Northgate-is

Racing Post makes Northgate HR firm favourite

2008-03-30T23:00:00+01:00

Racing Post Group has selected Northgate HR to deliver its payroll for its 200+ employees. The agreement will see Northgate HR provide a fully managed service.

Having its own payroll is helping Racing Post Group accelerate its journey to becoming an independent company. It was sold by Trinity Mirror on October 1st, and needed to find its own payroll solution. The tender was put out to market and also to Northgate HR, which provides the payroll for
Trinity Mirror.

Northgate HR was the favourite, and once the contract had been signed the payroll was fully implemented and rolled out to The Racing Post Group’s 200+ employees within a month. Northgate HR ensured that the payroll was up and running quickly to minimise disruption for employees during the split from Trinity Mirror.

Northgate HR carried out a due diligence exercise, scoped out the project, built the payroll, tested it and made it live, all within a month – much to the satisfaction of Mark Francis, finance director at Racing Post Group: “The quick and successful implementation of our payroll has helped us clear some hurdles in the process of separating from our former owners. Being able to pay our staff in a timely manner, without creating a headache for our internal finance team or uncertainty among staff, has made the transition very easy, and we have Northgate HR to thank for that. The team was committed to turning the project around quickly and, especially considering the Christmas break was included in the period, exceeded our expectations.”

Malcolm Aldis, managing director at Northgate HR, commented: “We’re pleased the roll out of Racing Post Group’s payroll has gone so well, and look forward to extending the service to cover other HR processes as the relationship develops.”

(316 words)

NOTES TO EDITORS

About The Racing Post Group
The Racing Post is British racing’s only daily newspaper. Distributed from its headquarters in Canary Wharf, it provides horse racing, greyhound and sports information and features, such as betting odds, tips, profiles of important people in the sport, and the latest news for major events in the racing calendar. The Saturday edition of the Racing Post contains RP Sport, a supplement that focuses on sports events. It has a daily circulation of 70,000 and an active online community through its website, www.racingpost.co.uk <http://www.racingpost.co.uk> . It is owned by Stradbrook Acquisitions, part of Irish investment group FL Partners.

Northgate Information Solutions acquired by KKR

2008-03-11T00:00:00+01:00

~ private equity firm acquires leading specialist software and outsourcing business at an enterprise valuation of £1.1billon ~

Private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR) has acquired Northgate Information Solutions (Northgate). The acquisition is implemented by means of a scheme of arrangement which has become effective on March 5, 2008 following which KKR controls 100 per cent of the shares of Northgate. Northgate’s shares were delisted from the London Stock Exchange on 7th March 2008. This followed the announcement of the recommended acquisition by the Boards of NIS Acquisitions Limited (a company controlled by certain funds advised by KKR) and Northgate Information Solutions plc, made on December 21, 2007.

Chris Stone, chief executive officer at Northgate Information Solutions, commented: “KKR’s investment approach makes them an ideal partner for Northgate, as we share a common business philosophy for long-term value creation. The opportunities for us to expand the business under their ownership are extremely exciting.”

For NorthgateArinso, the HR Division, the plans are to strengthen the human resources outsourcing, systems integration and software businesses, both through organic growth and a programme of strategic acquisitions. The plans include continued geographic expansion, with new offices being opened in markets such as Russia, Turkey, Portugal, Mexico and Norway, as well as increased investment in existing operations.

“The acquisition of Arinso last year was transformational,” Stone commented. “Now operating as a single global company, our HR division is leading the way in the global Human Resources market. Under our new ownership, we will continue to drive delivery excellence in all areas.”

The deal completed in accordance with the original timetable at an enterprise valuation of £1.1 billion.

(280 words)

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Northgate Information Solutions

Northgate Information Solutions (Northgate) is a market leader in providing specialist software, outsourcing and information technology (IT) services to the human resources, local government, education and public safety markets.

Northgate, which is privately owned, employs over 6,000 staff and operates in 46 countries across 5 continents.

Northgate has approximately 4,500 large/medium customers and approximately 10,500 small to medium enterprise (SME) customers world wide. The many corporate organisations Northgate works closely with include over 20 per cent of fortune 500 clients, 90 per cent of the UK local authorities and all of the UK’s police forces.

