1. technology and computing

LOCAL AUTHORITY IT
One in four councils have no strategic Westminster
CIO role
plan to bring further services online, merges
Westminster City Council is set to
lose its CIO role in an update of its
says research by Eduserve
shared services partnership with
One in four (24 per cent) local government
organisations has no strategic plan to bring
services online, according to a survey of
IT decision makers in local government
by IT services provider Eduserv.
Despite the local government services not
being covered under the government’s
Digital by Default strategy, many local
authorities such as Camden Council are
attempting to save money and improve
services through their own digital strategies.
according to Eduserv’s research, a lack
of strategic focus and investment in IT
capability is undermining the ability of local
government to deliver online services. A survey
conducted with senior decision makers in
local government found that one in four (24
per cent) local government organisations had
no strategic plan to bring services online.
The research did show an overwhelming
support for the use of IT to improve and deliver
Services (79 per cent), but over three quarters
(77 per cent) of those responsible for delivering
services said that a shortfall in investment is
making it hard to do their job properly, and
76 per cent believe this lack of IT investment
is currently undermining service delivery.
Andrew Hawkins, Eduserv’s Local Government
Director said: “Councils appear to be playing
catch-up in delivering services that meet
the expectations of digital users. Whilst it
is disappointing that so many councils feel
their current services are being undermined
by a lack of investment in IT, it’s encouraging
that they recognise this and want to use
IT to improve future service delivery.
“It’s also encouraging that less than half the
councils surveyed (48 per cent) felt the focus
of IT should be on cutting costs, while in many
cases moving services online or to the cloud
can have financial benefits for the organisation
its important this isn’t the key driver – the
main priority should be on improving services
for residents. Most councils seem to recognise
this and now is the time for council leaders
to deploy greater resources for a strategy
to deliver
READ MORE:
the changes
tinyurl.com/n86gse7
needed.”
HUMAN RESOURCES
DWP seeks Chief Technology Officer
The Department for Work and Pensions
(DWP) is looking for a new chief technology
officer (CTO), who will report into the director
general of technology Mayank Prakash.
A job advert states the role will be
responsible for leading the technical strategy
and architecture for DWP’s customer-facing
technology and public services.
The successful applicant will lead
a team of more than 100 technology
architects, and will need to understand
and use the design principles outlined by
the Government Digital Service (GDS) in
creating digital public transactions.
The job advert states applicants would
“naturally prioritie user needs over
processes and tools,” suggesting the role
would be focussed more on the business
outcomes than the technology itself.
In the job advert, Prakash said the role is
one of the most challenging and rewarding
technology roles in the UK today.
“It requires an individual with a unique
combination of credible leadership skills
at a senior level and hands-on technical
expertise to influence technology
design that affects millions of lives.
I joined DWP motivated by this opportunity
to make a difference. I find myself working
with a team of colleagues who trust each
other and are determined to deliver critical
next-generation national infrastructure.”
A DWP spokesperson added: “The post of
chief technology officer will report directly to
the director General of technology Mayank
Prakash, as part of his executive team. This
role will combine leadership and technology
expertise to define the department’s
next-generation technology strategy, including
supporting the design of high-quality digital
services that focus on user needs.”
The role is currently being filled by Jon
Ayre, who has been the CTO at DWP on an
interim contract since August 2013. The role
is now being advertised as a full-time
position. Shortly after the appointment of
Ayre, the department appointed its first
director general for digital transformation,
with the job going to Kevin Cunnington.
The closing date for applications is
Monday 26
READ MORE:
January 2015.
tinyurl.com/lgtn4av
GT News
IT & COMPUTNG FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR– www.governmenttechnology.co.uk
two other London authorities.
The council has had an interim
CIO, Ben Goward, since June
2011, according to his LinkedIn
profile, but the role will be
deleted as of April this year.
Instead, Ed Garcez will become
the single CIO for the tri-borough
partnership established in December
2013 by Westminster, the London
Borough of Hammersmith &
Fulham and the Royal Borough
of Kensington & Chelsea.
All three councils are cutting roles
to reduce duplication, as they embark
on a plan to share a single IT division.
A report stated: “The disconnect
between the three sovereign ICT
functions, each with their own
processes, policies and procedures,
is an unnecessary overhead
introducing bureaucracy and cost,
and sometimes even providing
contradictory advice to service users.”
The boroughs believe scrapping
these posts and relying on one IT
department will save an annual
£6.55 million from 2017/18. They
claim to already be on track to save
£3 million by 2015/16 thanks to IT
services already being shared.
The new IT division will be led by
six executives responsible for digital
services, information management,
operations and enterprise architecture
among other things, costing a
combined £143,000 to establish.
The report added the new model
would enable greater co-operation
between the trio of councils, as
well as others who could benefit:
“The proposed model has been
designed to be inclusive and easy
to extend to further partners, and
there have already been some
successes in establishing wider
shared services and joint working.”
One example cited was a shared
mobile device security solution with the
boroughs of Westminster, Kensington &
Chelsea, Kingston, Lambeth and Sutton.
