improve local government performance.

Matthew Salter is appointed as Director of Environmental Solutions. He has over fifteen years experience of working in the public sector. Prior to joining Northgate, Matthew was Operations Director for Caps Solutions. He has also worked for Capita, and was previously an IT consultant for North Somerset. He has a strong background in delivering new solutions and business improvement services into local government.

Russell Osborne, Managing Director, Citizen Solutions, Northgate Public Services, said today: “Local government is facing its most severe challenge in a generation. We are committed to strengthening local authority delivery so that it can provide locally based services built around people’s needs and expectations.

“These new appointments reflect the increasing demand that we have for our services. Increasingly local government is working with Northgate in innovative partnerships guided by the intelligent use of technology. By strengthening our team yet further, we will support local government in making the radical change that it must make to meet the challenges today and to build better services for tomorrow.”
[Ends]

For more information:

Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44 (0)20 7395 1516; +44 (0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44 (0)20 7395 1518; +44 (0)7949 421356

Kwik-Fit Fleet selects Mycompanyfleet solution

2009-09-06T23:00:00+01:00

Leading corporate fast-fit supplier, Kwik-Fit Fleet, has selected a bespoke version of Mycompanyfleet’s YourAcumen Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to help enhance driver support services to UK leasing companies through its new Service24 proposition.

Kwik-Fit Fleet provides call centre-backed driver support services to the overwhelming majority of the UK’s leading contract hire and leasing companies as defined by the FN50 league table of leading companies.

The new software solution will handle and co-ordinate driver bookings through Service24 for vehicle servicing, glass replacement, breakdown assistance and vehicle recovery for all Kwik-Fit Fleet’s leasing customers.

It will also streamline processes and provide greater reporting capabilities than the system it replaces, as well as providing mapping facilities for the entire Kwik-Fit Fleet centre network.

Kwik-Fit Fleet selected YourAcumen from leading fleet software solutions specialist Mycompanyfleet, after a review and selection process that investigated other systems on the market before the final decision was taken.

Simon Lucas, Kwik-Fit Fleet operations director, said:”We felt that the Mycompanyfleet solution was the perfect fit for us and the ideal solution to help provide enhanced driver support services to our major corporate customers.”

Mycompanyfleet provided an extensive demonstration of the capabilities of its YourAcumen system, involving a bespoke, personalised and fully operational version of the system that completely met Kwik-Fit Fleet’s exacting and demanding specification and requirements.

“By being able to demonstrate the full capabilities of our solution, we were able to convince Kwik-Fit Fleet that it was the correct one to meet their customer service requirements,” said Andrew Leech, business manager at Mycompanyfleet.

“We are delighted to be providing Kwik-Fit Fleet with the means to enhance their driver support services in this way. We hope to be working with them on a number of projects in the coming months,” he added.

The YourAcumen CRM system integrates fully with the company’s FleetAcumen software system, and allows users to capture customer feedback and satisfaction at every point of customer interface.

It is the ideal solution for fleet operators that provide services to customers through delivery fleets, such as couriers, fast-fit companies, air conditioning and other service engineers, as well as those involved in multi-disciplinary activities such as facilities and maintenance management.

“We believe YourAcumen to be a unique proposition as there is no other system that allows the seamless integration between fleet user and customer in this way,” added Andrew Leech.

“YourAcumen can capture every aspect of interface with the customer to help assess customer satisfaction, productivity, vehicle utilisation and business efficiency.

“Many companies have service standards and rules they want to meet for either new or existing customers. YourAcumen automatically polices those standards to ensure that pre-set levels are being reached and not exceeded,” he said.

YourAcumen uses Mycompanyfleet’s acclaimed exception reporting methodology within a highly visual dashboard environment to highlight areas of the business that require management attention. It avoids the overload of information that characterises many other current systems.

It is designed to integrate with other applications and supplier systems, and provides an unrivalled level of analysis and reporting similar to that of its sister application, FleetHR.