For further information, please contact:
Kelly Desinioti or Lisa Gillingham at LEWIS

HumanConcepts Forges Alliance with Northgate HR

2008-02-18T00:00:00+01:00

OrgPlus to Add Workforce Planning Capability to Northgate HR and Payroll Solution

Exeter – 18 February 2008 – HumanConcepts, the developer of OrgPlus® today announced a strategic partnership with leading payroll and pensions management solution provider Northgate HR. The partnership will integrate OrgPlus intelligent organisational charting and workforce modelling solution with Northgate’s HR and Payroll solution. Northgate HR’s customers will benefit from the convenience of a unified view of employee data stored in Northgate’s HR and Payroll System with tools to model business scenarios and plan for change.

The partnership extends the value of Northgate HR solutions by providing users with easy and secure access to graphical views of employee information, organisational structures and directories through a web browser. OrgPlus provides executives with a real-time dashboard of their workforce, provides managers the tools and information they need to plan and action workforce change, and empowers decision-makers with a better understanding of their organisations and available resources.
The added OrgPlus capability will assist HR professionals to plan and execute workforce management tasks including succession planning, talent acquisition and management, budgeting, compensation and benefits planning and communicating a corporate employee directory. Additionally, OrgPlus allows ‘what if’ scenario planning critical for successful change management, re-organisation and merger and acquisition activity.
Rue Stanley, Partnership and Alliances Director at Northgate HR comments, “Within our customer base we are seeing a greater need for automation tools such as OrgPlus. HR’s increasingly strategic role in organisations means that managers are in need of tools which allow them to view accurate workforce data, which can be modeled quickly to meet the changing needs of business requirements.”

-ends-

About HumanConcepts
HumanConcepts is the leading provider of workforce modelling and intelligence solutions. With its OrgPlus technology charting millions of employees for organisations worldwide, including 400 of the Fortune 500, HumanConcepts has defined best practices in organisational charting. OrgPlus integrates with HR systems to automatically create, update and distribute organisational charts for team collaboration, workforce planning and critical decision-making. OrgPlus integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Office applications.

HumanConcepts is based in California with offices in the United Kingdom and Germany and offers OrgPlus software and services worldwide. For more information visit www.orgplus.co.uk.

CONTACT:
Gillian Lomax
HumanConcepts
+44 (0) 1392 823023
gillian.lomax@humanconcepts.com

About Northgate HR
Northgate Information Solutions is a market leader in providing specialist software, outsourcing and information technology (IT) services to the human resources, local government, education and public safety markets.

Northgate, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, currently employs over 6,000 staff and operates in 46 countries across 5 continents.

Northgate has approximately 4,500 large/medium customers and approximately 10,500 small to medium enterprise (SME) customers world wide. The many corporate organisations Northgate works closely with include over 20% of fortune 500 clients ,90% of the UK local authorities and all of the UK’s police forces.

Paperless HR set to lead the way in 2008

2008-02-13T00:00:00+01:00

~ paper-heavy departments spearheading green initiatives ~

The HR department is set to go green in 2008, according to research carried out by Harte Hanks on behalf of Northgate HR. Almost one third (29 per cent) of British companies are planning to move payroll processes online this year, removing one of the most paper-intensive parts of the business.

Online HR processes allow employees to enter expenses, absence forms, and other admin duties online instead of using paper. The research revealed these processes are becoming increasingly popular, with one third of firms planning to increase their use of ‘self-service’ HR to save more paper in 2008. The research was carried out at the end of 2007 among over 200 senior HR executives in the UK.

“It’s often HR that sets the green agenda for the rest of the company, and green initiatives are no exception,” said Malcolm Aldis, CEO at Northgate HR. “It’s encouraging to see that HR managers are practicing what they preach and setting the examples of best practice. Using a self-service system, employees and line managers can process and approve expense claims, absence forms and perform other administration duties online – eliminating the need for paper.”

South East housing association The Hyde Group started its move into a paperless environment in 2007. Through processing job application forms and other HR administration online, it now estimates it saves 95,000 sheets of paper every year – enough to cover a football pitch.

