*UKHotViewsExtra* Harrow Council looks to the future with Version 1

For the last 15 years Harrow London Borough Council has been running its IT services via large-scale outsourcing contracts. This year it is taking a different approach to support its IT estate. It has recently appointed Version 1 as its partner to support its ambitions to transform services through digital technology.

With its contract with Sopra Steria coming to an end in October 2020, the council started considering its next steps, including the benefits of moving to a disaggregated model. The council decided to take some services back in house and started looking for a new IT partner.

Version 1 was selected after demonstrating the relevant knowledge, approaches and roadmaps for transition, transformation and innovation at the local authority—the value of the contract has not been revealed. The council was also impressed with the community-centric approach Version 1 took towards supporting the council through a dedicated Social Value Programme of work focused on improving the employability of residents in Harrow.

The company was awarded a two-year contract via G-Cloud for the Hosting, Application Maintenance and Support of the local authority’s IT Estate—it will commence delivery of the service in November 2020. The contract covers 310 managed applications, of which approximately 20 are key line of business, critical to the efficient running of the council’s services. Version 1 will help the council decommission its legacy data centre and move towards a public cloud focused approach utilising Azure. It will also help the council move core systems to SaaS delivery.

Speaking to TechMarketView, Ben Goward, Harrow Council’s Director of ICT, said the council's IT estate is in significant need for a refresh, but now has the opportunity to make a step change in its digital services. He stressed that Harrow Council is only at the beginning of the journey towards comprehensive digital transformation. It is about getting the basics right and creating the foundations for the future—fixing the plumbing. However, the council can apply the lessons learned from those local authorities that are further along their transformation journey and, working in partnership with Version 1, make a positive step change in IT services over the next few years. 

TechMarketView subscribers, including those signed up to UKHotViews Premium can find out more about Harrow Council's plans in UKHotViewsExtra: Harrow Council looks to the future with Version 1. If you are not yet a subscriber, please contact Deb Seth to find out how to access this and much more.

Posted by: Dale Peters at 09:00

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