Almost 500 jobs and 90 new apprenticeships have been created within a year thanks to work delivered through social enterprise and procurement expert Fusion21.
Celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, Fusion21 ensures its members, ranging from social housing associations to education and health providers, include social value targets as part of their projects such as creating local jobs and apprenticeship opportunities, voluntary work and community-focused initiatives.
Data crunched by Fusion21 reveals hundreds more jobs and apprenticeships have been created and retained this last year – alongside a raft of work placement opportunities, training courses and tailored careers advice for young people.
Data for the financial year 2022-23 shows:
1,504 people benefited from employment opportunities – including sustaining and creating new jobs and apprenticeships, for both full and part-time roles.
496 jobs were created – more than double the 214 the previous year. Of the 496 jobs created, 442 were full-time and 54 were part-time.
857 jobs were sustained (people remained in a role) compared to 554 jobs the previous year.
90 apprenticeships, in areas as diverse as surveying to fire risk assessment, were created compared to 68 the previous year.
62 apprenticeships were sustained compared to 40 the previous year.
Other benefits include education, careers advice and training opportunities.
This included 1,082 people embracing training courses, 275 people able to do work experience placements and 1,416 people able to attend mentoring, career advice and employability advice presentations and sessions.
Sarah Maguire
Suppliers and members using Fusion21 procurement frameworks also used their social value delivery to benefit communities by volunteering and donating to local good causes. Their generosity included donating to food banks, installing ramps at a local school to improve disabled access, creating communal garden areas and donating security equipment to a homeless shelter.
To date, Fusion21 has delivered more than £165 million in social impact and created more than 11,150 employment outcomes.
Sarah Maguire, Head of Social Value at Fusion21 told GPSJ: “These figures show just how impactful social value can be with our members and suppliers on our frameworks creating and sustaining hundreds of jobs, apprenticeships and incredibly valuable training opportunities and careers advice.
“The figures exceed targets and reflect the commitment of our members and supply chain to collaborate to achieve impactful social value.
“As Fusion21 celebrates its 21st year I could not be prouder to help our members to deliver social value they can see through intelligent procurement and take an outcome-driven approach to integrate social value into projects so communities as a whole can benefit from their projects.”
Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC) service provider, AVC Wise Ltd. (AVC Wise), has been awarded a place on the UK’s first and only Salary Sacrifice AVC Framework, and as the only approved supplier on the framework.
Portsmouth City Council has launched the new framework meaning other public sector organisations can seamlessly enter into a contract with a salary sacrifice AVC provider, without the need for a lengthy procurement process.
Councils can make savings and support staff’s financial wellbeing through salary sacrifice additional pension contributions more easily than ever.
This means that these organisations can provide further education and support around retirement planning and financial wellbeing to their workforce easier than ever before.
Shaun Tetley, Head of Pensions, Payroll and Reward at Portsmouth City Council told GPSJ: “We have been leading the way with additional voluntary contributions for some time, we firmly believe it’s a great move for staff and employers and we’re delighted to launch this framework that can help so many others benefit from it.
Numerous councils have said they’ve had difficulties procuring a supplier, and now they don’t need to worry about that as they can benefit from the work we’ve already done.
AVC Wise is the market leader for salary sacrifice AVCs and provides a fantastic service. Our framework will speed up staff getting benefits and employers saving money, which can only be good for the public sector”
“This framework is a game changer for public sector organisations.” explains Bobby Lyons, Head of Commercial and Strategy at AVC Wise. “It cuts out the lengthy tender process as all you need to do is identify your requirements, present these to us at AVC Wise, award a contract, and you’re on your way to offering your public sector employees the best retirement benefits possible. We’re constantly striving to make access to salary sacrifice AVCs as easy as possible for employees, and this is a huge step in the right direction in our mission to support the public sector and the financial wellbeing of their employees.”
Suppliers under this agreement are pre-qualified, which means that AVC Wise have met the appropriate mandatory and discretionary criteria as set out in the framework. For more information, please email info@avcwise.co.uk.
New V500 provides live-streaming of video and location for greater awareness, safety and efficiency on the frontline
Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) has unveiled the LTE-enabled V500 body camera, the newest addition to the company’s mobile video portfolio that brings critical real-time field intelligence to emergency response. The V500 body camera enables first responders to stream live video and location to the control room, giving incident managers a better understanding of events and helping them to respond quickly and efficiently. After an incident has been resolved, the V500 also streamlines evidential workflows through LTE-based footage offload and simplifies administration via remote maintenance over mobile networks.
V500 body camera
“Frontline teams face high-stress situations where their attention needs to be entirely focused on the scene,” said Jeremiah Nelson, corporate vice president, Response, Reporting & Evidence at Motorola Solutions. “The V500 gives control room staff ‘eyes-on-scene’ so they have clarity on what’s unfolding, to not only dispatch the appropriate help but capture a record of critical events. And now, everyone from IT technicians to evidence handlers can also benefit from this advanced LTE connectivity, by gaining access to footage as soon as it has been recorded and managing cameras from anywhere.”