Ends

Notes to Editors

About mycompanyfleet

Contact information:
Andrew Leech,
Business Manager
Mycompanyfleet
Tel: 07939 509273
Email: andrew.leech@mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Press enquiries:
Mike Gunnell
MGMedia Services
Tel: 01832 275060
Email: mike@mgmediaservices.com

A new national system to help frontline police officers deal with offenders more quickly is being developed by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA)

2009-09-01T23:00:00+01:00

PentiP (Penalty Notice Processing) will improve the recording and processing of two types of one-off financial penalties, reducing red-tape and enabling police officers to spend more time patrolling the streets.

The two types of penalty are:

• Fixed Penalty Notices, issued for driving offences such as speeding and failure to wear a seatbelt.
• Penalty Notices for Disorder, issued for offences such as petty shoplifting and damage to property.

Both notices are currently issued on paper and processed by two separate computer systems. PentiP will computerise the issuing of the ticket and bring the two computer systems together into one. Rather than carrying books of tickets, recording offences on paper and then taking them back to the station for processing, police will be able to record information on their hand-held computers.

Moving to a central electronic processing system will deliver over £120 million in cashable benefits over 10 years to the police and courts services and improve the accuracy of information on driving offences held by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

It will enable the police and magistrates courts in England and Wales to access information on a single administration system and allow the police to make cross boundary checks and share information on a national basis. It is currently stored only at a local level.

Frontline officers will also benefit by being able to quickly check whether a penalty notice is the most appropriate method of dealing with an offender or if there is a previously issued unpaid penalty.

The NPIA has awarded the contract to design, build, deliver and manage the service to Northgate Public Services. The service is planned to go live from July 2010. This will initially be in Lancashire, Leicestershire and Kent, with nationwide rollout anticipated by the end of 2011.

Chief Constable Peter Neyroud, Chief Executive of the NPIA said:

"The NPIA looks forward to working with Northgate to deliver a more efficient national system for processing offenders.

"Quick access to information is essential to help frontline officers deal with offenders appropriately. PentiP will speed up the administration of penalty notices, cut bureaucracy and give officers more time to spend on the frontline and contribute to a more joined-up criminal justice system."

Ian Blackhurst, Managing Director of Northgate Public Safety said:

"We are delighted to be awarded this contract by the NPIA to modernise the penalty notice system.

"It will be welcomed by police and magistrates courts across the country, helping them to enforce justice fairly, effectively and efficiently. We have a long track record of working in penalty notice enforcement and this contract represents the culmination of our activities in helping to increase public trust through joined up justice and fair enforcement."

PentiP is part of the Information Systems Improvement Strategy (ISIS) programme. The aim of ISIS is to transform the way police information services (including IT) are developed, procured, implemented and managed by the police service. ISIS addresses the need to bring about real change in police information systems by joining them up.

For more information:

Fellows’ Associates:
Kathy Sutton +44 (0)20 7395 1516; +44 (0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44 (0)20 7395 1518; +44 (0)7949 421356

Councils move to paperless offices

2009-08-16T23:00:00+01:00

Councils are increasingly moving to enterprise-wide paperless offices as they seek more efficient and cost effective ways to deliver high quality public services under the current economic conditions, and to assist in combating climate change.

Two councils in South Wales are leading the way – Carmarthenshire and Merthyr Tydfil – are working with Northgate Public Services to deliver enterprise electronic information management services across their councils. And Northgate is urging more public services to adopt corporate wide information management systems in its drive to help transform public services and build public trust.

The councils have tested different electronic document systems on a departmental basis and have decided to move further to deliver improved information management services for their citizens.

The proven outcomes include:
• freeing up staff time to increase productivity and service quality;
• enhanced information-sharing to encourage a whole person approach to public services;
• a reduction in administrative overheads, enabling employees to focus on adding to public value;
• savings in accommodation and storage costs;
• regulatory compliance.