“The HR department has really set the green standard for the rest of the organisation,” said Roddy Horton at the Hyde Group. “Moving HR admin online also allows managers to access forms remotely, and keep a clear audit trail.”

“It’s easy to challenge our reliance on paper, and the shift is as much about a change in employees’ attitude as it is about new technology,” continued Malcolm Aldis at Northgate HR. “There’s still a long way to go, but this research proves that green issues are moving up the HR agenda. The paperless office, at least in the HR department, is becoming a realistic prospect.”

(355 words)

NOTES TO EDITORS
About Northgate HR (www.northgate-is.com/hrs)
With over 40 years’ experience, Northgate HR is the UK’s largest supplier of HR, payroll and pensions applications. Northgate HR solutions are developed to provide maximum flexibility and seamless integration. They can cater for the diverse requirements of HR, payroll, benefits and pension management across all market sectors and in organisations of any size.

Solutions can be delivered in-house, via an Application Service Provider (ASP) or outsourced, providing forward thinking and state-of-the-art business management tools. With a comprehensive suite of software solutions combined with unparalleled levels of expertise, Northgate HR can fulfil its vision to provide solutions that simplify key business tasks and deliver value added benefits to customers, enabling them to provide vital human capital information to assist in HR management and business strategy.

Northgate HR is the specialist HR and Payroll systems division of Northgate Information Solutions. Northgate Information Solutions plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange. For further information visit Northgate Information Solutions at www.northgate-is.com.

For further information, please contact:
Kelly Desinioti or Lisa Gillingham at LEWIS
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7802 2626                               Fax: +44 (0) 20 7802 2627
Email: Kellyd/suzyf@lewispr.com
Internet: http://www.lewispr.com

Outsourcing deal 'leads the way' for government efficiency

2008-02-11T00:00:00+01:00

~ HR and payroll outsourcing saves Council £50,000 ~

Dartford Borough Council is the first UK council to fully outsource its HR and payroll function, enabling it to meet government efficiency targets. Northgate HR will now manage the associated processes, saving an estimated £50,000 per year, and providing a more efficient and effective service to employees.

The first payroll run for Dartford Council’s 400 employees is scheduled for April, underpinned by ResourceLink, Northgate HR’s fully integrated HR and payroll solution. All HR functions including recruitment, absence management and employee retention have been outsourced to Northgate HR since October 2007.

“By outsourcing all HR and payroll we’re able to take advantage of Northgate HR’s expertise and vast experience in the area – it’s a fantastic bank of knowledge we’d never have been able to replicate in-house,” said Steve Brooks, Head of Finance and Resources at Dartford Borough Council. “We started to review our options to provide a better HR service to our internal customers and soon realised that the Northgate offer would transform the way we provide the service at a lower cost. It quickly became obvious that we should include payroll in the deal.”

“As the first local council in the UK to outsource all of its HR and payroll processes, Dartford is setting the standard for other organisations which need to comply with government initiatives,” said Sara Brown, public sector manager at Northgate HR. “It’s an exciting time as the Council starts to reap the benefits of the service.”
(258 words)

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Northgate HR
Northgate Information Solutions is a leading provider of innovative technology solutions to the public services 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.

In the UK, Northgate works with four out of five local authorities and every police force. Its systems are used in the management of over 1.5 million local authority and housing association properties out of a total of approximately 4 million in England; in the administration of more than £17 billion of revenues and benefits; and in electoral administration systems covering over 18 million people. Founded in 1969, the company has over 3,300 employees.

For further information, please contact:
Suzy Ferguson / Lisa Gillingham
LEWIS PR
020 7802 2626
suzyf / lisag@lewispr.com

Self-service HR cuts absence admin at MB Wirral

2008-02-04T00:00:00+01:00

~ new ResourceLink module from Northgate HR removes
pain from managing sickness ~

The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral has signed a 3-year contract with Northgate HR to manage its HR and payroll processes. The contract for Northgate’s integrated HR and payroll solution ResourceLink will include a Manager Absence module. This allows an automated online process for managing absence and will cut out the double-checking and manual keying in of sickness details.

The Council has worked with Northgate since 1998, which had a significant effect on the decision to broaden the relationship through the implementation of ResourceLink.