The new body camera offers high quality video and audio capture and is equipped with an optional pre- and post-recording capability, helping to ensure there is a record of every interaction from start to finish. Along with the rest of the Motorola Solutions mobile video portfolio, the V500 body camera uses the VideoManager evidence management software to enable the secure handling, storage and sharing of evidence, either on-premises or in the cloud. Additionally, the V500 integrates with Motorola Solutions’ ecosystem of technologies, from radio and in-car video systems to control room solutions, as well as Holster Aware Bluetooth sensors which can activate video recording and live-streaming if an officer draws a weapon.
The analyst firm Frost & Sullivan recently awarded Motorola Solutions with the 2023 Global Product Leadership Award in the global body camera market. Following a thorough assessment of the global market, the analyst firm recognised that Motorola Solutions’ body camera systems outperform competitive solutions.
“For law enforcement and security personnel today, body-worn cameras are an essential tool to capture evidence and ensure transparency, and we expect to see continued growth in their adoption,” said Elizabeth Whynott, Frost & Sullivan best practices research analyst. “Motorola Solutions’ cost effective body-worn cameras are easy to use and integrate seamlessly into existing public safety technology.”
Motorola Solutions continues to make significant investments in advancing a comprehensive portfolio of video security and digital evidence management products so organisations worldwide can leverage the most information to make the best possible decisions.
About Motorola Solutions Motorola Solutions is solving for safer. We build and connect technologies to help protect people, property and places. Our solutions enable the collaboration between public safety agencies and enterprises that’s critical for a proactive approach to safety and security. Learn more about how we’re solving for safer communities, safer schools, safer hospitals, safer businesses – safer everywhere – at www.motorolasolutions.com.
HID’s Comprehensive Smartcard Solution to Secure Access to Device Data for Drivers, Law Enforcement and More
Helsinki Cathedral
HID, a worldwide leader in trusted identity solutions, has been awarded a contract to provide Finland with a new high-security drivers’ license cards and personalization services solution, incorporating the European second-generation smart Tachograph solution. This collaboration reflects HID’s commitment to enhancing security and efficiency in Finland’s transportation systems.
Finland will benefit from a comprehensive, tailor-made, and configurable solution that integrates software, hardware, and equipment to align with the Traffic Authority’s vision of a streamlined and efficient digital document issuance system.
For the project, HID has joined forces with CardPlus Systems, a trusted partner that provides secure ID documents, services, and systems, to ensure an exceptional driver’s license solution with industry-leading features.
Max Fogdell, Head of Services for Driving Licenses and Examinations at Finland’s Transport and Communications Agency, Traficom, stated, “The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, Traficom, is pleased to enter into a partnership with HID. We are convinced that with HID’s broad experience in the field of trusted identity solutions, we will be able to ensure that our card services continue to meet the highest level of security, efficiency, and compliance with the European Union’s safety regulations.”
Craig Sandness, Senior Vice President and Head of Citizen Identity & Secure Issuance expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “We are proud to collaborate with the government of Finland and contribute to the enhancement of the country’s driver’s license and tachograph systems. Our commitment to security and innovation is unwavering, and this contract is a testament to our dedication to safeguarding citizens and infrastructure.”
With the European Union’s new safety standards and tachograph regulations, commercial vehicles in the region are required to install second-generation tachographs by 2026. HID’s advanced solution fully complies with these stringent regulations and includes smartcards securing access to device data for drivers, law enforcement, companies, and workshops.
For additional information about HID’s ID Document Issuance solutions, please visit the website.
North Herts Council (NHC) is set to revolutionise its operations and enhance service delivery with the adoption of TechnologyOne’s Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) suite.
The comprehensive solution encompasses financials, supply chain management, Enterprise Asset Management (EAM), and Corporate Performance Management (CPM), establishing North Herts Council as a pioneer in digital innovation within the realm of local government.
TechnologyOne Executive Vice President, Leo Hanna
As local government in the UK battles rising inflationary pressures, North Herts recognised the need for a modern and integrated ERP solution to replace its legacy applications. The council conducted a thorough evaluation and selected TechnologyOne for its proven track record in delivering transformative solutions to the public sector. The integrated SaaS solution will help the council gain efficiency, increase transparency, and provide exceptional services to its constituents.
The inclusion of financials, supply chain, EAM, and CPM modules in the ERP suite ensures that NHC has a unified platform to manage its financial processes, streamline supply chain operations, optimise asset management, and enhance corporate performance reporting. This holistic approach enables North Herts Council to break down silos, improve decision-making, and drive operational excellence.