According to expert organisations, inefficient use of paper documents amounts to
between 20 per cent and 45 per cent of an organisation’s entire labour costs, and the introduction of automated information solutions can increase productivity by 20-30 per cent, and bring about 30-50 per cent savings on desk space. Councils have experienced dramatic improvement in performance, such as halving the time it takes to process benefits claims, which has contributed to customer satisfaction levels of 98%.

Russell Osborne, Managing Director of Northgate Citizen Solutions said today: “Doing nothing is simply not an option. If councils wish to save resources and improve services they must act now. Otherwise they will count the cost later, at a time when they can least afford it.

“This is not primarily a technology but a cultural issue. It requires leadership at the very top to achieve an organisation in which appropriate information flows effortlessly between the people who need it. This involves the total commitment of senior management, and must have the full engagement of employees throughout the organisation.

“South Wales is showing positive leadership in embracing the need to change now, to transform services, to build public trust and satisfaction. We are proud to be working in partnership with these councils. And over the next year we will be undertaking a concerted campaign to encourage other public sector organisations to drive home the transformation that can occur through automating information management.”

[ENDS]

For more information:
Fellows’ Associates:
Kathy Sutton +44 (0)20 7395 1516; +44 (0)7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44 (0)20 7395 1518; +44 (0)7949 421356

Notes to Editors

3. In the UK, Northgate works with ninety five per cent of local authorities, every police force, and a large number of health organisations, housing associations, utilities and transport companies. It stores and manages two billion documents and records electronically for public sector bodies. Founded in 1969, the company has nearly 8,000 employees.

Invensys signs global HR deal with NorthgateArinso using euHReka to manage HR and Payroll processes for 21,000 employees in more than 50 countries

2009-08-16T23:00:00+01:00

Invensys, a global technology group supplying solutions, software, consultancy and equipment to monitor, control and automate processes in a wide range of environments, has signed a seven-year contract worth GBP £35million with NorthgateArinso. The global HR services provider will deliver HR and payroll processes to Invensys’ global workforce in more than 50 countries.

Invensys aims to deliver a more efficient service to its employees through euHReka, NorthgateArinso’s standard HR solution powered by SAP HCM, using the solution both as a BPO service for administrative HR and payroll processes, and in an OnDemand mode for Talent Management processes.

The self-service element will enable staff to manage general administration and processes themselves, reducing the HR team’s administrative duties and allowing them to focus on wider strategic initiatives. Invensys will also take advantage of euHReka to deliver HR processes, such as learning and compensation management, via self-service, without the need to install a software platform locally. In addition to deploying euHReka globally, NorthgateArinso will also use its proprietary ResourceLink solution to deliver payroll services in select geographies.

“By outsourcing all HR administration and payroll we’re able to take advantage of NorthgateArinso’s global expertise and vast experience in this area – it’s a fantastic bank of knowledge we’d never have been able to replicate in-house in an efficient, cost effective manner,” said Paula S. Larson EVP HR at Invensys. “We started to review our options to provide a better HR service to our internal clients and realised that working with NorthgateArinso would transform the way we provide the service, at a lower cost.”

“Outsourcing the HR, payroll, learning and compensation performance management functions to a single, consistent point of contact will not only free-up managers’ valuable time, but also ensure Invensys complies with the many employment regulations that exist worldwide. Ultimately, this partnership means all HR processes will be supported by a single supplier from the day an employee starts in the business to the day they leave,” said Mike Ettling, CEO at NorthgateArinso.

(354 words)

NOTES TO EDITORS

About NorthgateArinso
www.northgatearinso.com <http://www.northgatearinso.com>
NorthgateArinso is a leading global Human Resources software & services provider offering innovative HR business solutions to employers of all sizes, including Global Fortuneä 500 companies and many Public Sector organisations. We help HR executives optimise their HR service delivery through smarter process and more efficient technology, supporting key HR areas like workforce administration, payroll, benefits, recruitment, learning, and talent management.
Our 6,000 employees are dedicated to HR excellence through strategic business consulting, outsourcing services, systems integration and best-of-breed software solutions. We are one of the 5 largest HR service providers worldwide and have offices in 31 countries on 5 continents.

