Digital foundations across the entire organisation

Channel 3 works with NHS providers, local authorities, ICBs and national bodies to support their financial and operational ch enges related to their digital foundations.

Digital foundations services can address challenges and unlock opportunities across an entire organisation:

• Find ways to save money and reduce costs by using different methods to provide services.

• Make use of the latest technology.

• Address situations where technology is restricting the delivery of care, eg poor Wi-Fi and slow computers.

• Know how well your current IT system can handle your goals and stay within your budget.

• Determine if your existing IT system poses any significant risks.

• Understand the costs involved in improving your IT infrastructure and how to fund it.

• Prepare for the future, even if there has been a lack of investment and accumulated technical issues.

• Present a compelling argument for investment that your organisation will support.

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.

Channel 3 successfully supported Reading Borough Council to acquire four service towers within the planned budget outlined in the business case. 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 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.”

Martin Chalmers, Chief Digital and Information Officer Reading Borough Council