North Herts Council’s Service Director – Resources, Ian Couper, said: “We are entering a new era of efficiency and transparency in our operations with the adoption of TechnologyOne’s SaaS ERP suite. This comprehensive solution aligns with our vision for a modern and integrated approach to managing our resources and services and will help us deliver an exemplary experience for our communities.”
TechnologyOne Executive Vice President, Leo Hanna, said: “Thirteen years of budget pressures, more cuts expected, and rising resident demand for services amid the cost-of-living crisis are putting significant pressure on councils. The SaaS ERP model is tailored to meet the unique needs of local government bodies, providing them with the tools to enhance efficiency, transparency, and overall service delivery while lowering their costs.
“North Herts decision to implement our full ERP suite showcases their commitment to embracing innovation for the benefit of their community and we are thrilled to partner with them on their journey toward digital excellence.”
TechnologyOne partners with unitary authorities and district councils across the United Kingdom, including Blackpool Council, Conwy County Borough Council and Derby City Council.
It’s just over a year since the UK Government launched its Digital Strategy in June 2022, with ministers heralding the policy as a “vision for harnessing digital transformation and building a more inclusive, competitive and innovative digital economy”.
Beneath the bold statement, the government’s policy document states the importance of Digital Foundations being laid as the bedrock of its strategy. This ranges from critical infrastructure, such as high-speed broadband, to future-facing technology, including Artificial Intelligence.
Yet how are government organisations themselves aligning with their own digital strategy?
Research commissioned by Epson with 150 IT decision makers in central and local government organisations show as many as 98% say they are now familiar with the policy. Despite this high awareness, however, only a third (33%) state their organisation has fully transitioned to digital processes.
Many departments are already moving away from paper-based operations, instead converting documents and data to the cloud. Progress is being made. But with two thirds of IT government still on their digitalisation journey, there remains much to do.
Positive about the opportunities ahead
Our snapshot of views among the government’s IT leaders — the beating heart of government service digitalisation — reveals a largely confident and positive outlook on the journey ahead:
Confidence is high: More than a quarter (27%) say the process of digitisation (converting physical formats to digital) is at a very advanced stage, and nearly all (99%) are certain they can fully digitise workflows.
Paperless productivity: Almost a third (31%) strongly believe relying on paper documents lowers workforce productivity, so it’s not surprising to find that 98% use digital documents at their organisation and say they can be quickly searched or accessed by the workforce.
Green dreams: 97% agree that digitising documents, rather than retaining paper-based processes, can help their organisation achieve its environmental impact goals — another key target for governments globally.
These are the demonstrable benefits of digitisation, but IT leaders say there are other factors to consider in transitioning to a fully digital estate.
Hybrid working brings security into focus
Chief among those is information sharing, particularly as increasing numbers of workers blend home and office working. And it’s a particularly pertinent issue within government as, according to the Office for National Statistics, civil servants and other public sector employees are today more likely to have hybrid working patterns (35%) than their private sector counterparts (26%).
To bring some control over data and information, four in 10 (42%) government IT decision makers have instigated additional protections around document sharing outside of government buildings. The concerns primarily lie with paper documents, with almost a third (31%) of those surveyed believing that sharing and storing paper files is not secure, compared to only 9% for cloud-based files.
Digitising processes is evidently a driver of confidence in the secure sharing and storage of documents and data, particularly as only 8% of IT decision makers think digitalisation presents more of a security risk than paper-based operations.
This presents clear opportunities for IT leaders across central and local government organisations to take advantage of new technologies that not only bring efficiency, but also peace of mind.
A focus on the future
Most IT decision makers agree that the benefits of using digital documents eclipse those of sticking with paper-based processes. And a majority (72%) believe it’s possible for their organisation to digitise 100% of their documents in the future.
There’s a clear opportunity to make great strides across local and central government — and it’s an opportunity that extends to any business on their digitalisation journey.
Paper won’t disappear from workplaces in the near future, but it’s becoming increasingly important to enable those documents to be scanned, uploaded, and digitally shared — securely.
Understanding how digital workflows are used in your organisation is a good start to understand how you can lay firm digital foundations.
A well-executed home renovation goes beyond cosmetic repairs and surface-level aesthetics by delving into the structural bones of a home. This approach not only revitalises the house’s appearance but also enhances its overall efficiency and maintenance. Meaningful digital transformation also requires such an approach.
However, a recent report from Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee examines the government’s past digital transformation efforts and suggests previous projects prioritised style over substance. “Improvements in government’s digital services over the last 25 years have focused on citizens’ online experience, without substantially the ageing legacy systems that sit beneath departmental and government websites,” the report states. “These have resulted in services which, although they might look good on the surface, are costly and problematic to run.”
