Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Newcastle and North Tyneside councils select Northgate

Northgate Information Solutions today announces that it will implement and support a new e-mail, calendar and archiving system for Newcastle and North Tyneside councils, following a joint procurement exercise designed to deliver efficiencies for both authorities.

The new system aims to deliver business benefits to both councils, enabling staff to work more efficiently and collaboratively, improving the resilience and security of data, and improving customer service.

With local authorities increasingly looking to improve outcomes for citizens through sharing services, the procurement was undertaken as part of an ongoing programme to strengthen partnership working between the two councils.

Under the five-year contract worth over £1.8 million, Northgate will provide infrastructure and services designed to deliver a secure and efficient e-mail, calendar and archiving system for Newcastle’s 7,000 users and North Tyneside’s 4,000 users.

Both councils will be provided with:

•a highly reliable system that prevents unnecessary downtime, with data stored off-site to facilitate business recovery;
•confidence in the security of their e-mail, through anti-virus, anti-spam and content filtering functions;
•efficient archiving processes, ensuring that data can be stored and retrieved in accordance with best practice.

Terry Goulding, Infrastructure Services Manager at Newcastle City Council, said today:

“We are pleased to be working with Northgate to deliver a robust and sustainable e-mail service for our staff. Through undertaking a joint procurement exercise with North Tyneside Council we have also realised additional efficiencies, and we look forward to strengthening this partnership further over the coming years.”

Steve Wride, Infrastructure Manager at North Tyneside Council, added:

“We are committed to providing staff across North Tyneside council with the information they need to support them in their work. Working in partnership with Northgate gives us confidence that our e-mail is being managed correctly, and we have worked closely with Newcastle City Council in order to deliver an efficient procurement.”

James Turnbull, MD of Infrastructure Solutions, added:

“Email should facilitate good communication for local authorities, not hamper it. With over 85 billion spam emails sent every day around the world, and councils increasingly concerned to meet best practice in relation to data protection, it is essential that hard-pressed staff are freed up to focus on what they do best – delivering responsive services to citizens. Our e-mail services are designed to support organisations in streamlining processes, reducing administration and improving communication, and we are delighted to be working with Newcastle and North Tyneside councils to do just that.”

-Ends-

For more info:

Fellows’ Associates:

Kathy Sutton
Tel: 020 7849 3403
Mob: 07966 890401
Email: ksutton@fellowsassociates.com

Naomi Stevenson
Tel: 020 7849 3508
Mob: 07966 890403
Email: nstevenson@fellowsassociates.com

Notes to Editors:

1. Northgate Information Solutions is a leading provider of ICT and managed services solutions and software to the public services, utilities markets and corporate markets. Whether business process outsourcing, full IT outsourcing or managing specific needs such as application or web-hosting, desktop management or data-centre systems, Northgate advises clients on how to maximise the value of their information technology assets. With divisional headquarters in Hemel Hempstead and Belfast, Northgate has 25 major offices across the UK and six international offices. Founded in 1969, the company has over 6,000 employees. www.northgate-is.com/managedservices