For further information, please contact:

Ellen Spenceley or Lisa Gillingham at LEWIS

Tel: +44 0117 315 8586
Email: northgatearinsouk@lewispr.com

/...

Ellen Spenceley
Account Executive

LEWIS – Global Public Relations
St. Nicholas House
31 – 34 High Street
Bristol
BS1 2AW

Tel: +44 (0)117 315 8586
Web: www.lewispr.com, www.lewiswire.com & www.lewismediacentre.com
Blog: www.lewis360.com
ImageBank: www.lewisimagebank.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/lewispr_uk

The Holmes Report – Technology Agency of the Year, 2008
Computing Excellence Awards - IT PR Company of the Year winner, 2008
Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Excellence finalists, 2008
CNET Networks - UK Technology PR Campaign of the Year winner, 2006, 2007
PRWEEK - International Consultancy of the Year finalist, 2006, 2007
PRWEEK - Not-for-profit Campaign of the Year short listed, 2007
The Holmes Report - European SABRE awards finalists, 2008
Best Companies accreditation, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Investors in People accreditation, 2006-2009

NorthgateArinso strengthens leadership

2009-08-12T23:00:00+01:00

~ HR specialist appoints global sales and marketing director, and regional managing director to build ANZ operations ~

NorthgateArinso, the global provider of HR systems and services, has appointed two senior executives. Jürgen Seibert will be leading the global sales and marketing teams and Jim Walker will head NorthgateArinso’s business in Australia and New Zealand.

Jürgen Seibert has over 20 years’ experience in the IT and business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. He will focus on business development, sales and marketing, by maximising growth opportunities around the globe, developing and sharing innovation and best practice, and improving sales effectiveness. Seibert joined from his previous role as VP sales of global outsourcing and infrastructure services at Unisys, where he has worked for the last four years. Prior to Unisys, Seibert worked in various sales and management functions for Hewlett-Packard.

“Jürgen’s experience in successfully leading sales organisations to greater effectiveness and winning large strategic deals will be important to achieve our vision of becoming the No.1 global HR services provider,” said Mike Ettling, CEO at NorthgateArinso. “Working within our key markets in the public and corporate sectors, Jürgen will identify new opportunities, help grow relationships with existing customers, and respond to larger bidding opportunities.”

Jim Walker will head NorthgateArinso’s business in Australia and New Zealand, a priority growth market for the company. His appointment comes during an exciting time for NorthgateArinso as it expands its commitment to the Australian market. Jim Walker has over 25 years’ experience in the finance and technology sector, having previously worked at SAP, KPMG and IBM.

“I’m joining NorthgateArinso at an important time in its growth. I relish the opportunities and challenges ahead as we continue to promote our capabilities for transforming HR services and helping companies to effectively manage talent in the ANZ region,” said Jim Walker. “Our leading position provides an ideal base from which to explore further opportunities to deliver value for our customers, and to help them meet the challenges that they face both now and in the future.”

“The appointments of Jürgen and Jim bring us tremendous strengths; particularly in the form of almost half a century of combined experience in the technology market. NorthgateArinso has the best people in place to develop new business opportunities and deliver our customers and partners superior value,” added Ettling.

(386 words)

NOTES TO EDITORS
About NorthgateArinso
www.northgatearinso.com <http://www.northgatearinso.com>
NorthgateArinso is a leading global Human Resources software & services provider offering innovative HR business solutions to employers of all sizes, including Global Fortune 500 companies and many Public Sector organisations. We help HR executives optimise their HR service delivery through smarter process and more efficient technology, supporting key HR areas such as workforce administration, payroll, benefits, recruitment, learning, and talent management.
Our 5,000 employees are dedicated to HR excellence through strategic business consulting, outsourcing services, systems integration and best-of-breed software solutions. We are one of the 5 largest HR service providers worldwide and have offices in 31 countries on 5 continents.

