Better use of technology could save billions

Published by Danny Calogero for Fellows Associates in Local Government and also in Central Government, Communities, Education

The Government could save billions of pounds by making the most of its employees and getting the best out of existing technology, asserts a leading public services company today.

Northgate Public Services, which is the first organisation to be accredited by the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV) as a training provider, recently launched an innovative training programme for users of its Revenues and Benefits software. The programme is geared towards ensuring council employees are gaining the maximum benefit from the technology and achieving best practice.

The first employees are already enrolled on the course and Northgate anticipate that 100 people will be signed up by the end of the year. The training focuses on people, process and costs and aims to drive up standards, improve service delivery, and get better for less at a time of unprecedented demand.

The course, which is based online, allows students to practice and test themselves and to gain a certificate from Northgate following a moderated examination. It has been designed and developed in conjunction with West Oxfordshire District Council, the winner of the Excellence in Education, Training & Development title at the 2009 IRRV Performance Awards.

In an investigation, as part of its response to the fiscal challenge, Northgate found that there was widely differing performance in the use of software between the best performers and the worst. It argues that this experience is not isolated within public services and calculates that billions could be saved by better collaboration between government, their employees and software providers. 

Joe Bradley, Managing Director, Northgate Public Services, said today: “At a time of economic constraint, it is essential that no stone is left unturned in examining the way we can deliver better services for less. Our investigations show that not all of our customers are making the best use of our technology. Our training course has been set up to overcome this. We also want to involve end users more closely in the design and development of future software. By working together collaboratively we will not only deliver better systems but more effective services that reach out to all those who need them, especially the most disadvantaged in our communities.”

 -Ends-

For more information
Fellows’ Associates

Kathy Sutton                                               
+44(0)20 7324 6221; +44(0)7966 890401
Hannah Smith                                 
+44(0)20 7324 6222; +44(0)7949 421356

 
Notes to editors

1. Northgate Public Services is an innovative provider of transformation and improvement services to the public sector. It is committed to high quality public services that place individuals and their communities at their heart. Its knowledge and understanding of people’s needs are core to its business, as too, is its depth and breadth across public services.
2. Northgate’s task is to enhance public value through the intelligent use of people and technology; to understand why and what change is necessary; to provide new thinking leading to improved performance; and to link company rewards with positive outcomes for the communities for whom it works. It supports transformation through sustainable performance partnerships.
3. In the UK, Northgate works with ninety five per cent of local authorities, every police force, and a large number of health organisations, housing associations, utilities and transport companies. Founded in 1969, the company has more than 12,000 employees.