“Managing absence is an admin intensive process, which stops HR employees from concentrating on more interesting tasks,” said Sara Brown, Public Sector Manager at Northgate HR. “Using ResourceLink will enable managers to log on and process claims from anywhere which is faster and much more convenient. It also means that the Council will have a clear audit trail, which can’t be guaranteed with manual processes.”

The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral has worked with Northgate since 1998 and is continuing the relationship to help reduce HR administration, allowing the organisation to focus on adding value to the council and providing a better service to employees and the local community.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Northgate HR (www.northgate-is.com/hrs)
With over 40 years’ experience, Northgate HR is the UK’s largest supplier of HR, payroll and pensions applications. Northgate HR solutions are developed to provide maximum flexibility and seamless integration. They can cater for the diverse requirements of HR, payroll, benefits and pension management across all market sectors and in organisations of any size.

Solutions can be delivered in-house, via an Application Service Provider (ASP) or outsourced, providing forward thinking and state-of-the-art business management tools. With a comprehensive suite of software solutions combined with unparalleled levels of expertise, Northgate HR can fulfil its vision to provide solutions that simplify key business tasks and deliver value added benefits to customers, enabling them to provide vital human capital information to assist in HR management and business strategy.

Northgate HR is the specialist HR and Payroll systems division of Northgate Information Solutions. Northgate Information Solutions plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange. For further information visit Northgate Information Solutions at www.northgate-is.com.

For further information, please contact:
Lisa Gillingham or Kelly Desinioti at LEWIS
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7802 2626 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7802 2627
Email: lisag/kellyd@lewispr.com
Internet: http://www.lewispr.com

Legal issues cause HR headache

2008-02-02T00:00:00+01:00

~ legislative compliance is number one worry for UK HR managers ~

Keeping ahead of legislation is the biggest day-to-day concern for 83 per cent of HR and payroll professionals, Northgate HR research has found.

The study, conducted by Harte Hanks Research, also showed that legislation is the primary concern for HR professionals, over people-focused concerns such as improving employee productivity and boosting morale.

The research found that the top five worries for HR and payroll professionals are:
• Keeping ahead of legislation: 83 per cent
• Employee productivity: 74 per cent
• Getting the most out of IT systems: 75 per cent
• Reward and recognition: 72 per cent
• Improving employee morale: 71 per cent

This legislative burden is in danger of blocking innovation, according to Marika Hall, HRO business manager at Northgate HR: “Staying ahead of new legislation is obviously important, and HR’s responsibility. But the fact that so many feel it’s their biggest worry rings alarm bells,” said Hall. “It’s very
time-consuming to even understand the legislation if you’re not a legal expert, let alone identify the implications for the organisation and then implement any policy changes, ensuring that the workforce is compliant. HR’s time is better spent focusing on people, not processes, leaving the worry of implementing legislative compliance to expert suppliers.”

“If HR directors are bogged down by details, their focus is not on their number one priority: their people. Talent management – an area vital for HR to prepare the organisation for the future – should be at the top of the list, not languishing at tenth place because other issues are taking up HR’s time. Devising new ways to recruit, retain and develop staff should be the number one priority for HR professionals,” Hall concluded.

(299 words)

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the research

Harte Hanks conducted the research in behalf of Northgate HR in late 2007. It is the forth wave in a series of research projects Harte Hanks has carried out for the company, which started in 2002. The primary objective of the research was to understand how Northgate HR and its competitors are perceived in the market, and to establish the significant issues effecting HR Directors in 2008.

Harte Hanks surveyed 201 senior finance and HR decision makers, all of whom work at companies employing over 500 people.

For further information, please contact:
Suzy Ferguson or Lisa Gillingham at LEWIS
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7802 2626 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7802 2627
Email: suzyf / lisag@lewispr.com
Internet: http://www.lewispr.com

DHL to launch UK's first 'green payslip' plan

2008-01-09T00:00:00+01:00

Environmentally friendly payslips help to reduce carbon footprint

London, January 09, 2008: DHL Exel Supply Chain is set to deliver payslips on recycled paper to 36,000 employees. The world’s leading logistics company, in partnership with payroll solutions provider Northgate HR, has rolled out UK’s first ever ‘green payslip’ plan, which will start early in 2008. This partnership is expected to help reduce DHL’s carbon footprint by nearly ten tonnes of CO2 per year .