Previous digital transformation efforts have contributed to the government’s complex current operational environment, which mixes legacy, hybrid, and cloud technology. This environment makes it difficult for IT administrators to monitor and manage distributed network, cloud, system, application, and database infrastructure. In such circumstances, it isn’t unusual for different teams, departments, and agencies to acquire their own monitoring tools, creating toolset creep, inefficiencies, and even shadow IT concerns.
In this environment, the government needs to streamline its IT operations and prioritize end-to-end visibility across the IT stack. One long-term solution is observability, which provides centralised insights, automated analytics, and actional intelligence across on-premises and multi-cloud environments.
Here are a few ways observability goes beyond traditional monitoring, and some of the capabilities that can help government IT leaders efficiently manage hybrid IT complexity:
Centralise visibility and reduce tool sprawl
Traditionally, government organisations adopted a diverse set of best-of-breed products to monitor and manage different parts of their technology stacks. However, over time this approach has led to tool sprawl and escalating costs. Disparate monitoring tools also often result in information silos, conflicting data, and alert fatigue—all of which make it more difficult to pinpoint and resolve IT issues or outages.
Observability provides end-to-end oversight of service delivery and component dependencies across on-premises, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments. Through a single pane of glass, teams can receive health scores and insights across networks, applications, databases, and systems. This fully integrated view enables IT teams to identify and diagnose service issues and determine root causes more efficiently.
Having a single source of truth for the entire IT environment also eliminates the need for other piecemeal monitoring and IT management tools, helping reduce tool sprawl and optimise IT spend.
Gain foresight with AIOps
Observability solutions can apply cross-domain correlation, machine learning, and artificial intelligence for IT operations (AIOps) to analyse data from across the entire IT environment, resulting in deep but digestible insights into network operations. With this intelligent view of an organization’s sprawling infrastructure, government IT administrators can reduce alert noise and accelerate issue remediation.
AIOps-powered observability also allows administrators to anticipate network issues, detect anomalies, and proactively address issues before they impact availability, the employee experience, and day-to-day operations. Machine learning technology also means the solution will continually learn and improve its intelligent alerting capabilities over time.
Modernise while maintaining support for legacy systems As the UK central government aims to accelerate more meaningful, end-to-end digital transformation and modern technology investments, the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) has published its digital roadmap to 2025, Transforming for a Digital Future. The plan appropriately prioritises decommissioning and migrating ‘high risk’ legacy systems. However, legacy IT systems deemed lower risk will likely remain in place for some time, meaning IT admins will still need to manage complex hybrid environments.
Teams should look for an observability solution that can seamlessly onboard new applications, services, and infrastructure while still providing comprehensive visibility into the legacy apps and systems many government agencies still rely on. With AIOps, observability can also help uncover dependencies between disparate systems, making it easier to identify changes affecting application and service delivery. By leveraging an observability solution that can be self-hosted or in the cloud, government agencies can select the deployment option that works best for them now and in the future.
The recent Public Accounts Committee report underscores how previously prioritising front-end modernization over legacy systems has contributed to the government’s complex operational environment. To address this complexity and prepare for more sweeping digital transformation efforts, IT teams should prioritise observability. With end-to-end visibility, IT teams can properly oversee their entire house of IT infrastructure, sunset piecemeal monitoring tools, and increase productivity with AIOps.
The Water Jetting Association’s senior medical advisor is concerned that water jetting injuries are going under-reported. The WJA’s General Manager, Leanne Smith, explains the response to his concern and latest initiatives to promote safety in the industry.
Dr Sancho Rodriguez-Villar is an intensive care consultant at Kings College Hospital, in London. He is also a world expert on fluid injection injuries. Those are injuries caused by any fluid – it could be hydraulic oil, petrol, chemicals, paints, or water – breaking through skin or another body membrane.
It is why, in 2016, the WJA commissioned Dr Rodriguez-Villar to lead a team to study injuries caused by water jetting and fluid injection injuries in particular. The topic was complex and the research thorough. Reason why it took three years to complete.
WJA General Manager Leanne Smith
The resulting research paper, Management of industrial high-pressure fluid injection injuries (IHPFII): the Water Jetting Association (WJA) experience with water driven injuries, was published in the European Journal of Trauma Medicine in 2019. It is also available on other medical research platforms.
Global interest
Since then, the paper has been downloaded more than 10,000 times, making it, almost certainly, the most important source of detailed and peer-reviewed information about water jetting injuries in the world.
It took Dr Rodriguez-Villar by surprise. He puts it down, in part, to water jetting applications becoming more common across an increasing number of industries, including commercial cleaning, water utilities, construction, manufacturing, energy generation, and even water sports.
He also concludes that the scale of global interest into the research indicates water jetting injuries and other fluid injection injuries are very likely to be under-reported.
In a video interview recorded by the WJA, available on the association’s website, he says: “So, definitely we can say [these injuries] are not as rare as we thought initially.
“We need to be very careful with that. I will say not as uncommon, but very likely not reported. Yet the injuries have potentially significant consequences for those who suffer them.”
