Reading Borough Council
Supporting the definition, sourcing and transition to new ICT services at Reading Borough Council.
In 2011, Reading Borough Council awarded a partnership contract for core ICT services to an IT outsource provider. This was for a full outsourcing arrangement, under which overall responsibility for the delivery of ICT services was transferred to that organisation, with minimal core ICT capability retained in the council.
With the contract due to expire, and no further provision for extension, it was essential that successor arrangements were put in place not only to maintain everyday operations but also to provide the critical foundations for the council’s ambitious digital transformation plans.
With limited time to design and transition to new service arrangements, Channel 3 Consulting was appointed through open competition as the council’s future ICT operating model design and transition partner.
Our role was to support the definition, sourcing and transition to new ICT services.
16 wards are served by the council Better lives.
233,000 people are served by Reading Borough Council
Better care. Better digital. www.channel3consulting.co.uk
What we achieved
Channel 3 successfully supported the council to acquire the four service towers within the planned budget outlined in the business case. These service towers included hosting, end user services, unified communications and networks. We made sure to establish favourable agreements across the supply chain to benefit the council and the residents of Reading. Through our efforts, we also ensured that meaningful social value commitments were included in the service contracts.
After completing the procurement process, developing a detailed business case and contracting the new services, we provided expert assistance to the council in smoothly transitioning to the new services. We worked closely with the existing provider, new suppliers and the Reading Borough Council team to minimise any disruptions to the regular ICT service while each service tower was being transferred.
“Channel 3 has supported with our design, planning, procurement and transition to new IT services. They achieved this at pace and in line with a compressed timeline, while achieving value for money and improving the quality of services that provide the foundation for digital public services for local people.”
How we did it
Channel 3 conducted a detailed discovery of the current ICT service across infrastructure, applications, commercials, interfaces, services and processes. This exercise provided the council with clarity on:
• Current services.
• Supplier commercial opportunities not yet leveraged.
• Visibility of risks.
• Awareness of opportunities, for example the visibility of solutions that could be terminated, transitioned or rationalised prior to transition.
Next, we assisted the council in creating a detailed plan for designing and delivering future services. This plan included the target operating model, delivery arrangements and a programme plan that encompassed the outline business case and commercial strategy.
After the council members approved the outline business case and recommended transitioning to a multi-sourced, best-of-breed model, Channel 3 provided commercial and procurement services to support the sourcing of new ICT service towers.
Channel 3's commercial services offered the council a strong strategy and plan to minimise commercial risks throughout the transition period. We established effective methods of engaging suitable suppliers who could provide solutions aligning with the council's objectives, timelines, and commercial flexibility.
Martin Chalmers, Chief Digital and Information Officer Reading Borough Council
Channel 3 is a diverse group of people that have one thing in common - a passion for using technology to improve people’s lives. Health and care is going through a fundamental shift towards using integrated services to deliver the best possible care when people need it. We feel that this shift should be focused on the needs of the populations we serve. It should be delivered using the best technology, enabling staff to operate at the top of their license and deliver the best experience for the public. Contact us using our online form or on LinkedIn to find out more about how we work.