READ MORE:
tinyurl.com/pujrdrp
Volume 13.1 | GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE
101
Case Study
IT & COMPUTING FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR – www.governmenttechnology.co.uk
Redcentric offers a compelling way forward with IT
A few years ago, the public sector couldn’t buy
a positive PR story about IT. Over-spending
and over-running were the familiar criticisms,
with enterprise suppliers being rewarded
handsomely for not always delivering and
government departments being regularly
hauled over the coals by the National Audit
Office. Fast forward to 2014 and it’s a much
changed landscape, driven in part by the
recent austerity era’s focus on real value-formoney and substantive savings; in part by the
growing appreciation of Cloud computing;
and in part by the overhaul of government
IT procurement. The result? A leveling of the
playing field which has encouraged SMEs
to engage with the public sector on an
unprecedented level; a new spirit of innovation
and ‘can do’ thinking permeating across the
sector; and more and more projects going live,
but largely unheralded, that are delivering
new services and greater value to UK citizens.
But there’s still so much more potential
for IT as an enabler. Take data sharing and
collaboration for instance. Everyone knows
they should do more of it – it’s efficient, it
saves money, it can unlock exciting new
user services. But even if government is
ready to shift away from its traditional ‘silo’
mindset, its IT infrastructure isn’t. And we’re
not just talking different systems between
departments, we’re talking different systems
in a single department – multiple segmented
systems that are costly and complex to
manage and maintain, are often inefficiently
utilised, compounding the cost/waste issue,
and worst of all, provide poor or sub-optimal
environments for the sort of data sharing and
collaboration projects now being championed.
But whereas in the old era enormous
amounts of money and supplier resource
would have been thrown at the problem over
an inexcusably long period of time, today we
have the means to effect change and create
optimal environments quickly and affordably.
Thanks to the Digital Marketplace (formally
G-Cloud), suddenly buyers have access to
commoditised, fixed price solutions – tens
of thousands of them in fact, solutions that
leverage the Cloud to speed deployment and
underpin flexibility, and give departments a
real shot at getting the systems in place that
will support, rather than stifle, their innovation.
The agility, accessibility and affordability
of the SME proposition in this space are
understandably attractive. The biggest barrier
to making the final leap perhaps is the
concern about supplier delivery and capability.
But the track record of the enterprise
monoliths doesn’t offer much reassurance; if
your chosen SME partner can demonstrate
success and performance, evidence its
standards and accreditations, and offer you a
compelling route forward, then where is the
risk? Being stifled by an ageing, inflexible IT
infrastructure is arguably a much greater risk.
Effective sharing and collaborating doesn’t
just unlock operational efficiencies, it can
stimulate transformational projects for the
benefit of the citizenry. It would be a shame
if supplier prejudice stifled their success.
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.redcentricplc.com
REDCENTRIC.
PROVIDING CLARITY TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR THROUGH
TRANSPARENT CLOUD SERVICES AND ADVICE.
Redcentric is a leading UK managed services
provider delivering innovative technology
VQKORTQXGRTQFWEVKXKV[CPFGHƂEKGPE[#UCP
approved G-Cloud supplier, we’ve got experience
of the framework since version 1 and a proven
track record of implementing assured solutions to
IQXGTPOGPVQTICPKUCVKQPUVJTQWIJ)%NQWF
Download our G-Cloud Buyers Guide for advice on using the framework
www.redcentricplc.com/gcloud-buyers-guide.
0800 983 2522
info@redcentricplc.com
www.redcentricplc.com
102
GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE | Volume 13.1
WHAT’S BIG IN 2015
MICRO TRENDS
FOR THE NEW YEAR
Every year new technologies rise and fall; consumer attitudes
and behaviours change; challenges and opportunities present
themselves for businesses. The smart organisations are thinking
one step ahead and keeping their eyes open to spot these
changes before they happen. David Burgess of digital agency
Reading Room looks at what’s going to be big in 2015
One of the big business challenges for the
next few years will actually come from within.
A new generation, Generation Y, are now
entering the workforce. The ‘millennials’ are
used to a wholly different way of engaging
with people and tasks to previous workforce
generations. For them, email is no longer the
default for communication, spreadsheets
no longer the key way of managing workflow,
and word processing not as important as
blogging and online publishing. Organisations
that have spent so many years adapting to
the digital age will need to change again
to accommodate these new attitudes and
behaviours, or risk alienating (and not getting
the best out of) their millennial workforce.
Examples of the type of innovation required
might include social-style communication
interfaces for work projects; collaborative,
democratic online project management
software; mobile-first systems for finance,
timesheets, reporting or information
sharing; and even adapting to the “always
social” phenomenon of staying active on
social media even when in the midst of
workplace activities. Rather than resist,
organisations must embrace change and
address these issues in their strategic
planning and technical infrastructure. The
luddites risk missing the opportunity for
efficiency, attracting talent and operating as
an enterprise fit for 21st century success.
QUANTIFY THAT DRINK
Meticulously recording every meal, run
and bowel movement moves from Howard
Hughes to High Street. Over the past few
years apps and wearable tech from Nike,
Run Keeper, my fitness pal and more have
encouraged people to track everything from
BMI to regularity of dreams. The latest iPhone
and iOS bring this out of the realm of fitness
fanatics and dieters and into the mainstream.