Dr Rodriguez-Villar and the WJA are now working together to try to ensure people get the best medical advice about water jetting injuries and that research can continue into how best to treat them.
It means people with concerns can contact him via the WJA website and share information in confidence, in the manner of a doctor-patient relationship.
Injury algorithm
Water under just 100 psi (7bar) of pressure can piece skin and enter the body. Water jetting operatives can work at pressures of over 40,000 psi (2,600 bar).
Dr Rodriguez-Villar makes the point: “The speed of the water is over 2,600 kilometres per hour, well above the speed of sound . So it’s the speed of the bullet.”
This means the water can penetrate the skin with extreme force, taking a range of contaminants, including oils, chemicals, dust, organic matter, viruses and bacteria deep into the body.
Injury before and after
However, because the entry point is very small, medical professionals often do not appreciate the severity of the injury. Patients can be discharged without the appropriate treatment and then go on to experience severe complications. This can result in further life-changing injury or death.
It is for this reason that a key element of the research was the development of a water jetting injury treatment algorithm. This provides clear, up-to-date advice for the most effective treatment of injuries from first aid, through hospital care to discharge and beyond.
The algorithm has now been redesigned into an A4 format with clear, colour-coded pathways through every stage of treatment, so paramedics, physicians, nurses and therapists can quickly check best practice guidance.
Safety code
The WJA is also continuously improving other vital elements of its guidance to the water jetting industry, notably its codes of practice and its training programme (the water jetting treatment algorithm being key elements of both).
We have two codes of practice – the Blue Code, for the safe use of high and ultra-high pressure jetting equipment, and the Red Code, for water jetting in drains and sewers and surface preparation with a jetting gun up to a pressure of 275 bar that an operative can comfortably control.
Both codes have been thoroughly reviewed and updated during 2023, with guidance strengthened, a process supported by our key external stakeholders, notably the HSE.
For example, in many cases where we previously advised actions ‘should be’ taken, we now make clear they ‘shall be’ taken.
A new Purple Code, for pressure washing, is due to be published by the end of 2023.
Skills training
The WJA has also reviewed and updated its City & Guilds accredited training programme, which is informed directly by the guidance in or codes of practice.
The programme gives operates a theoretical and practical grounding in water jetting to underpin workplace learning and practice (there is a stand-alone pressure washing course).
Operatives must attend and pass a one-day class-based WJA Safety Awareness course and at least one practical module, selected from: Surface Preparation (SP), Hydrodemolition (HD), Tube and Pipe (TP), Drain and Sewer (DS), or Drain, Sewer and Surface Preparation (DSP).
They then receive their WJA Training Card, which is valid for three years. At this point, the card must be renewed by attending and passing a Safety Awareness Refresher course, which includes a practical assessment.
The DSP practical module is a new course that combines assessments of practical skills in drain cleaning and surface preparation using a hand-held jetting gun.
It aims to eliminate temptations to use hose nozzles to carry out asset washdowns, a common task for drainage contractors, and provide skills needed to expand services to include industrial cleaning.
Farmworker support
In another new initiative for 2023, we are offering free training places to farmers who often use water jetting to wash down equipment and production areas, such as milking parlours.
They can take places available in a free training programme designed to help WJA members who only need to place up to two operatives at a time on a course.
The support for farmers reflects the WJA’s desire to work in safety-critical sectors that use water jetting but, conventionally, do not appreciate the value of, and urgent need for, structured training.
Competency course
The WJA is also keen to encourage more companies to take up our new Level 2 Water Jetting Technician vocational qualification, which is accredited by ABBE, is our first competency qualification for water jetting.
WJA member RGL Services has been the first contractor to trial the course, which combines City & Guilds training courses with a programme of worksite assessment.
RGL Services Contracts Director and Contracts Supervisor Ian Chapman said: “This course is the necessary and natural next step for WJA training. It’s the way forward.
“It has been a very positive experience for us as a company and for our operatives. We’ve identified multiple benefits that support more effective operational performance and our reputation as a high performance business.”
JETTING SHOW FIRST The WJA has launched preparations for its first trade show, with strong interest already being shown in the event. It will bring together contractors, service users, technical experts and industry stakeholders to see and discuss what’s new in a fast-evolving and vital commercial sector. Organisations that want to take a stand or attend the event on Thursday 12th September, 2024, at the Stonex Stadium, home of the Saracens Rugby Club, North West London, should contact the WJA: events@waterjetting.org.uk.
Commenting on Scottish GDP estimates, which show the economy grew by 0.4% in the three months to September, Wellbeing Economy Secretary Neil Gray said:
“These figures show the robustness of the Scottish economy, despite the stiff headwinds faced by countries around the world. We don’t under-estimate the seriousness of a cost-of-living crisis which continues to hamper household and businesses’ ability to spend, to the detriment of the wider economy.