DHL is keen to explore new ways to reduce its carbon footprint and minimize its impact on the environment. Working with Northgate HR on this project is part of a program of initiatives that DHL is currently undertaking to reduce its contribution to climate change.

Anne Parris, Director of Accounting EMEA at DHL commented, “When Northgate HR showed us that the payslips are almost indistinguishable from a regular payslip, and just as secure, with the same quality seal, the decision to switch was an easy one for us. We are always looking for ways to be more environmentally-friendly. Confident that the payslips meet our requirements, this partnership is demonstrating to our staff that we are committed to becoming a ‘greener’ business.”

Northgate HR launched the offer of recycled payslips in November 2007 to provide customers with an eco-friendly alternative to a document that could previously only be produced on ‘virgin’ paper. It has calculated that by printing payslips on recycled paper, businesses will save 1.32 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of paper.

Wendy Logan, Technical Operations Manager for outsourcing services at Northgate HR, explained the impact the use of recycled paper for payslips will have at DHL Exel Supply Chain: “One recycled payslip may seem insignificant, but for a company with 36,000 employees who need a payslip every month, we’re able to cut DHL Exel Supply Chain’s carbon footprint by nearly ten tonnes of CO2 every year.”

Ends

Media Enquiries:
Alexa Fleming
Hill & Knowlton
Tel (Business hours): +44 (0)20 7413 3332
Tel (Out of hours): +44 (0)20 8818 8049
alexa.fleming@hillandknowlton.com

Suzy Ferguson or Lisa Gillingham
LEWIS PR
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7802 2626
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7802 2627
Email: suzyf@lewispr.com or lisag@lewispr.com

About DHL
DHL is the global market leader of the international express and logistics industry specializing in providing innovative and customized solutions from a single source.

DHL offers expertise in express, air and ocean freight, overland transport, contract logistic solutions as well as international mail services, combined with worldwide coverage and an in-depth understanding of local markets. DHL's international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. More than 300,000 employees are dedicated to providing fast and reliable services that exceed customers' expectations.

DHL is a Deutsche Post World Net brand. The group generated revenues of 60bn euros in 2006.

Body Shop gets greener makeover with Northgate HR

2007-11-27T00:00:00+01:00

Body Shop gets greener makeover with Northgate HR ~ cosmetics chain cuts paper with �1 million contract for self-service HR ~ The Body Shop has extended its pledge to �Protect our Planet� to its HR services through a contract with Northgate HR. The four-year deal, worth �1 million, expands the chain�s use of ResourceLink, the integrated HR and payroll solution, to include a �self-service� module that will reduce paper waste. With ResourceLink�s self-service approach to HR, employees can fill in time sheets and holiday or training request forms online � which are then managed entirely by Northgate HR. The tool will cut down both time and paper wasted in the HR processes. The Body Shop first outsourced its head office payroll to Northgate HR in 2003. The company then extended the service to include retail units in 2005. The contract now lasts a further four years and provides additional online services for HQ-based staff. Justin Taylor, HR partner at The Body Shop, commented: �Our work with Northgate HR enables us to improve efficiency and provide a better service for employees. By cutting down on the amount of paper used in HR process, we�re also able to strengthen our commitment to the environment.� Malcolm Aldis, managing director at Northgate HR, added: �We are continuing to develop our relationship with The Body Shop to reduce the time its HR team needs to spend on the transactional areas of HR. This way, they can focus on adding value to the business with more strategic activities.� The Body Shop continues to trade independently after being bought by L�Oreal, and is investigating making the self service HR option available for store managers � as well as extending the relationship with Northgate HR into new markets. (291 words) NOTES TO EDITORS About Northgate HR (www.northgate-is.com/hrs ) With over 40 years� experience, Northgate HR is the UK�s largest supplier of HR, payroll and pensions applications. Northgate HR solutions are developed to provide maximum flexibility and seamless integration. They can cater for the diverse requirements of HR, payroll, benefits and pension management across all market sectors and in organisations of any size. Solutions can be delivered in-house, via an Application Service Provider (ASP) or outsourced, providing forward thinking and state-of-the-art business management tools. With a comprehensive suite of software solutions combined with unparalleled levels of expertise, Northgate HR can fulfil its vision to provide solutions that simplify key business tasks and deliver value added benefits to customers, enabling them to provide vital human capital information to assist in HR management and business strategy. Northgate HR is the specialist HR and Payroll systems division of Northgate Information Solutions. Northgate Information Solutions plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange. For further information visit Northgate Information Solutions at www.northgate-is.com . For further information, please contact: Suzy Ferguson or Lisa Gillingham at LEWIS Tel: +44 (0) 20 7802 2626 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7802 2627 Email: suzyf / lisag@lewispr.com Internet: http://www.lewispr.com

