Glasgow has agreed a new IT contract that it says will transform digital services across the city.  The council confirmed it will enter a seven-year deal with IT and business consulting services firm CGI – the organisation that already provides services to the City of Edinburgh and Scottish Borders councils, as well as the Scottish Government.

The deal will secure support for the council’s own IT systems and “kick-start a step change in digital services required to support jobs, education, innovation and health for decades to come”, said the council. Glasgow City Council’s digital champion councillor Angus Millar said: “We have an opportunity to completely redesign how we use technology to improve the lives of all Glaswegians.

“From world-class digital learning in our schools, to protecting the health of our most vulnerable citizens – we need to innovate and be ready to embrace opportunities to use technology creatively to deliver for the city.

“Since approval of the outline business case in April, we have focused a great deal of attention on developing and refining the staffing model; to ensure the deal is right for the workforce and puts them right at the heart of driving forward change in our city.

“That includes establishing a Workforce Board, which I will chair, as a key part of the governance arrangements for the contract.”

Steve Thorn, president of CGI UK Operations said: “This is a very exciting award for CGI and we are delighted to partner with Glasgow City Council on this journey to enable the digital transformation of public services throughout Glasgow.”

The council agreed to award a contract to CGI earlier this year, subject to the completion of a full business case. The city has now accepted an offer from CGI that meets its requirements and both parties are working closely to conclude the deal and prepare for the start of the new contract in April next year.

Areas it covers include:

EDUCATION

  • Major network improvements, to maximise digital access.
  • A dedicated Digital Learning team will ensure Glasgow’s pupils benefit from world-class facilities and the best technological learning environment in the country.
  • All pupils from P6 onwards will be given their own tablet device.
  • New infrastructure to make Glasgow’s schools among the best connected in the UK – with all learners able to use their own devices.
  • Constantly-evolving ‘Classrooms of the Future’ – including innovation labs exploring new and emerging technologies to support out-of-school learning.
  • Code clubs and other coaching programmes.

JOBS & BUSINESS

  • Transform the job prospects of at least 700 Glaswegians by sponsoring software development training for 100 long-term unemployed people every year.
  • Deliver world-class connectivity to the city’s business incubators.
  • Maximise the opportunity for local SMEs to benefit from contract spending.

HEALTH & CARE

  • Increased support for data analysis will improve success rates in early intervention and better identify where assistive technology could help vulnerable people.
  • Improved access to technology will enable new ways of delivery care services; allowing more people to receive care in their own home.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

  • Dramatically increase the number of customer transactions that can be completed online – meeting modern customer expectations and reducing costs.
  • Improved high-speed and wireless connectivity for all city libraries – allowing digitally deprived citizens to access services and other residents and visitors to use their own devices.

INCLUSION

  • Tackle the digital divide by working with a local social enterprise to put decommissioned council devices into the hands of those without access to technology.

CGI is already a significant employer in Glasgow, operating an Open Digital Service Centre at the Inovo building in George Street.

The firm is also investing in developing a skilled city workforce in the longer-term, by providing employment and training opportunities for local young people. This includes sponsoring a degree programme at Glasgow Caledonian University, which enables students to study while developing a career.

The council said that staffing arrangements will protect the jobs, pensions and pay and conditions of the current workforce. Staff currently seconded from Glasgow City Council to Access will be able to retain that status, if they choose to – remaining council employees, seconded to CGI. It is also working with any staff members who wish to redeploy to other roles within the council, including those seeking a change in career or retraining opportunities.