“We are doing all we can with the limited powers available to us, including supporting business exports to produce increased international sales. As part of the Autumn Statement, Scotland needed a fair deal on investment for businesses, infrastructure and public services – the UK Government has failed to deliver on every count.
“Scottish businesses also continue to suffer due to Brexit’s effect on supply chains, trade and the free movement of people. I am not content with minimal growth levels for Scotland as part of the UK.
“By focusing on developing equality, opportunity and community, an independent Scotland can build a fair, green and growing economy and match the performance of our European neighbours.”
Recently launched APN Group has acquired Trace Enforcement Group, the fastest growing provider of debt recovery and enforcement services to the private and public parking sectors. In support it has simultaneously announced the appointment of three more industry-leading figures to its senior ranks.
Colin Arthur, Paul Kyte and John Mason
APN Group has fully acquired Trace Enforcement Group – comprising Trace Enforcement Services, Trace Debt Recovery and Trace Managed Services – and appointed John Mason as its Managing Director. Formerly John served as a Director and Board Member of CDER Group, having previously worked asDirector of Traffic Enforcement and Congestion Charging for Transport for London and as Head of Off-Street Parking for City of Westminster Council.
Colin Arthur, previously Operations Director at Debt Recovery Plus, takes up the newly created role of Transformation Director, and Paul Kyte, a former Head of Parking at Worcester Council and consultant with RTA Associates, joins from Bristow and Sutor as Client Director.
The three founding directors of Trace Enforcement Group – Chloe Barnes, Louis Ellis and David Jarvis – remain shareholders, and have taken up active roles within the newly established APN Group.
News of this acquisition follows last week’s announcement that RingGo founder Harry Clarke has joined APN Group as Chair.
John Mason, Managing Director, Trace Enforcement Group: “After nearly 30 years in the parking enforcement and debt recovery sector I am delighted to have the opportunity to build upon the robust success that the TRACE Group has already achieved.”
Eddie Harrison, Chief Operating Officer of APN Group: “APN Group is bringing together real expertise in both private and public parking sectors with a genuine understanding of data, process and technology to create something new and meaningful. We’re delighted to bring Trace Enforcement Group into our newly established structure, and we can’t wait to share more news on our further growth and diversification as soon as we are able.”
New solution unifies real-time data to inform incident response and improve frontline and community safety
Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service (FRS) has selected Motorola Solutions’ (NYSE: MSI) command centre technology, including Control Room Solution (CRS), to strengthen the service’s call handling and emergency dispatch. The solution will help to increase the speed, effectiveness and resilience of Leicestershire FRS’s incident response to support frontline and community safety. Ongoing software maintenance will help ensure the critical system remains current.
Serving a population of over one million people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, Leicestershire FRS manages around 15,000 calls and attends 8,000 emergency incidents on average per year. The service responds to a wide range of emergency situations, from fires, to road traffic collisions and search and rescue missions, whilst also providing community safety and fire prevention services.
“Our control room is integral to our emergency response capabilities. It is the first point of contact in any emergency situation and acts as the ‘eyes and ears’ for our teams,” said Callum Faint, chief fire and rescue officer, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service. “Emergency call handlers operate in fast moving and uncertain environments. They need to be able to gather vital information from emergency calls and quickly relay the details to response teams to help ensure the safety of frontline personnel as they work to protect communities.”
Motorola Solutions’ CRS integrates the control room’s communications into a single intuitive system, accelerating response times and improving operational efficiency. The hosted solution enables the control room to build a clear picture of events from multiple data sources, including real-time data from devices in the field, and provides secure bulk storage for media assets. It supports collaboration and mutual aid between fire services during spate conditions, where a large number of calls are received simultaneously across multiple locations.
“We have developed a solution that enhances the tools available to the control room, whilst simplifying workflows,” said Fergus Mayne, U.K. and Ireland country manager, Motorola Solutions. “Our objective is always to enable control room operators to focus on the call at hand, allowing them to dispatch the appropriate resource as efficiently as possible.”
About Motorola Solutions Motorola Solutions is a global leader in public safety and enterprise security. Their solutions in land mobile radio communications, video security and the command center, bolstered by managed & support services, create an integrated technology ecosystem to help make communities safer and businesses stay productive and secure. Motorola Solutions, are ushering in a new era in public safety and security. Learn more at www.motorolasolutions.com
Autumn 2023 Cover story – by Barley Laing, UK Managing Director at Melissa
Barley Laing
The public sector has long been considered a soft target by fraudsters. This is backed up by data from the Cabinet Office which highlights that fraud and error in public spending are estimated to cost taxpayers up to £51.8 billion every year, which is greater than the UK’s annual defence budget.
The Bounce Back Loan Scheme is a case in point. Of the £47 billion worth of Bounce Back Loans, £17 billion is already expected to be lost with £4.9 billion of that figure attributed to fraud.