With support for ever more life logging in a
completely passive and unobtrusive manner;
from a device that lives, works and sleeps
with you; intimate details of the nation’s day
are being gladly exchanged with your social
networks and by extension, with brands.
In return, you’ll feel connected with
family and friends in an entirely new
relationship. And you will gladly pay for
this connection with others by letting
data analysts and planners see inside your
day and start to change your experience
of the web, tailoring it to the profile you
have built through your lifelogging.
YEAR OF THE MICRO
Micro animation interactions in the interface
offer a much more smooth and considered
approach - this cinematic production
quality to information consumption will
see an end to the current pump and dump
approach of shoving information in front
of a user in the current web sphere.
Micro screens will redefine how we develop
our content: retina sharp images without
the bandwidth bloat; highly optimised
content for immediate Q&A scenario based
interaction; effectively a content strategy
approach ruthlessly streamlined to the
effectiveness of a twitter conversation.
Micro optimisations for boosting
performance will be the largest development
change in 2015. Varying data speeds and
need for timely information to interact
with scenario based wearable technology,
will require a level of optimisation
going beyond the normal desktop,
“load everything at the bottom”.
Coupling micro interactions, vector based
imagery, reaction served content and just-in-time
loading of required page components will
offer performance gains in double digits.
COMMUNITY TROLL HUNTERS
2014 was a popular year for Trolls – with
high profile court cases and media campaigns
from people who have been abused on social
networks including some highly unpleasant
behaviour, often targeted at women, and
including in extreme cases, death and rape
threats. Some ISPs and Social Networks have
been slow to respond to this and have either
claimed it’s not something they can police,
or they have acted but in a cack-handed
way: Facebook’s poorly thought-through
enforcement of its ‘real names’ policy being
case in point. The issue of trolling poses an
increasingly serious threat to the success
of social platforms with entire segments of
users being chased off certain networks or
even being put off social media altogether.
These users will not come back. Brands also
are starting to see association with social
channels as more risky due partly to a never
ending stream of negative news stories
associated with social media trolling. In 2015
the networks have to respond or they will face
an exodus of users to other platforms that
take the issues seriously and have worked
out how to control the trolls. The answer to
this challenge may lie in the strength of the
communities themselves to ‘self police’.
Government Technology
IT & COMPUTNG FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR– www.governmenttechnology.co.uk
CONTENT STRATEGY AND UX
FOR VOICE INTERACTIONS
As increasing numbers of voice interfaces
emerge, especially in the wearables/Internet
of Things space, more and more focus will
be aimed at how people and technology
interact through such things as verbal
commands and personal assistants. Take for
example the new Moto Hint that reads your
emails to you via an ear bud and runs on
an O/S that responds to voice commands.
For years, Call Centres have placed great
emphasis on the accents of their staff,
placing different product and service call
centres in different places depending
on people’s stereotypical perceptions.
Extrapolating from this, how do we
localise content spoken by machines across
different regions and languages? What
cultural considerations do we need to
take into account when designing a voice
interface, how do we incorporate commands
alongside conversations and introduce
them into home situations? And how will
people respond psychologically to objects
that speak and act independently?
BLURRED LINES
The online and offline environments have
never been more blurred together. Almost
every human activity whether work or
leisure has a connected element to it.
Joggers map their runs. Football stadiums
have wifi-ed up. Shops have their own
hashtags and selfie-spots. Not only has
tweeting and instagramming from live
events (or just anywhere) become standard,
but places that used to be immune to the
ubiquitous pervasion of online life have
given in. At conferences you’re no longer
told to turn your phone off, you’re told
to turn them on and get tweeting.
2015 could be the year when places such
as retailers and tourist destinations finally
figure out how to truly enrich people’s
experiences (and make money out of
them) by using mobile technology. !
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Burgess is managing director
of Reading Room, an international
award-winning digital agency.
For further information visit
www.readingroom.com
Volume 13.1 | GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE
103
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IT SOLUTIONS
ICT
XMA and Viglen
develop, deliver
and maintain
innovative IT
solutions that
enhance how
people learn,
teach, govern,
deliver healthcare
and do business.
They have are
a team of over 500 specialists,
based across the UK in a business
that has over 70 years combined
experience, with strong roots and a
deep understanding of the markets
in which they work. As part of an
independently owned British group,
XMA and Viglen have strength
and stability with nimbleness
and an entrepreneurial spirit that
challenge traditional approaches.
Principle offices are in London,
Reading and Nottingham with
regional bases in Altrincham,
Halifax, Glasgow and Cwmbran.
They have national reach and
a local touch. XMA and Viglen
are proud to have onshore UK
You can’t predict when
or how your citizens
will try to interact with
you but you can ensure
that you deliver the
round-the-clock service
that they expect and provide
them with the information
that they need, even if an
emergency means that you’re
required to handle thousands
of enquiries at the same time.
“Communications
Integration”™ is the principle
through which Content Guru is
revolutionising citizen-facing
interactions. Its cloud-based
storm® platform integrates
multi-channel communications
with public sector information
systems, seamlessly feeding
relevant data into and out from
both automated and human
interactions and providing an
efficient, centralised hub which
instantly connects citizens, staff
and information, breaking down
the traditional siloes of data
which can stifle the effectiveness
XMA and Viglen – a
Handling unstructured
compliant route to purchase demand in the public sector
manufacturing facilities and world
class vendor partnerships, with
broad service delivery capabilities
on the ground and in the cloud.