Boxer chooses Mycompanyfleet solution to automate fleet services

2009-08-11T23:00:00+01:00

Portuguese fleet management provider Boxer has selected Mycompanyfleet’s FleetAcumen fleet software system to fully automate its service offering to fleet customers in Portugal, following a review of the leading software systems in the UK.

Boxer, an independent new start-up, was launched earlier this year by Rui Pinto and Luis Carajote, both fleet professionals with long fleet experience, to provide support and consultancy services to major fleet customers, including Portuguese leasing companies and major corporate fleets.

These services range from total outsourcing of the fleet to individual tasks such as car preparation, refurbishment and logistical support, as well as consultancy services through a separate consultancy arm.

But to fully automate and manage the services they wanted to provide, Boxer needed a state-of the art fleet software solution that was not only reliable but capable of handling the multi-faceted requirements of modern fleet management.

The directors turned to the UK in their search for the ideal system, and reviewed several on the market before selecting the FleetAcumen solution from Mycompanyfleet.

“As a new company ourselves, we wanted to work with the very latest and most recent state of the art technology partner,” said managing director Rui Pinto. “Mycompanyfleet offered everything we were looking for with FleetAcumen.

“We wanted a solution that was not only capable of being delivered over the internet, as many of our own services are web-delivered, but was very modern and capable of fully automating and managing all the complexities of modern fleet management.

“After a number of presentations and demonstration, we arrived at a final shortlist of two systems, and selected FleetAcumen as the best all round solution,” he said.

The FleetAcumen solution from Mycompanyfleet is aimed at larger, commercial fleets, leasing companies and fleet service providers of whatever nationality. It has a multi-lingual functionality with up to 20 different foreign languages and is language intuitive, switching seamlessly to the host language when it recognises the country of origin.

FleetAcumen uses exception reporting methodology to highlight areas of the business that require management attention. It is designed to integrate with other applications and supplier systems across national boundaries, and provides an unrivalled level of analysis and reporting similar to that of its sister application, FleetHR.

Andrew Leech, business manager at Mycompanyfleet, said his company was looking forward to working with the new Portuguese fleet management provider.

“We recognise many of our own characteristics in Boxer – a young company, a can-do attitude, and a desire to use the latest systems and delivery mechanisms to provide first rate support services to fleet customers,” he said.

“We look forward to supporting them and helping deliver those services to Portuguese fleet customers,” he added.

Ends

Notes to Editors

About mycompanyfleet

Mycompanyfleet is NorthgateArinso's automotive software division, focused on the fleet, leasing and general automotive sector. Mycompanyfleet provides fleet managers with the systems they need to more efficiently and cost-effectively run their vehicle fleets, as well as tackling the latest issues that affect day-to-day fleet operations, such as duty of care and environmental issues.
As part of NorthgateArinso, we have customers from every conceivable marketplace, spread over 46 countries and spanning five continents. We pride ourselves on delivering cost effective solutions that become integral to your business, with technology as an enabler.
NorthgateArinso is the specialist HR division of the Northgate Information Solutions Group. The Northgate Group is owned by private equity company Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and currently employs over 7,500 staff and operates in 46 countries across 5 continents. For more information please email marketing@mycompanyfleet.co.uk

About Boxer

Boxer is a specialised provider of fleet services whose mission is to help fleet managers meet the challenges of a changing environment. Boxer is managed by people with in-depth knowledge of the Portuguese fleet market, and works with the best technological partners. Boxer provides all the services that a fleet manager needs to reduce the operational costs of his fleet.

Contact information:
Andrew Leech,
Business Manager
Mycompanyfleet
Tel: 07939 509273
Email: andrew.leech@mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Rui Pinto
Managing Director
Boxer
Tel: +351 93 708 5571
Email: rui.pinto@boxergroup.pt

Press enquiries:

Mike Gunnell
MGMedia Services
Tel: 01832 275060
Email: mike@mgmediaservices.com

Mycompanyfleet launches new chauffeur module

2009-08-09T23:00:00+01:00

Fleet solutions provider Mycompanyfleet has launched a new ‘movement module’ as the latest addition to its acclaimed FleetAcumen fleet software system, which provides executive chauffeur fleets, specialist rental and taxi firms with more effective route mapping and driver and vehicle allocation planning.

