Hartlepool Borough Council Continues With Its Service Transformation Programme Through Partnership Extension With Northgate
26 March 2009
Northgate Managed Services secures two year contract extension worth £7m with Hartlepool Council for the provision of ICT Managed services for more than 2,500 users across its 124 sites.
Northgate Managed Services has been the Council’s preferred strategic ICT partner since 2001 and this extension is a clear endorsement of the success of that partnership and the company’s added value and professional capabilities. The Northgate partnership with Hartlepool Borough Council provides a key enabler to underpin the Council’s technology and efficiency strategy.
The extension clearly signals Hartlepool Council’s continued confidence in Northgate’s ability and in its capability to deliver innovative and target driven ICT solutions. Under the new contract, Northgate has been challenged to provide a more mobile, greener ICT programme, which still supports the Council in its drive towards Government’s efficiency targets
In response to this new direction, Northgate are working closely with the Council to introduce innovative solutions such as flexible and mobile working, Server and Desktop Virtualisation and a Wireless ‘Cloud’ throughout the borough. The use of virtualisation technology also supports the Council’s Green agenda and Northgate have also instituted an ICT Power Savings initiative in the Northgate data centre located on client premises, through a programme of server consolidation and virtualisation. Northgate also proposed to the Council that excess estate equipment, such as PCs and other mobile devices should be redeployed throughout the council and that a product life cycle plan be introduced to more efficiently manage the timely purchase of new hardware.
The 360-degree ICT Managed Service solution centres on a comprehensive ICT support function. Managed by a dedicated, on-site service team, Northgate has responsibility for the Council’s PC estate, networks, servers, emails and mobile technology.
Commenting on the contract extension,Andrew Atkin, Assistant Chief Executive with Hartlepool Borough Council, stated: "The decision taken in 2001 to select Northgate as our ICT strategic partner has been very successful. There has been a notable increase in user satisfaction and, by establishing a solid business relationship with Northgate based on a common understanding, we have been able to work together to improve ICT utilisation, and the way ICT supports effective service provision, across our whole range of services, improving customer access and moving forward with a range of new initiatives.
He continued, "The decision to extend Northgate's existing contract is based on the successes to date and predicated on a joint commitment from Northgate and HBC to work together to address the efficiency agenda and environmental policies. We look forward to continued successes for the Partnership during the remainder of the contract.”
James Turnbull, Managing Director of Northgate’s Infrastructure Solutions division added, “I am delighted that Hartlepool Borough Council has taken the decision to extend its partnership with us. The decision is a strong endorsement of the company and of the staff involved in the project. We have been working with the Council since 2001 in support of its diverse and developing business requirements. We remain dedicated to ensuring that our ICT solutions work to provide the Council with the flexibility and enhanced service capabilities needed to provide quality services to its ratepayers and to meet the efficiency targets set by Government. We look forward to advancing this relationship and would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Council on its many successes to date.”
