Industry news

Technology companies including HP, IBM, Unilever and National Grid have announced their support of a nationwide mentoring scheme overseen by e-skills UK, which aims to create links between the technology industry and schools, in order to improve learning and skills in line with industry requirements.

The mentoring scheme is designed to also raise pupil awareness of the opportunities and roles available in the technology industry, aiming to increase applicants looking to enter the technology sector as well as helping to modernise the curriculum in line with the industry’s needs.

The scheme has seen success with an average application rate of three schools for each mentor and oversubscription in certain areas due to the high demand.

CEO of e-skills UK, Karen Price, said: “The mentoring scheme has been oversubscribed since its launch, which is testament to how keen educators and tech employers are to work together to enhance the student experience in computer science and IT."

BT creates over 1,000 apprenticeship and graduate positions

Skills gaps in outsourcing management

A new report has revealed that India is losing 70 per cent of its voice and call centre BPO business to competitors located in Eastern Europe and the Philippines as price and location see India lose ground.

The report, by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), highlighted that Indian BPO businesses could reduce losses to competitors by moving operations to smaller cities where savings could be achieved from lower training costs, cheaper travel, and cheaper real-estate.

Cost savings have seen Indian firms move to the Philippines, with skilled graduates and English speaking workers reducing the need for staff training.

Assocham secretary general D S Rawat said: "It is estimated that in the on-going decade India might lose $30 billion in terms of foreign exchange earnings to Philippines, which has become the top destination for Indian investors".

Outsourcing group Conectys expands in Philippines

Indian IT outsourcing exports predicted to grow by 13-15%

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) are to provide £410 million for council transformational programmes including shared services.

Councils set receive funding include East Sussex, Maidstone and Plymouth, with the £410 million being divided into lots through 2013 to 2016.

The funding will be made available to shared social care, health and IT services designed to transform public services.

Eric Pickles, Communities and Local Government Secretary, said: "This £410 million funding package will help to fundamentally change the way local public services are delivered to residents.”

“This funding will help councils to transform their services faster and provide a better deal for the taxpayer too.”

NAO report calls for public sector to become ‘intelligent customers’

Major cities create shared services mobile partnership

ISN solutions have received £4.6 million in funding from private equity firm Maven Capital Partners.

The IT firm, which specialises in providing outsourced services to oil and gas businesses, will use the investment to expand services and create a new office in Aberdeen, where Maven is based.

The IT firm has around 50 employees with annual sales of nearly £6 million.

David Greenwood, the managing director of ISN, said: "We have ambitious growth plans for the business, which will be backed by the extensive experience and resources of Maven.”

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has revealed that it has employed the digital services framework to trial the beta version of Universal Credit (UC).

The transformational programme of UC will be digital-by-default, with the programme designed to improve the DWP and the welfare system through the consolidation of services and greater efficiencies.

The release of the beta version of UC comes after the Government Digital Service (GDS) pulled out from working with the DWP to facilitate the digital-by-default policy.

The DWP said: "DWP’s future development approach will be based on previous ways of working with GDS colleagues".

The Beta version will be rolled out to a small selection of jobcentre claimants later this year, with plans to release a full version to all customers after the trial period.

Government prepares to launch national IT procurement strategy

DWP move to scrap jobs website

NHS England has introduced new plans for IT service funding for GPs, the IT fund of £230 million will be used to upgrade current systems and services used by GP practices across England.

The funding plan is designed to provide increased funding while driving greater value for money and create centralised service.

Beverley Bryant, director of strategic systems and technology at NHS England, said: “This operating model sets out how we will achieve high quality primary care digital systems that support the provision of a more efficient, responsive and integrated service for patients whilst empowering them to have greater control over their health and care.”

OnQ has announced the launch of its healthcare labor outsourcing and contact center solutions, designed to meet increasing demands within the healthcare services centre, as the sector reacts to increasing completion and regulatory pressures.

The OnQ operated contact centre employs college-educated staff who are bilingual in English and Spanish, who deliver services backed up with real-time data, monitoring capabilities and video access.

The new contact centres are focused on providing transformative services designed to improved healthcare outsourcing including support and increased operational effectiveness.

Basildon Borough Council employs Microsoft Dynamics CRM platform designed to promote greater citizen engagement.

The platform is designed promote the councils “Customer Experience Programme” and allows for the collection of customer details within a single system, allowing for the creation of a timeline and insight based responses.

The new CRM platform will allow for future growth and expansion of services while allowing for greater CRM integration with other public services.

Borough residents will be able to request assistance via online applications, they will also be able to track the progress online.

James Dansey, Dynamics CRM implementation project manager at Basildon Borough Council, said: "We see Dynamics CRM as being a key enabler of change and the catalyst for the realisation of significant efficiency savings”.

Customer relationship management drives future technology

Greater Manchester council tenders for CRM framework

Capita has purchased British network provider Updata in a deal worth £80 million as the outsourcing firm continues with a round of acquisition purchases.

Updata delivers connectivity and network services to public and private sector clients including big name finance organisations such as HSBC and RBS.

The deal will see Updata, which employs 160 staff ibn six sites across the UK, join Capita’s IT services Division.

Capita has posted that the deal has helped the outsourcing company raise projected revenues from £41.8 million in 2014 to £74 million in 2015.

The acquisition comes after Updata worked with Capita on various projects in recent years including the Scottish Wide Area Network (SWAN).

Andy Parker, Capita chief executive, said: “As part of Capita, Updata will strengthen our network capability and ensure we continue to meet the needs of our clients across the UK.”

Capita awarded contact centre contract by John Lewis

Capita awarded £24 mil contract for children’s IT services

FTSE -100 engineering contract company Babcock International has secured a contract to manage London’s Fire Brigade, in a deal worth £800 million over the next 21 years.

The London fire service contract success comes after a series of successes for the engineering firm after Babcock was named as the preferred bidder for the largest ever UK outsourcing contract on Monday, valued at £ 7 billion, for the decommissioning of nuclear reactors in the UK.

Babcock also recently completed the purchase of emergency service helicopter group Avincis for £1.6 billion.

The fire service management success has seen shares sore at Babcock as the markets react to the company’s rapid expansion over the last week, with shares closing up 3pc at £13.88.

Emergency services bid for shared services funding

Fire and rescue authorities are urged to collaborate