In the future, cybercrime is set to increase as the cost of living crisis continues and more public sector services head online.
The answer to prevent fraud is to know your citizens (KYC), to make certain they are who they say they are, and are legitimately entitled to the services offered. The processes put in place to deliver KYC have the added benefit of helping to deliver a single citizen view (SCV). This will enable the personalisation of communications, improvement to the delivery of services and overall user experience, and greater operational efficiency – all vital during a period of high inflation and reduced budgets.
How to effectively deliver KYC
The best place to start is to access verified user contact data. This means have processes in place to cleanse and standardise user data held in batch, as well as the moment new data is collected.
The ideal approach to confirm proof of address is to undertake address validation. Matching a name to an address is vital to the data hygiene process. Doing so highlights inaccurate addresses, whether because of a typo or a malformed address, which can be easily corrected. Also, it flags instances in which someone has provided an address that they are not associated with, potentially for fraudulent purposes.
KYC match rates will be significantly improvedby first correcting input contact data. Also, undertaking data quality activity prior to running KYC checks is financially beneficial and more efficient.
Data decays rapidly
Contact data decays quickly for a number of reasons, for example people moving home, death and divorce, and is the main reason why user contact data lacking regular intervention degrades at 25 per cent a year. Also, 20 per cent of addresses entered online contain errors; these include spelling mistakes, wrong house numbers, and incorrect postcodes, which are primarily caused by people mistyping their details into small keyboards on their mobile devices. It’s a key reason why 91 per cent of organisations have common data quality problems.
The good news is that incorrect contact data can be avoided by having verification processes in place at the point of data capture. This usually involves simple and cost-effective changes to the data quality process that also help to deliver KYC and a SCV.
Prevent errors with autocomplete
Authentication by facial recognition concept. Biometric. Security system.
One of the most valuable pieces of technology to deliver clean data, ID verification and KYC, is an address autocomplete or lookup service. It delivers accurate address data in real-time at the onboarding stage by providing a properly formatted, correct address when the user starts to input theirs. It also enables convenience by reducing the number of keystrokes required, by up to 81 per cent, when typing an address. This speeds up the onboarding process and reduces the probability of the user not completing an application to access a service.
First point of contact verification can be extended to email and phone, so that these important contact data channels can also be verified in real-time. This ensures those in the public sector communicate effectively with users, not just on the first occasion, but on an ongoing basis.
Match and dedupe
With the average database containing 8-10 per cent duplicate records data deduplication is important. Duplication occurs for a variety of reasons, such as when two departments merge their data and mistakes in contact data collection occur at different touchpoints. Not only does duplication add cost in terms of time and money, particularly with printed communications, but it can adversely impact on the sender’s reputation.
Preventing such waste necessitates the use of an advanced fuzzy matching tool to deduplicate data. By merging and purging the most challenging records it’s possible to create a ‘single user record’ and obtain an optimum SCV. Organising contact data this way will also maximise efficiency and reduce costs, because multiple outreach efforts will not be made to the same person. Also, the potential for fraud is reduced by establishing a unified record for each citizen.
Data suppression / cleaning
Data suppression, or cleaning, using the appropriate technology that highlights people who have moved or are no longer at the address on file, is a vital part of the KYC process. As well as removing incorrect addresses, these services can include deceased flagging to prevent the sending of mail and other communications to those who have passed away, which can cause distress to their friends and relatives. The answer is to implement suppression strategies that help public bodies to save money, protect their reputations, and avoid fraud.
SaaS drives data quality
Today, it’s never been easier or more cost-effective to manage data quality in real-time. It’s possible to source a scalable data cleaning software as a service (SaaS) platform that requires no coding, integration, or training. Simply switch on and benefit instantly – which is something we offer via our Unison platform. This technology cleanses and corrects names, addresses, email addresses, and telephone numbers worldwide. It matches records in real-time, ensuring no duplication, and provides data profiling to help source issues for further action. A single, intuitive interface provides the opportunity for data standardisation, validation, and enrichment, resulting in high-quality contact information across multiple databases.
SaaS electronic ID verification (eIDV)
Data hygiene practices on their own aren’t enough to deliver KYC and prevent fraud. Forward-thinking public sector organisations are already using identity verification services, such as SaaS electronic ID verification (eIDV). SaaS eIDV platforms are leading the way because they are easy to deploy, automated, scalable and support cross-checks against an individual’s contact data in real-time as they complete an application online, thereby ensuring the user experience isn’t negatively impacted.
The public sector must embrace automated eIDV in lieu of the manual ID checks that many still have in place, despite being more expensive, time-consuming, and subject to human error.
