Northgate-is - News Item 712

Northgate secures mobile services contracts worth £1.2 million

NEWS RELEASE

5th February 2008

Northgate secures mobile services contracts worth £1.2 million

Northgate Information Solutions, a leading provider of innovative services to the public sector and utilities markets, has signed two contracts worth a total of £1.2 million to promote efficient, effective and environmentally-friendly services.

Northgate will support Places for People, the leading housing and development organisation, and Service Birmingham, the strategic partnership between Birmingham City Council and Capita, to take their services out to local communities.

At Places for People, it will provide around 1,000 housing officers across the country with the ability to improve services for residents whilst out in the field. Maintenance requests can be logged on-the-spot, queries answered immediately, and residents receive help with completing housing application forms or amending payment schedules in their own homes. Staff will also benefit through reduced travel and the ability to work from home through removing the need to collect and return case files.

As part of its wider transformation programme, Service Birmingham has now selected Northgate as its preferred supplier for mobile services across the city. It will be used primarily by the housing department to find more innovative ways of delivering services that benefit both employees and citizens, particularly in the most vulnerable communities. 

For both organisations, the increased use of mobile services will:
- speed up the delivery of personalised services for citizens and residents;
- deliver effective services more efficiently;
- support the introduction of flexible working practices such as home-working;
- reduce their carbon footprint, through minimising return trips to and from the office to collect essential information.

Tony Hayes, Head of Information Management & Technology at Places for People, said today:
“Places for People focuses on creating places where people choose to live – whether that means providing brand new communities or transforming existing neighbourhoods into vibrant, popular areas to live and work. Our partnership with Northgate will enable us to deliver improvements to our services quickly, right at the point of need, through empowering our staff to take action in their communities.”

Roger Preece, Director of ICT at Service Birmingham added:
“We are committed to providing residents with public services that are tailored to their needs, that they only have to ask for once, and that are delivered in ways that they prefer. Through working with Northgate and other partners, we will provide staff and citizens alike with personalised and responsive services, more efficiently.”

Joe Bradley, Managing Director of Local Government & Social Housing at Northgate Public Services, concluded:
“Citizens increasingly expect public services to be delivered in ways that meet their particular circumstances and needs. Northgate supports organisations to deliver proactive public services through enabling staff to take action out in their communities. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Places for People and Service Birmingham, two innovative organisations that are placing the needs of citizens and sustainable communities at their heart.”

[Ends]

For more information:
Fellows’ Associates:
Kathy Sutton 020 7849 3403; 07966 890401; ksutton@fellowsassociates.com
Naomi Stevenson    020 7849 3508; 07966 890403; nstevenson@fellowsassociates.com

Notes to Editors:

1. Northgate Information Solutions is a leading provider of innovative services to the public sector and utilities markets. Northgate’s 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.

2. In the UK, the company works with four out of five local authorities and every police force. Northgate supports public service transformation through sustainable performance partnerships. Its technology is used in the administration of more than £12 billion of revenues and benefits; in electoral administration systems covering 18 million people; to support the national system for reporting police performance; and in the management of over three million local authority and housing association properties worldwide. Founded in 1969, the company has over 6,000 employees.

3. Northgate has a long-standing business relationship with Kirona and has worked in close partnership to develop a number of ground-breaking Intelligent Mobile applications. Northgate is currently delivering Intelligent Mobile services to over 70 customers. The information can be accessed using tablet PCs, personal digital assistants or other mobile devices, and can operate over any communications network.

4. Places for People is one of the largest property management and development companies in the UK, committed to providing sustainable communities. Our focus is on creating places where people choose to live - whether that means providing new communities or transforming existing neighbourhoods into vibrant, popular areas to live and prosper.

5. Service Birmingham is an innovative, unique strategic partnership between Birmingham City Council and Capita which will support the transformation in the way the Council works; improving services and contributing to its efficiency agenda. This strategic partnership forms part of the Council's objective to find better and more innovative ways of delivering services for the benefit of employees and citizens. The principle of this Joint Venture focuses on the provision of cost effective, sector leading, ICT services and in supporting the Council in achieving its Business Transformation objectives.