XMA and Viglen are a compliant
route to purchase, with presence
on local and national frameworks
for hardware, software, supplies
and services. Accreditations with
BSI - ISO 9001, 14001, 20000-1 and
27001 - are a hallmark of excellence
and demonstrate our focus on
meeting quality, environmental,
service and information security
management standards.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Tel: 0115 8464000
www.xma.co.uk
DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT
DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT
Xerox offers a wide range of
scanners that cover all Workflow
segments – Mobility, Desktop,
Workgroup, Network and A3
production. Some of the benefits
which set the company apart from
its competitors are ease-of-use,
flexibility and value for money.
Xerox Scanners have recently
been named as “Company of
the Year” for its line of Xerox
DocuMate® scanners by Document
Manager Magazine, who also
selected the Xerox DocuMate 5445
as its Workgroup Imaging Product
of the Year, making this the 4th
award the scanner has won.
The impressive software
packages included with the range
include functions such as:
Visioneer OneTouch: an easy
to use utility that connects
the buttons on the DocuMate
scanner with a powerful set of
scanner settings – so that with
one touch, the document is
scanned to popular destinations.
Visioneer Acuity uses advanced
algorithms and dynamic
Across
government it is
becoming clear
that information
and how we
use it is the key
to providing
intelligent
services that are responsive
to a changing population
with diverse needs.
If information is made
available digitally then it can
drive significant increases in
productivity. Digital information
can be shared securely and
leveraged far better than a stack
of paper sitting on a shelf.
Leading document management
company, MISL Limited, is
pioneering a new approach to
the digital challenge by providing
a complete solution. The best
approach varies according to the
organisational context. Scanning
everything might be the best
approach or maybe the focus
should be on selectively scanning
some records while storing others
Xerox® DocuMate® –
award winning scanners
thresholding, which enables your
scanner to instantly improve the
visual clarity of every document that
you scan. The technology behind
Acuity is clever, but for the user
it’s simple to achieve crystal clear
results with the touch of a button.
Nuance OmniPage Pro provides
a precise OCR and layout
retention solution, quickly
turning scanned documents
into editable, formatted text.
PDF Converter creates industrystandard PDF files from virtually
any PC application instantly
Office Gemini Dokmee Capture
production scanning software
provides all the features
required for document capture,
processing and reporting.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Tel: 0870 774 4480
www.xeroxscanners.co.uk
Products & Services
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
of your citizen services.
This enables citizens to selfservice through the channels of
their choice, whether through
automated SMS updates on
roadworks, real-time web chat on
paying taxes, automated out-ofhours voice prompts for finding
out opening hours, email to track
case progress, or social media
to feedback on new services.
Through its work with a variety
of public sector bodies, from
local authorities through to
central government departments
and agencies, Content Guru is
spearheading this multi-channel
revolution to end the challenges
of unstructured demand.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Tel: 01344 852 350
info@contentguru.com
www.contentguru.com
MSIL document management
mantra - Your data, your way
and focussing more on capturing
information digitally at source.
MISL provides a range of
services from storage and
large volume scanning to day
forward document capture.
MISL also offers a state of the
art, secure, EDRM system that
can be provided via the cloud
or installed on your servers. This
includes the management of
paper file locations with tablet
based access to information.
Your move to digital, with
MISL’s help, can deliver huge
benefits in a cost effective
way. MISL’s mantra is simple:
Your data, your way.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Tel: 01992 470 060
www.misl.co.uk
Volume 22.1 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE
105
Products & Services
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT
DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT
Government departments
and agencies need to manage
incoming paper and electronic
information, documents
and data to be efficient and
streamline business processes.
Document Logistix has twenty
years’ experience providing
document management solutions
to suit government offices,
both off-the-shelf and tailored
to the way you do business.
The company’s government
document management
technology helps with information
capture, imaging, storage,
sharing, retrieval and retention.
Its solutions also enable
customers to review and optimise
their workflow using simple drag
and drop techniques that require
no programming expertise.
Government knowledge
workers typically gain back
the day they lose using less
effective systems, and more if
they are currently paper based.
Most importantly, the company
will listen to your needs and
Businesses everywhere are
increasingly reliant on data. Indeed,
organisations are giving increasing
management time to how they
safeguard this most prized of assets.
They know that they require their
data to be stored and managed
safely and securely and in a way that
complies with the latest legislative
directives whilst at the same time
observing budgetary pressure
to keep costs to a minimum.
Hugh Morell spent two years
researching this business sector
during which time he visited data
management centres up and down
the UK; he wanted to ensure his
business would provide the right
products and services to the right
customers at the right price and
for the business to be the best
that the industry had to offer.
It was in 2009 that he established
IDSL – now a leading supplier
within the Electronic Document
Management sector with five
years continued growth and 20
years expert industry knowledge
and experience in all areas of the
Government document
management solutions
objectives and help you to find
the right solution to manage
your documents for internal
and external system users.
