Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Hillingdon extends partnership with Northgate Information Solutions

The London Borough of Hillingdon today announces that it has selected Northgate Information Solutions to provide the hosting arrangements for its major financial systems, helping to reduce back-office administration for the council.

In a contract worth around £4 million over five years, Northgate will provide a central management, hosting and support service for six key business applications. Northgate already provides the council with its revenues, benefits and housing applications, and will now take over the hosting and support for these applications, together with the hosting of the council’s finance, social care and planning systems.

Northgate will also take ownership of, upgrade and maintain the council’s technology assets for these applications over the term of the contract. Flexibility and change management issues are also built into the agreement, enabling the council to proactively manage its requirements rather than simply respond to events.

Councillor Jonathan Bianco, Cabinet Member for Finance & Business Services at London Borough of Hillingdon, said:
“The council wished to create greater capacity to concentrate on service delivery with the successful supplier understanding our priorities and sharing our goals. Northgate demonstrated an understanding of the council’s vision and their depth of technology expertise.”

Terry Woodhouse, MD, Local Government at Northgate Managed Services, added:
“As the current provider of three of the council’s key service applications, Northgate is proud to deepen our relationship with Hillingdon and establish a true partnership, centred on the business needs of the organisation.

“Northgate’s vision is to provide high quality, value for money, ICT services that enable the council to achieve its objectives and make a real difference to both its staff and the citizens of Hillingdon.”

-Ends-

For more info:-

Fellows’ Associates:

Kathy Sutton
Tel: 020 7092 1801
Mob: 07966 890401

Alastair Whitehead
Tel: 020 7092 1806
Mob: 07930 566291

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.

2)Northgate works with four out of five UK local authorities, supporting excellence in e-government. Its systems are used in the management of over 1.5 million local authority and housing association properties; in the administration of more than £17 billion of revenues and benefits; and in electoral administration systems covering over 18 million people. 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 3,300 employees. www.northgate-is.com/managedservices

3)The services provided to Hillingdon include: technology refresh and provision of new hardware within a secure datacentre environment; resilient and secure data communication links; continuous server monitoring; printing services for the Finance, Revenues and Benefits applications; license management services; change management processes and a 24/7 Service Desk.

4)Hillingdon, situated to the west of London, is the second largest London borough, covering a total area of about 42 square miles and with a population of more than 240,000. Hillingdon is home to Heathrow, the world’s busiest airport, which caters for more than 60 million passengers a year. The council employs approximately 6,500 people, including schools' staff.