Northgate HR scoops top outsourcing award

2007-11-20T00:00:00+01:00

November 2007

Northgate HR scoops top outsourcing award

~ named ‘major outsourcer of the year’ by the IPP
for Alliance Boots project ~

Northgate HR has been named ‘major outsourcer of the year’ at this years’ Institute of Payroll Professionals (IPP) awards ceremony. The HR solutions provider was recognised for its work with Alliance Boots, the high street retailer which employs 66,000 people.

Alliance Boots outsourced its payroll and HR services to Northgate HR, to allow its staff to concentrate on more strategic tasks without getting bogged down with back office duties. The company also wanted to improve response time to employee enquiries.

Judges praised the project for significantly raising the profile of HR and payroll over the last twelve months. The IPP awards, which took place at the Sheraton Grand Spa in Edinburgh, recognise significant contributions from individuals and organisations to improve working lives of payroll professionals.

“After a smooth transition from in-house to outsourced services, payroll staff retention rates within the Boots team have remained high” said Malcolm Aldis, managing director at Northgate HR. “Also, Boots employees who call the HR department now get a much faster response to questions. For example it now takes the team just 10 seconds, instead of a previous average of 67, to answer the phone, and 90 per cent of the time queries can be answered by the first person the employee speaks to.”

He continued: “Payroll employees who have been ‘TUPEd’ to Northgate HR now have a clear career path and are now free to concentrate on more strategic duties, without being distracted by back office processes. We’re proud that the IPP awards recognises this example of a successful outsourcing partnership in action.”

“The service Northgate HR has provided has exceeded all our expectations, and we're very pleased that we've already been able to hand more responsibility to Northgate HR than we had anticipated would be possible at this relatively early stage,” said Andy Sutcliffe, programme manager at Alliance Boots.

(327 words)

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Northgate HR
Northgate Information Solutions is a leading provider of innovative technology solutions to the public services 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.

In the UK, Northgate works with four out of five local authorities and every police force. Its systems are used in the management of over 1.5 million local authority and housing association properties out of a total of approximately 4 million in England; in the administration of more than £17 billion of revenues and benefits; and in electoral administration systems covering over 18 million people. Founded in 1969, the company has over 3,300 employees.

For further information, please contact:
Kelly Desinioti / Lisa Gillingham
LEWIS PR
020 7802 2626
kellyd / lisag@lewispr.com

Northgate's ARINSO selected by Cadbury Schweppes plc to deliver global HR IT platform

2007-10-09T23:00:00+01:00

ARINSO, Northgate Information Solutions’ global HR business, has been selected by Cadbury Schweppes plc to deliver HR systems and related services for its confectionery business. The deal is one of the largest in ARINSO’s history and implementation will be across 5 continents in 68 countries where Cadbury Schweppes operates.

The seven-year partnership will use ARINSO’s euHReka technology to create a single SAP-based HR Services platform. The platform, to be completed in early 2010, will become the core Cadbury Schweppes’ global HR information system and give employees online access to services. Cadbury Schweppes will also have the option to explore further the support services offered by ARINSO as the deal evolves.

Chris Stone, Chief Executive of Northgate Information Solutions, said: “Cadbury Schweppes is a global blue-chip company and precisely the kind of business we envisaged working with when we acquired ARINSO this summer. Using the euHReka platform will allow the HR team at Cadbury Schweppes to deliver better quality information, support faster decision-making and improve service and I am delighted to have them on board. They join ARINSO’s already superb client list which includes such global businesses as Shell, Airbus, Exxon Mobil, Finnair and Tetra Pak.” (208 words)

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Cadbury Schweppes (www.csplc.com)

Cadbury Schweppes is the world's largest confectionery company and has strong regional beverages businesses in North America and Australia. On 15 March 2007, Cadbury Schweppes announced that it intends to separate its Confectionery and Americas Beverages businesses.