Think about the future. If you are
looking for an integration partner
and document management
software specialist, choose one
that allows you to make changes
in the future. Government agencies
and departments naturally
change systems periodically,
for budget or performance
reasons, or to standardise
platforms after a merger or
rationalisation. Document
Manager integrates with other
leading systems and allows you
the freedom to migrate in future.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Tel: 01908 366 388
info@document-logistix.com
www.document-logistix.com
DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT
DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT
Today too many business
processes rely on people being
in their offices to receive and
ink-sign paper documents.
This slow and traditional
approach does not meet
the demands of modern
interconnected businesses looking
for lowest cost, low carbon, fast,
efficient and secure solutions.
Ascertia changes this paradigm
and provides secure document
workflow and digital signature
approval using its SigningHub
service or on-premise product.
Business processes need not be
delayed anymore – documents
can be securely reviewed and
approved from anywhere.
SigningHub simplifies the
approval process for quotes,
orders, agreements, any sensitive
documents, HR and compliance
documents; in fact anything
requiring secure review and
a signature. Documents can
be digitally signed by anyone
you know, at any time, from
anywhere using laptops, iPads,
Cognitronics is a British
Company specialising
in automated
business solutions by
utilising data capture
software technology
and if required
scanning equipment.
Cognitronics has been providing
solutions to its customers for
well over 30 years, including
invoice processing;
classification and indexing;
BACS reconciliation;
payment processing; voucher
redemption; structured/semistructured form processing
and other such applications.
The solutions will take your
business critical data from
paper documents, fax and
email (including attachments)
and export validated captured
data to your information
management system, quickly
and reliably, allowing you
to optimise your business
performance and in most cases,
show a significant return on
SigningHub – the most
secure way to sign
106
IDSL – expert data capture
and conversion services
phones and other mobile devices.
SigningHub delivers the assured
authenticity, privacy and data
integrity needed to meet internal
controls requirements. It also
provides traceability and audit
services to meet legislative
and regulatory requirements.
Beyond its obvious green
credentials, the savings are
substantial when compared with
the costs of printing, sending,
scanning, faxing, courier charges,
plus any resends, errors, omissions
etc. SigningHub frees people to
do more business rather than
wasting their time chasing paper.
FURTHER INFORMATION
info@ascertia.com
www.ascertia.com
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 22.1
Document Management sector,
ranging from simple box storage
to all paper & film based media
scanning to online & server based
document management systems
to certified data destruction.
Operating from bases throughout
Britain, IDSL now provides clients
with the latest contemporary and
economically dependable form of
outsourcing available. The firm is
capable of assisting any company
or organisation with the installation,
revising and coordination of their
document and data workflow
systems. IDSL has the experience to
deal with all sizes and kinds of data
capture and conversion projects.
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.idsl.org.uk
Tel: 0800 334 5792
Automated business
solutions from Cognitronics
investment within 12-18 months.
All solutions are based on
proven core software platforms
developed by Cognitronics
developers, with each solution
modified to fulfil your exact
requirements and more.
The emphasis placed on
fast, efficient responses and
short lines of communications
has earned a reputation for
excellence in the customer
support role and this, coupled
with providing outstanding
value for money will remain a
priority within the company’s
operations in the future.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Tel: 01909 477272
www.cognitronics.co.uk
RISK MANAGEMENT
DEBT RECOVERY
secure system
for creating,
storing and
accessing your
Business Continuity and Disaster
Recovery Plans or assistance
migrating from a legacy platform,
Savant’s team of experienced
software professionals can help.
Savant’s Mataco business
continuity system ensures that
an organisation’s business critical
data is easily accessed from
anywhere at any time. Secure
remote hosting with easy access
from internet and/or mobile
devices ensures you always have
the information you need at your
fingertips. Migration services
can help you move smoothly
and seamlessly from your ‘out
of support’ legacy system to a
new system, providing peace of
mind and future proofing for your
business. Software development
is Savant’s core specialism - it
has experience developing and
Face2Face Contact is the
expert in the management
of a wide range of specialist
field-visiting services,
including vacant property
checks, property assessments
and information gathering,
account rehabilitation,
financial means-testing,
commercial site surveys, document
exchange and licence checks.
Using a combination of the
company’s bespoke External
Visit Application system, latest
handheld technologies and agent
management systems, Face2Face
Contact provides a secure and
reliable end-to-end service over the
life cycle of its clients’ accounts.
Face2Face Contact works in
partnership with all of its clients,
integrating and complementing
each of their processes with its
own while offering complete
understanding of, and compliance
with, any industry regulations.
Risk management software Face2Face Contact – for
when you need the right
solutions you can trust
Whether
people in the right places
you need a
maintaining business critical
software systems for the public
sector. The company’s expertise
enables it to deliver software
on schedule and to budget
time after time. 24/7 support
services for business critical
systems are also offered.
Savant has been in business
for 30 years delivering the very
best in software solutions. It
works closely with clients to
ensure that it understands their
requirements and prides itself on
delivering cost effective, quality
solutions to help clients deliver a
successful, profitable business.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Tel: 01524 784400
Email: salesandmarketing@
savant.co.uk
www.savant.co.uk
RISK MANAGEMENT
Products & Services
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
The company provides a
solution which safeguards your
reputation with a focus on
speed, accuracy, security and
quality – all resulting in improved
performance for its clients.