The new module is ideal for companies which need to allocate the appropriate driver and vehicle to transport executives or other personnel to the correct location in a timely and efficient manner.

It allows more efficient route scheduling and allocation of drivers, and interfaces with modern telematics systems to ensure complete capture of all relevant data from that particular journey, including vehicle speeds, route taken, length of journey and miles covered.

Integrated PDAs allow drivers to record when jobs are completed as well as allowing messaging and next-job scheduling.

The new module was initially developed for the efficient and scheduled transportation of company executives in the Middle East but has now been adapted for the home market.

“This latest addition to FleetAcumen will allow the more efficient scheduling and planning of customer journeys for chauffeur firms, or indeed for any firm where the main activity is the transportation of human cargo,” said Andrew Leech, business manager at Mycompanyfleet.

The FleetAcumen solution from Mycompanyfleet is aimed at larger, commercial fleets, leasing companies and fleet service providers of whatever nationality. It has a multi-lingual functionality and can be used in up to 20 different foreign languages.

FleetAcumen uses exception reporting methodology to highlight areas of the business that require management attention within a dynamic and highly visual dashboard environment.

It is designed to integrate with other applications and supplier systems across national boundaries, and provides an unrivalled level of analysis and reporting similar to that of its sister application, FleetHR.

Ends

Notes to Editors

About mycompanyfleet

Mycompanyfleet is NorthgateArinso's automotive software division, focused on the fleet, leasing and general automotive sector. Mycompanyfleet provides fleet managers with the systems they need to more efficiently and cost-effectively run their vehicle fleets, as well as tackling the latest issues that affect day-to-day fleet operations, such as duty of care and environmental issues.
As part of NorthgateArinso, we have customers from every conceivable marketplace, spread over 46 countries and spanning five continents. We pride ourselves on delivering cost effective solutions that become integral to your business, with technology as an enabler.
NorthgateArinso is the specialist HR division of the Northgate Information Solutions Group. The Northgate Group is owned by private equity company Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and currently employs over 7,500 staff and operates in 46 countries across 5 continents. For more information please email marketing@mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Contact information:
Andrew Leech,
Business Manager
Mycompanyfleet
Tel: 07939 509273
Email: andrew.leech@mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Press enquiries:

Mike Gunnell
MGMedia Services
Tel: 01832 275060
Email: mike@mgmediaservices.com

Hilton selects FleetAcumen from Mycompanyfleet

2009-08-09T23:00:00+01:00

Hertfordshire-based contract hire and leasing supplier, Hilton Vehicle Leasing, has selected the FleetAcumen fleet software system from fleet solutions provider, Mycompanyfleet, to manage its corporate fleet.

Hilton Vehicle Leasing, based in Bishops Stortford, is part of the larger Hilton Group which includes manufacturer approved bodyshop operations for prestige marques including Mercedes Benz, and an accident management division.

Prior to selecting FleetAcumen, the company, which launched in November 2007 as a bolt-on to the Group’s main activities, had relied on a self written quotation system and spreadsheets, but had reached the stage where volume dictated that an automated system was required.

FleetAcumen gives it cradle to grave coverage of its contract hire fleet, handling all vehicle records, service scheduling details, contract mileages and terms, and features sophisticated workflow and KPI management, making the user aware of upcoming issues before they become an operational problem.

Managing director Morgan Devereux said:” We have seen significant growth in the last 18 months with over 400 vehicles to manage and Mycompanyfleet offered us a compelling proposition with FleetAcumen, and we particularly liked its reporting capabilities, not just for us, but for our corporate customers, too.

“We are convinced it will make a major difference to our business, including a significant reduction in the administrative burden,” he added.