With origins stretching back over 200 years, today Cadbury Schweppes' products – which include brands such as Cadbury, Schweppes, Halls, Trident, Dr Pepper, Snapple, Trebor, Dentyne, Bubblicious and Bassett – are enjoyed in almost every country around the world. The Group employs over 70,000 people.

About Northgate Information Solutions (www.northgate-is.com)

Northgate Information Solutions is a market leader in providing specialist software, outsourcing and information technology (IT) services to the global human resources and UK local government, education and public safety markets.

Northgate, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, employs over 6,000 staff and operates in 46 countries across 5 continents.

Northgate has approximately 4,500 large/medium customers and approximately 10,500 small to medium enterprise (SME) customers worldwide. Northgate delivers Human Resources solutions to many of the world’s largest organisations as well as working with ,90% of the UK local authorities and all of the UK’s regional police forces.

For further information, please contact: Suzy Ferguson or Lisa Gillingham at LEWIS

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7802 2626

Fax: +44 (0) 20 7802 2627

Email: suzyf / lisag@lewispr.com

Internet: http://www.lewispr.com

FremantleMedia agrees pensions outsourcing agreement with Northgate HR

2007-09-30T23:00:00+01:00

FremantleMedia Group has handed over full outsourcing of its pensions administration service, including all accounting and payroll activity, to Northgate HR.

The five-year contract, worth over £400k, has brought FremantleMedia significant cost savings and gains in administration efficiency for the hybrid scheme, which has almost 750 members.

The Trustee’s chose Northgate HR from a number of providers because they felt that Northgate offered the most impressive system solution resulting in cost savings and improved efficiency given that fully automated calculations almost completely remove the need for manual intervention and therefore the chance of human error.”

Both parties also say that the arrangement will improve service levels to scheme members, including through the introduction of an online self-service facility that is scheduled for the second half of this year.

Malcolm Aldis, Managing Director, Northgate HR, said: “We are pleased to be able to provide a service that supports FremantleMedia’s strategic direction. We are also proud to bring another hybrid scheme into our growing portfolio.”

About FremantleMedia (www.fremantlemedia.com)

FremantleMedia is one of the largest international creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world, with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment programming in over 40 territories, including the UK, the US, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Scandinavia, Latin America and Asia.

The company has production operations in over 25 countries worldwide, providing original local programming as well as local versions of its international TV brands. The production operation comprises some of the most recognised and creative labels from around the world including UFA, Blu, teamWorx, talkbackThames, Grundy and Blue Circle. Every year, it delivers over 8,500 hours of original programming to broadcasters around the world.

About Northgate HR (www.northgate-is.com/hrs)

With over 40 years’ experience, Northgate HR is the UK’s largest supplier of HR, payroll and pensions applications. Northgate HR solutions are developed to provide maximum flexibility and seamless integration. They can cater for the diverse requirements of HR, payroll, benefits and pension management across all market sectors and in organisations of any size.

Solutions can be delivered in-house, via an Application Service Provider (ASP) or outsourced, providing forward thinking and state-of-the-art business management tools. With a comprehensive suite of software solutions combined with unparalleled levels of expertise, Northgate HR can fulfill its vision to provide solutions that simplify key business tasks and deliver value added benefits to customers, enabling them to provide vital human capital information to assist in HR management and business strategy.

Northgate HR is the specialist HR and Payroll systems division of Northgate Information Solutions. Northgate Information Solutions plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and included in the FTSE 250 index. For further information visit Northgate Information Solutions at www.northgate-is.com.

Simplyhealth finds staffing remedy with Northgate HR

2007-08-13T23:00:00+01:00

Major private health provider invests in new system

Simplyhealth has chosen Northgate HR’s ResourceLink solution to manage its human resources across the group. The organisation – a community of healthcare businesses that has made seven acquisitions and launched one start up business since 2000 – will use ResourceLink to manage HR processes such as payroll, timesheets and training requests. It will be used for all 1,300 employees across seven sites at the end of 2007.