Face2Face Contact can provide
full UK coverage on both residential
and commercial sites. Its highly
trained internal staff and field
representatives manage high
volumes of work on a daily basis,
within strict service levels.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Tel: 01789 413710
a.flynn@face2facecontact.co.uk
www.face2facecontact.co.uk
SECURITY
Improving IT efficiency and Your one-stop-shop for
ROI whilst reducing risk
security consumables
Take control of Database, Server
& Application monitoring,
maintenance & administration with
WellData’s specialist IT Support
Services. With one of the largest
support teams in the UK, WellData
guarantees systems are constantly
running at optimum levels, for less
than the cost of in-house staff.
Keeping up with the ever evolving
IT world is a daunting task,
one which requires dedication,
expertise and experience. By
employing WellData, Public Sector
organisations benefit from a vast
knowledge base, years of hands on
experience, and continuous staff
training & development, ensuring a
level of technical and professional
ability which is difficult to replicate.
WellData has been working
alongside Government and Private
Sector organisations since 1999
and continually strives to reduce the
risk associated with IT operation,
administration and expenditure.
As well as being an Oracle and
Microsoft partner, WellData has held
ISO accreditations in Information
Security, IT Service Management
and Quality Management for six
consecutive years, making them an
IT Service provider you can trust.
With guaranteed response
times, improvements in service
and efficiency, and low cost,
unlimited, all-inclusive flexible
contracts - the decision to switch to
WellData should be an easy one.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Tel: 020 8247 4462
enquiries@welldata.co.uk
www.welldata.co.uk
Access Cards is a one-stop-shop
for all security consumables.
Access Cards supplies at
discounted rates cards from
manufacturers such as HID,
TDSI and Paxton as well as all
ribbon cartridges from leading
printer manufacturers, NHS
logoed lanyards and Yo-yo reels.
Healthcare environments
present particular challenges
for security and facilities teams
managing access for temporary
staff, particularly when those
staff are playing a critical patient
care role. Access Cards responds
to your last minute requirements
efficiently with same day and
next day deliveries either to
your office or directly to new
members of staff. Templates for
different departments are created
and Access Cards holds agreed
amounts of pre-printed cards.
This approach not only improves
efficiencies but reduces costs for
clients by more than 20 per cent.
Access Cards guarantees to
identify and supply any card.
If you are not sure what card
technology is used on your
estate then call Access Cards
or send a sample card to
Access Cards, 25 Southampton
Buildings, London, WC2A
1Al for identification and
estimate quoting your name,
organisation and email address.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Tel: 0203 151 0200
www.accesscards.co.uk
Volume 22.1 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE
107
Products & Services
108
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT
Xerox DocuMate –
award winning scanners
®
Xerox offers a wide range
of scanners that cover all
Workflow segments – Mobility,
Desktop, Workgroup, Network
and A3 production. Some
of the benefits which set
the company apart from its
competitors are ease-of-use,
flexibility and value for money.
Xerox Scanners have recently
been named as “Company of
the Year” for its line of Xerox
DocuMate® scanners by Document
Manager Magazine, who also
selected the Xerox DocuMate 5445
as its Workgroup Imaging Product
of the Year, making this the 4th
award the scanner has won.
The impressive software
packages included with the
range include functions such as:
Visioneer OneTouch: an easy
to use utility that connects
the buttons on the DocuMate
scanner with a powerful set of
scanner settings – so that with
one touch, the document is
scanned to popular destinations.
Visioneer Acuity uses advanced
algorithms and dynamic
®
thresholding, which enables
your scanner to instantly
improve the visual clarity of
every document that you scan.
The technology behind Acuity is
clever, but for the user it’s simple
to achieve crystal clear results
with the touch of a button.
Nuance OmniPage Pro provides
a precise OCR and layout
retention solution, quickly
turning scanned documents
into editable, formatted text.
PDF Converter creates industrystandard PDF files from virtually
any PC application instantly
Office Gemini Dokmee Capture
production scanning software
provides all the features
required for document capture,
processing and reporting.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Tel: 0870 774 4480
www.xeroxscanners.co.uk
OUTDOOR PLAY
Outdoor clothing for
children of all ages
As the importance of outdoor
play once again dominates the
headlines, enabling children
to enjoy the many benefits of
outdoor play or ‘green exercise’
remains the motivation behind
Kozi Kidz’ advanced range of
outdoor clothing. Designed to
enable children to play outdoors
in all conditions, Kozi Kidz’ awardwinning PU range offers 100 per
cent protection from wind and rain.
Perfectly suited to use in
nurseries, pre-schools or forest
school environments, Kozi Kidz
has introduced the colourful and
practical Essential Rain Sets.
Each set is made from stretchy
PU fabric and is 100 per cent
waterproof to 5,000mm for
complete peace of mind that the
wearer will remain warm and dry.
Advanced features including
fully welded seams and a robust,
poppered storm flap ensure that
even the smallest droplet of water
won’t seep through. Designed
by experts in Scandinavia each
Essential Rain Set also benefits
from a peaked hood that offers
optimal vision and weather
protection around the face. For
a comfortable and secure fit, the
trousers feature adjustable, clipoff braces as well as foot stirrups
that can be secured under a boot.