Andrew Leech, business manager at Mycompanyfleet said: “Hilton Vehicle Leasing is a young fast growing company, and whilst still a relatively small company, we are delighted to be playing a key role in helping handle the administration of the leasing fleet.

“By automating all their fleet processes through FleetAcumen, they will be able to cut down their administrative burden and really drive efficiencies to the business.”

The FleetAcumen solution from Mycompanyfleet is aimed at larger, commercial fleets, leasing companies and fleet service providers of whatever nationality. It has a multi-lingual functionality and can be used in up to 20 different foreign languages.

FleetAcumen uses exception reporting methodology to highlight areas of the business that require management attention within a dynamic and highly visual dashboard environment.

Ends

Notes to Editors

About mycompanyfleet

Mycompanyfleet is NorthgateArinso's automotive software division, focused on the fleet, leasing and general automotive sector. Mycompanyfleet provides fleet managers with the systems they need to more efficiently and cost-effectively run their vehicle fleets, as well as tackling the latest issues that affect day-to-day fleet operations, such as duty of care and environmental issues.
As part of NorthgateArinso, we have customers from every conceivable marketplace, spread over 46 countries and spanning five continents. We pride ourselves on delivering cost effective solutions that become integral to your business, with technology as an enabler.
NorthgateArinso is the specialist HR division of the Northgate Information Solutions Group. The Northgate Group is owned by private equity company Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and currently employs over 7,500 staff and operates in 46 countries across 5 continents. For more information please email marketing@mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Contact information:
Andrew Leech,
Business Manager
Mycompanyfleet
Tel: 07939 509273
Email: andrew.leech@mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Press enquiries:

Mike Gunnell
MGMedia Services
Tel: 01832 275060
Email: mike@mgmediaservices.com

New IT Solution to Drive Quality Improvement

2009-08-06T23:00:00+01:00

The NHS Newborn and Infant Physical Examination Programme (NIPE) today (07/08/09) announces the appointment of Northgate Public Services to assist in the development and implementation of a national IT system. It will capture the results of the physical examinations, making it possible to monitor and maintain standards.

Every newborn baby is offered a top-to-toe physical examination shortly after birth and again at 6 to 8 weeks of age. These examinations have been carried out routinely by healthcare professionals in England for more than twenty years, but there is considerable variation in the way the examinations are documented. Paper-based systems are mostly used making it difficult for sites to audit their performance, assess referral rates and follow-up treatment outcomes. An IT system that interfaces with both maternity and GP services will facilitate simple and accurate data capture.

Programme Director, Professor Adrian Davis said: “I am delighted that Northgate Public Services is working with us to develop and implement a national IT system - the company has a strong track record in healthcare information management, providing robust solutions to other screening programmes. A national NIPE IT system will enable practitioners to drive quality and improve standards and that is good news for babies and their parents.”

The tender for the contract saw 14 companies compete for the £2.2 million contract. Alan Campbell, Head of Screening Solutions at Northgate Public Services, said: “Our solution will help to join up information held in the NHS. We are committed to contributing towards high quality healthcare by providing professionals with the information they need to continuously improve services.” Subject to successful evaluation the IT system will be rolled out across England by 2012, as follows:

• Phase 1: The feasibility study, where initial ideas and systems are tested, will begin in two maternity units in 2009.

• Phase 2: Following evaluation of the proof of concept phase, further development of the prototype system/s will be carried out. The final solution will be piloted in a larger number of maternity sites by 2010 as part of the strategy for service transformation.

• Phase 3: National roll out of the systems will be completed by 2012 or earlier.

Ends

For further information about the NHS Newborn and Infant Physical Examination Programme press office on:
Telephone: 020 7478 7841
Email: nipepressoffice@trimediauk.com

Notes to Editors:

1. The NHS Newborn and Infant Physical Examination Programme (NIPE) offers parents of newborn babies the opportunity to have their child examined shortly after birth. The examination includes a general physical check as well as an examination of the baby’s eyes, heart, hips and testes in boys. The examination is repeated at six to eight weeks, usually by a GP.