Northgate HR was selected when it became apparent that the existing system – only available at one site – was no longer sufficient to provide valid, useful data for business planning and budgeting purposes. “We needed a system for all our employees, wherever they are based, that provides the business with the level of detail and service needed,” said Suzanne Pool, Director of HR at Simplyhealth. “This was not a luxury investment – it’s a strategic necessity.”

During the tender process, several visits and presentations confirmed that Northgate HR would be the best fit for Simplyhealth. “The quality of the product and its capability met our requirements perfectly,” said Pool.

The teams at Simplyhealth and Northgate HR are working together closely on the project to ensure deadlines are met and that ResourceLink is up and running by the end of November 2007.

“ResourceLink will provide Simplyhealth with an accessible and consistent HR and Payroll service across the group,” said Mark DeBono, New Business Sales at Northgate HR. “HR administration will be streamlined through the phased deployment of Self Service – and will eventually handle core HR requests, absence, training and recruitment processes at the rapidly growing business.”

Pool concluded: “This strategic investment will support us in this time of significant growth, helping us to look after our people now and in the future.”

About Simplyhealth

Simplyhealth is the parent company for a community of healthcare businesses that have come together to help more people feel better. BCWA, HealthSure, HSA and LHF form Simplyhealth Access, the financial services division of the Group whilst Simplyhealth Wellbeing incorporates the non-financial divisions within the Group, these being Adastral Health Limited, Your Health Screening and Totally Active.

The Group specialises in healthcare schemes and services for individuals, families and companies, which range from health plans and private medical insurance, to health screening, occupational health and mobility aids.

About Northgate HR

Northgate Information Solutions is a leading provider of innovative technology solutions to the public services 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.

In the UK, Northgate works with four out of five local authorities and every police force. Its systems are used in the management of over 1.5 million local authority and housing association properties out of a total of approximately 4 million in England; in the administration of more than £17 billion of revenues and benefits; and in electoral administration systems covering over 18 million people. Founded in 1969, the company has over 3,300 employees.

For further information, please contact:

Jenny Thomas / Lisa Gillingham
LEWIS PR
020 7802 2626
jennyt / lisag@lewispr.com

Leading insurer banks on Northgate for HR services

2007-07-31T23:00:00+01:00

Thomas Miller cuts time and improves efficiency reduces errors with ResourceLink

Thomas Miller, the provider of specialist insurance services, has selected ResourceLink, an HR management tool from Northgate HR, to manage its human resources, payroll and training services.

The company, which manages some of the biggest and most important insurance mutuals in the maritime and logistics sector, employs approximately 600 people across four continents. All of its London based staff will be paid using ResourceLink for the first time this month.

“Before installing the service we used to rely on manually inputting information on to spreadsheets, which is time consuming and open to error,” said Jay Anderson, Head of HR at Thomas Miller. “Payroll systems weren’t integrated with the rest of our HR information, and none of it was integrated with the company finance function. Reporting to the finance team efficiently was very difficult.”

ResourceLink is a single-person database that can be accessed and updated across an organisation, according to individual security access levels. This way, users update only the information that is most relevant to them. Managers and employees access the information online, which avoids sending forms to a central HR department every month.

“Small numbers of users spread over disparate locations present a significant challenge for any HR department,” said xxx at Northgate HR. “We’re able to work with small and medium sized companies to provide services that other large vendors often overlook. Thomas Miller has benefited from tailored support throughout the roll-out and we’ll continue to work closely with them to get the best from ResourceLink.”

About Northgate HR

Northgate Information Solutions is a leading provider of innovative technology solutions to the public services 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.

In the UK, Northgate works with four out of five local authorities and every police force. Its systems are used in the management of over 1.5 million local authority and housing association properties out of a total of approximately 4 million in England; in the administration of more than £17 billion of revenues and benefits; and in electoral administration systems covering over 18 million people. Founded in 1969, the company has over 3,300 employees.

For further information, please contact:

Jenny Thomas / Lisa Gillingham
LEWIS PR
020 7802 2626
jennyt / lisag@lewispr.com