Kozi Kidz is also firmly
focused on the child’s safety,
adding crucial features such as
reflectors for increased visibility
and a detachable hood.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Visit Kozi Kidz at the
Education Show 2015, stand
H10 or visit the website:
www.kozikidz.com
TELEMATICS
URBAN REGENERATION
Independent, expert
advice on Telematics
Leading the way towards
a ‘zero waste’ future
Telematics Consultancy
Services provides services
for companies planning to
implement vehicle tracking
and telematics solutions.
If you have a vehicle fleet,
chances are you are either thinking
of implementing a Telematics
solution or have an existing system
in place and want to understand if it
is delivering operational efficiencies
or a return on investment.
As telematics solutions become
more advanced the choice can be
overwhelming. Implementing a
solution right first time is critical.
The key to telematics making a
change in fleet performance from
either an operational or financial
requirement is to initially define
your needs and the key objectives
of your fleet. This is just the starting
point and at this stage benchmarks
Leafield Environmental is an
award-winning UK designer and
manufacturer of plastic recycling,
litter, grit bins and bollards, with
over 20 years’ experience. The
company delivers consistent,
high quality, tailor-made recycling
and highway solutions for local
and parish councils, healthcare,
education and other public sector
services. All products are designed
and manufactured under one roof
by skilled designers and engineers
with a strong commitment
to improving efficiency and
reducing environmental impact.
Leafield’s new bespoke designs
include a revamp of its best-selling
Heritage Square litter bin with
a new signage kit, to provide
flexible poster space for community
campaigns, special events or
advertising. The company has also
launched a stylish multi-waste
recycling range in collaboration
with Bath Spa University for its
newly developed halls of residence.
A unique anti-microbial pedal
of performance can be created for
critical ongoing measurements of
operational and financial benefits.
Telematics Consultancy Services
helps companies achieve this
by providing independent
expert advice from initial ideas
through to implementation.
If you are just thinking about
what telematics can do for you,
Telematics Consultancy Services
can help define your company’s
objectives, document your
requirements, identify suppliers
and verify their proposals, project
manage your implementation
and review progress against
the original objectives. A
right first time approach.
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.telematicsconsultancyservices.co.uk
info@telematicsconsultancyservices.co.uk
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 22.1
operated bin which meets the
cleanliness and infection control
regulations in the health industry
has recently been designed and
Leafield’s bollards range includes
both modern and traditional
styles, road sign bollards and
night owl traffic bollards.
A personalisation service to include
bespoke branding, straplines
and logos etc is also offered.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Tel: 01225 816500
comms@leafieldenvironmental.com
www.leafield-environmental.com
Posters used for illustrative
purposes only
HEALTH & SAFETY
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
ActiveSHE is a lifecycle
system that actively
manages all aspects
of your proactive and
reactive safety, health
and environmental
operations.
With powerful and
interactive workflow
management, reporting
and analysis capability,
the fully featured
web-based system
addresses both leading
and lagging indicators.
From behavioural
safety and occupational
health to audits and
site inspections, its
exceptional scope
enhances, supports and optimises
SHE strategies, policies, procedures
and activities across the board.
Simple to implement and easy
to use, ActiveSHE provides peace
of mind and productivity. It plays a
key role in ensuring and evidencing
legal compliance, minimising
personal and corporate risk and
responsibility, and drives productive
For over twenty years, Rapierstar
has led the market in the design
development and supply of
technically advanced fixings and
building maintenance solutions,
to both trade and industry
throughout the UK and beyond.
Rapierstar has maintained
its reputation via a proven
combination of innovative
and cost effective solutions,
comprehensive stockholding
and exceptional quality –
exceeding UK and EU standards.
A leading, in-house development
and test facility and prompt
delivery capability, all combine
to give Rapierstar customers
outstanding levels of service.
The award-winning specialist
screws and fasteners include
the STARPVCU carbon steel and
corrosion resistant stainless
steel window screws, STARFIX
plug-free masonry fixings and
STARTURN universal timber
screws to name a few. Many
of the specialist wood and
masonry screws feature the
patented STARFORM thread,
ActiveSHE helps drive
profitable operations
and profitable business operations.
It is also a superb resource for
tender responses, with any required
information effortlessly collated.
ActiveSHE – a product
developed by measure2improve.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Tel: 01884 841884
www.measure2improve.co.uk
DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT
Government document
management solutions
Government departments
and agencies need to manage
incoming paper and electronic
information, documents
and data to be efficient and
streamline business processes.
Document Logistix has twenty
years’ experience providing
document management solutions
to suit government offices,
both off-the-shelf and tailored
to the way you do business.
The company’s government
document management
technology helps with information
capture, imaging, storage,
sharing, retrieval and retention.
Its solutions also enable
customers to review and optimise
their workflow using simple drag
and drop techniques that require
no programming expertise.
Government knowledge
workers typically gain back
the day they lose using less
effective systems, and more if
they are currently paper based.
Most importantly, the company
will listen to your needs and
objectives and help you to find
the right solution to manage
your documents for internal
and external system users.
