Industry news

Lexmark’s Perceptive Software has been positioned in the Leaders Quadrant by analyst giants Gartner, for enterprise content management (ECM) solutions.

Perceptive Software’s technology platform spans content management, process management, intelligent capture and enterprise search.

The positioning comes as the company continues to enjoy double-digit market growth after a series of acquisitions.

Gartner, in positioning Perceptive Software as a Leader, said: “Perceptive has continued growing its international presence, particularly in Brazil where Lexmark is strong, and in the Asia/Pacific region. It has continued to attract channel partners, such as Deloitte and Jenzabar.

BT has had communications union CWU come to its defence after being accused of creating a rural broadband contract monopoly.

Criticism has come from multiple sources including the media and the Public Account s Committee (PAC), who last week published a damming report.

The union said that the telecoms giant was being unfairly blamed for its success in winning all of the available rural broadband contracts as part of the government’s scheme to deliver super-fast broadband throughout the UK.

The union said that BT was the only company who was willing to make the necessary investment in the project and that the size of the investment made the project high risk, as any return would not be seen for years.

Commons public accounts committee criticises BT broadband monopoly

UK broadband speeds increase rapidly as government spending sees strong results

Procurement reform is being stimulated by the Namibian government through a new bill, as the country seeks to streamline large public sector procurement, help SMEs and reduce loopholes.

The Public Procurement Bill which has been introduced into the National Assembly, would see the creation of a central procurement board.

Minister of finance Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, who introduced the bill, said: “The intention is to provide for the speedy resolution of such complaints, which will minimise the frequency of bidders’ recourse to court actions.”

The bill would see the procurement board made up of nine members who would be industry experts.

Ghana creates government procurement group

South African watchdog attacks public sector procurement process

The CESG, the information security arm of GCHQ, have advised the government against employing BYOD policies within the public sector.

While the group said that while BYOD polices are possible, issuing security guidance for a range of devices, a range of technical and non-technical issues meant the security group did not recommend the practice.

The CESG said that if such a policy was pursued, systems administrators should establish a helpdesk to deal with lost or stolen devices, with functionality for remote lock and wiping functions. The CESG said: “Different devices will expose organisations to different risks and in different ways”.

UK industries to receive cybersecurity advice from GCHQ

Former UK spy centre CIO joins CSC

Financial institutions including the Bank of America and insurance giant Aviva, have attacked George Osborne, for removing a key green clause from the new Energy Bill.

The clause, which promoted decarbonisation targets, would have promoted green energy within the UK’s energy network, ensuring near blanket coverage of all electrical needs by green sources by 2030.

Opponents to the removal of the clause, said that its inclusion in the energy bill, was vital to stimulating an overhaul of the UK’s energy framework, valued at up to £110 billion.

The removal of the clause has led energy firm s to hold back on moving forward with green energy investments in the lead up to the release of the UK government’s energy policy.

Ben Warren, a partner at EY, said: “The UK has the potential to offer a safe harbour for renewable energy investors in Europe, but the delay in delivering a stable policy framework is weakening our prospects and holding back investment.”

Centrica pulls out of energy infrastructure expansion

UK plans for fracking are unsustainable warns a new report

HCL have been awarded a £19 million contract to provide SAP management services to two London borough councils.

The London Boroughs of Haringey and Waltham Forest selected Indian based HCL to deliver new SAP modules as well as upgrading existing SAP infrastructure. HCL replaces incumbent CGI (formally Logica) who had been providing SAP services over the last ten years to the two boroughs.

HCL will also deliver cloud computing services and IaaS capabilities over the six year contract, with the option to extend for a further four years.

The SAP contract expands on HCL’s existing arrangements to provide public services to Buckinghamshire, Manchester and Sunderland councils.

Barnet Council saved by Capita

Centrica award £18.9 million contract to Capgemini

The Commons public accounts committee have released a report criticising the government, for allowing BT to operate a near-monopoly, in providing superfast broadband in rural areas.

The report revealed that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport allowed BT to receive £1.2 billion in public funding, after the telecoms giant won all of the available contracts on offer.

The committee has now called on the Department to halt the remaining funding, which stands at £250 million, until efforts are made to introduce competition back into the superfast broadband rollout.

The recommendations come as the opposition questioned the peerage of Ian Livingston in June, who had been the head of BT when the contract where awarded.

In response to the report a BT spokesman commented that it was: mystifying that we are being criticised for accepting onerous terms in exchange for public subsidy – terms which drove others away. The taxpayer is undoubtedly getting value for money".

NAO expresses fears over BT procurement position

UK broadband speeds increase rapidly as government spending sees strong results

Public sector reforms are at the heart of a decline of the UK public sector SITS (software and IT services) according to new market research.

Research carried out by analysts TechMarketView, revealed that the SITS market declined by 2 per cent in 2012, with the market now believed to be worth £644 million less in 2013 than 2010.

The research suggested that the market will struggle to achieve any form of recovery before 2016.

Reforms that have contributed to the decline in the SITS market include the Cabinet Office’s move to encourage SME suppliers as part of a drive to increase ICT savings, as well as the renegotiation of outsourcing contracts.

Georgina O’Toole, director at TechMarketView, said that a new mind-set in required in order to operate in the changing market: “Suppliers need to accept the ‘new normal’ and consider changing their commercial and delivery approaches to suit the new environment.”

New Crown Commercial Service takes shape as senior positions are announced

Public sector departments are failing to deliver value from procurement

The London Borough of Harrow has been named the most small business friendly council in the capital for procurement.

Harrow has been recognised for its part in supporting of SMEs in an award ceremony, by the London region of the Federation of Small Businesses, and London Councils.

Harrow Council was recognised for its work in encouraging SMEs to tender for public sector contracts, with council spending with SME suppliers increasing from £21 million to £28 million over 2012 and 2013. The council increased SME awareness of public sector opportunities while improving the bidding process by the introduction of an e-procurement system.

The employment of SME services by the council has resulted in increased growth in the local economy. Harrow council leader Thaya Idaikkadar said: “Our business growth rates are among the best in North West London and we outperform the economic powerhouses of Islington and Camden.”

The recognition of the councils support of SMEs comes as the government moves to encourage SME participation in public sector contracts as a way to improve cost-savings and efficiency, while developing local businesses.

New public sector rules focus on encouraging SME procurement

SMES to receive lending boost

Deloitte has launched a cyber-security centre, designed to provide monitoring, analytic and response services to customers in order to protect against cyber threats.

The Cyber Intelligence Centre is Deloitte’s response to increased demand for cyber security by industries, with the centre complementing the outsourcers existing service offerings to clinets.

According to Deloitte the centre has been in development for more than 18 months, in a response to client demand.

Mike Maddison, head of security and resilience at Deloitte, said: “Cyber risk is a major concern for businesses of all sizes, across all sectors and CISOs are under increasing pressure from boards to protect against evolving cyber threats.”

Government reaches out to industry for cyber security standards