Police expert joins Northgate Public Services

2009-07-29T23:00:00+01:00

Northgate Public Services today announces the appointment of former police officer Geoff Anderson as the lead adviser on policing excellence as the company gears up its activities to respond to the challenges facing policing at a time of unprecedented demand.

Geoff was previously with Avon and Somerset Police where he held the position of Detective Chief Superintendent, Head of Criminal Investigations Department. He was responsible for managing the response to major and serious crime for a force of 6,000 staff with a community of 1.5 million citizens.

Geoff is a highly accomplished senior manager and investigator with considerable experience spanning a wide spectrum of policing, including the delivery of innovative and strategic multi agency initiatives across the public and criminal justice arena. His involvement with numerous national groups including the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) Workforce Modernisation Programme, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Homicide Working Group and the Southwest Regional Collaboration Project gave him the opportunity to influence the direction of the law enforcement community both at a local and national level. For Northgate, Geoff will be the senior officer responsible for shaping and guiding its policing business, strengthening further the company’s innovation work with police forces throughout the UK and abroad. He will lead the development of partnership work to ensure that business process change is police-led and professionally informed.

Ian Blackhurst, Managing Director, Public Safety, Northgate Public Services,
said today: “I am delighted to welcome Geoff to Northgate at a pivotal time in the development of our public service business. The economic and social challenges facing the police service are unprecedented. The breadth and depth of Geoff’s experience will help us consolidate the relationships that we enjoy with police forces up and down the land and work with them in partnership to build citizen satisfaction and public trust through innovation.”

Geoff Anderson added: “I am thrilled to be helping Northgate at such an exciting time in the company’s development. Innovation must be informed by the day-to-day practice and operational demands of the police and measured by the levels of public satisfaction. There is a clear realisation that radical change is necessary in how the service is currently run. I believe that there is enormous opportunity to innovate within the police service and develop creative and innovative responses in trusted partnerships and look forward to working with the police in my new role.”

[Ends]

For more information

Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton +44 (0)20 7395 1516; +44 (0)7966 890401

Notes to Editors

Northgate unveils new appointment to strengthen healthcare drive

2009-07-27T23:00:00+01:00

Northgate Public Services today announces the appointment of Alan Campbell as Head of Screening Solutions as the company spearheads its drive further into the management of health screening programmes as an integral part of its health business growth strategy.

Alan who has over twenty years of experience within the healthcare sector previously with Hays, and latterly with Northgate, will be responsible for the delivery of current services, the development of new programmes, and for extending Northgate’s capability to innovate both at home and internationally.

His appointment builds on the success of Northgate’s management of the world class Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (NHSP). This has been running for over five years, has screened nearly three million babies, and identified over 3,000 cases of hearing impairment. Northgate’s contract has recently been extended for a further three years.

The company has also recently completed a successful proof of concept programme for Bloodspot screening, leading to the development of a pilot programme which. if successful, will lead to a national roll-out. Further successes in screening are due to be announced next month.

Ian Blackhurst, Managing Director, Public Safety, Northgate Public Services, said today: “This appointment marks a step change in the development of our healthcare business. The management and successful delivery of high quality, efficient and effective healthcare screening programmes is an integral part of our growth strategy. Alan has already contributed greatly to the success of our strategy. He will play a central role in consolidating and strengthening our work to support healthcare professionals in the future.”

Alan Campbell, Head of Screening Solutions added: “I am delighted by this appointment. I am committed to supporting the health service in its drive for high quality and equitable services for all patients. Northgate has a track record of working collaboratively with healthcare professionals to deliver quality assured systems. Over the next few years we will be using this expertise to deliver further innovations in providing healthcare professionals with the information they need to continuously improve services and health outcomes for patients.”

[Ends]

For more information

Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton
+44 (0)20 7395 1516; +44 (0)7966 890401

Konstantinos Makrygiannis
+44 (0)20 7395 1518; +44 (0)7949 421356

Notes to Editors