Think about the future. If you are
looking for an integration partner
and document management
software specialist, choose one
that allows you to make changes
in the future. Government agencies
and departments naturally change
systems periodically, for budget
or performance reasons, or to
standardise platforms after a
merger or rationalisation. Document
Manager integrates with other
leading systems and allows you
the freedom to migrate in future.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Tel: 01908 366 388
info@document-logistix.com
www.document-logistix.com
Building maintenance
solutions from Rapierstar
Products & Services
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
which lowers drive in torque
and reduces assembly time
– without pre-drilling.
Latest products include
PROSHIELD™, a water repellent
environmentally friendly masonry
treatment that is quick and easy
to apply. It penetrates to provide
breathable, invisible protection
from damaging water ingress.
As well as maintaining building
structures, it has the added
advantage of increasing the
thermal efficiency of treated
homes – at a fraction of the cost
of more elaborate solutions.
FURTHER INFORMATION
info@rapierstar.com
www.rapierstar.com
DESIGN & BUILD
Child safe paint, stains and
lacquers from Spectral
Formerly known as West
Country Finishes, Spectral
Coatings specialises in the
manufacture of non-toxic child
safe paint, stains and lacquers.
The company’s products offer
a range of benefits including:
non-toxicity; non-flammability;
low odour; higher solids levels
with faster drying times; ease
of use, and; quality of finish.
The company prides itself on
giving a first class service, and the
products speak for themselves
when it comes to their ease of
use and the simplicity of washing
all equipment out in water.
All products in the bright
colour range are high opacity
waterbased acrylic paints and
stains, and are by far the most
popular and versatile products.
As such they are the number
one choice of the toymaker,
craft worker, concrete garden
ornament manufacurer and
Design and Technology teacher.
They are ideal for use on
MDF, soft and hardwoods,
styrofoam, plywoods, resins etc.
They give a semi gloss finish
and can be overcoated with
Gloss Lacquer to give a high
build gloss finish if required.
The BS penetrating bright
water stains are manufactured
as a concentrate, meaning
you simply dilute with water
until you achieve the colour
strength you require. They
will not leach or bleed. The
company also supplies the
new EN71/3 Certificate.
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.spectralcoatings.co.uk
spectralcoatings@btconnect.com
Tel: 01626 867973
Volume 22.1 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE
109
Advertisers Index
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
SW Locums Recruitment o f temporary/permanent staff, S pecialist Recruitment
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ADVERTISERS INDEX
The publishers accept no responsibility for errors or omissions in this free service
Access Control Technology 69
Access Credit Management 28
Access Security Cards
107
Andreas Stihl
50
Antalis
76
Ascertia
106
Bateaux London
92
BBA Energy
54
Blue Fin Venue
86
Box-IT UK
49
BPF British Plastic
Federation
12
Brugg Pipesystems
65
BW Legal
30
Carat A Division of NS&I IFC
Cardinus Risk Management 74
Centerprise International
68
Chas 2013
58
Chelsea Physic Garden
92
Cirrus Research
74
Cognitronics
106
Constant & Company
30
Content Guru
105
Corporate Risk
35
Crystal Curtains
52
Direct Telecom Services
66
DMS Protective Equipment 104
110
Document Logistix
106
Epicuro
60
Eurisko
16
Face 2 Face Contact
107
Fibre Grid
74
Fibre Technologies
IBC
Ford
10
Frontier Software
14
G.F. Smith
80
Gemserv
64
Green Office Supplies
84
Hayter
BC
HCL Tehcnologies
22
Herbert Berger at Innholders 90
Heritage Envelopes
80
Holland Bulb Market B.V
52
Inoxantua
73
Intelligent Telematics
40
International (Digital
Solutions)
106
Itrinegy
24
Johnson and Starley
64
Judge & Priestley
26
Kozi Kidz
108
Kyocera Document
Solutions
8, 16, 25, 49, 83
Lamport Gilbert
82
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 22.1
Leafield Environmental
Lexis Nexis
London Event Operations
MAG:NET Solutions
Magic Internet
Mapei UK
Mash Media
Measure 2 Improve
Melia Whitehouse Hotel
MISL
My School Awards
Nissan
Oryx Align
Paperline
Parseq
Premier Guarantee
Proludic
Rapierstar
Reade Signs
Rebo BV
Redcentric
Reintec
Restore
Risk Management
Rivo Software
Savant
Scarab Sweepers
108
18
98
30
39
62
94
109
92
46
30
36
24
71
44
56
13
109
38
54
102
70
48
35
34
107
96
Shocklogic
96
Sign 2000
78
Software For People
16
Source That
82
Spearhead Machinery
52
Spectral Coatings
109
Spence & Partners
20
St Martin-In-The-Fields
93
STIKI
34
Summit Energies
54
Sunedison UK
64
Suregreen
52
SW Locums
110
Telematics
Consultancy
42, 108
The National Plant and
Equipment Register
42
The Senator Group
6
Thistle Marble Arch Hotel 88
Trinity House
93
Vantage Point Group
96
Venus Business
20
WellData
107
Wilo UK
72
WIPRO
100
Xerox Scanners
105
XMA
105
Whatever your challenge,
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HoverPro MidSize Mowers/Flail
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Great for slopes up to 45o
Z-Master Zero Turns
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LT3340
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Find out more at www.toro.co.uk
Or to request a demo, contact 01279 603020 - sales@toro.co.uk