To work effectively, and for best practice, the eIDV service must have access to a worldwide dataset of billions of consumer records, including reputable third-party, sanctions, and politically exposed person (PEP) data, and offer adverse media checks to provide a full ID verification service. This data must come from reputable global streams, including government agencies, credit agencies, and utility records. Ideally, the service should, at the same time, enrich the data of those held on databases, highlighting and correcting any existing inaccuracies. Such an approach maintains effective governance by facilitating compliance with KYC and anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.
KYC in tandem with KYB
Along with KYC it’s important that the eIDV platform is able to deliver know your business (KYB) checks, to enable organisations to fully understand the risks posed by new and existing business customers and suppliers. Fraud is frequently committed by those using shell companies or umbrella structures that just don’t exist in reality, so undertaking KYB to validate an organisation can greatly diminish that type of fraud from occurring. Also, delivering KYB will help to prevent financial crime, such as money laundering and terror financing, which could result in significant reputational damage, quite apart from the monetary cost of the relationship. KYC and KYB is something we offer via our full service eIDV offering, available as SaaS or cloud API.
In summary
While undertaking KYC might not be a legal requirement for the public sector, delivering practices that support its provision, along with KYB, is vital. This involves sourcing and using relevant technology to safeguard contact data quality and ID verification.
Once those in the public sector put in place procedures to deliver KYC, they will not only have the ability to prevent fraud, but have access to insight that will deliver a better experience for users, as well as improve efficiencies at a very challenging time for their budgets.
For more information about Melissa and how our data quality and identity verification services can help you, please visit: www.melissa.com/uk, email: barley.laing@melissa.com or call: 020 7718 0070.
The British Embassy in Washington DC recently hosted a Thought Leadership event and reception and invited a select number of British companies to showcase artificial intelligence (AI) and zero trust architecture (ZTA) solutions.
Left to right: David Trossell, CEO and CTO of Bridgeworks and Jamie Eykyn, Chairman of Bridgeworks, outside the British Embassy in Washington DC
The welcoming speech was delivered by Jamie Eykyn, Chairman of Bridgeworks, a British-based technology firm. This was the second time Eykyn gave a presentation at a British Embassy. The first time was in Paris, France, 50 years ago. He presented a new electronic ticket machine, which was designed for operation on trams and buses. He also founded Shuttle Technology Ltd that was sold SCM Microsystems in 1999. Following the sale, he concentrated on building a portfolio of transformational technology companies. It included award-winning company, Bridgeworks.
In his speech in Washington, he said: “The world of technology has advanced immeasurably in the 50 years since I was involved developing digital ticketing systems. From point solutions to specific problems, to integrated management systems. Nowadays, there’s also the deployment of advanced AI and cloud-based high-speed communications and compute, and the ability to co-ordinate a multitude of activities from a bewildering number of data collection points in virtual real-time across, for example, a battlefield.”
His company of the time, the electronic ticketing machine firm, was the first to use a microprocessor and solid state memory in the machines. While it may sound old hat today. However, in the 1970s they were cutting-edge.
His record of innovation shows why he backs Bridgeworks – personally and as Chairman. Bridgeworks’ products use WAN Acceleration, and like his ticketing machine in the 1970s, it is both innovative and unique at a point when most of the focus is on SD-WANs and WAN Optimisation.
Exclusive embassy invitation
Bridgeworks, based in Lymington, Hampshire, UK, was invited last month to present their award-winning A.I. technologies to U.S. government and industry leaders to highlight the best in British technology.
A key aim was to spotlight the support of the U.K. Government’s Department of Defence and Security Exports, (Department for International Trade), and share insights as an Export Champion.
British Ambassador to the United States, Dame Karen Pierce was present to facilitate valuable engagement with the U.S. Federal agencies and U.K. technology partners.
David Trossell, CEO and CTO of Bridgeworks, explains: “We invited our customers, OEM Partners, such as Dell Technology and IBM, Spectra Logic and our North American Resellers and System Integrators to share their successes implementing our systems.”
Trossell explains: “We were able to present solutions and deliverables and translate those to future business benefits for end users. “
Eykyn commends Trossell: “I am not a technical man, but I have always been interested in new technology. With Bridgeworks our WAN and data acceleration products, our CEO and CTO David Trossell, brought all his extensive skills in the storage world to bear, strongly supported by the IBM R&D Storage Establishment at Hursley, who confirmed the need for the AI and machine learning based products David developed and which we now know as PortRockIT and WANRockIT.”
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust has signed a new agreement to deploy Sectra’s enterprise imaging solution in bid to further improve patient care.
Following a contract signing in September, the Trust will now share a common picture archiving and communication system (PACS), with five other trusts in the region that have already deployed the system. This includes Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, and University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.
The move will connect radiologists and other healthcare professionals with seamless access to x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds and other radiology imaging that has been captured for patients at different hospitals across Surrey and Sussex.
Additional resilience provided by the new PACS is expected to bring patient safety benefits, with important imaging always available for acute and emergency patients.
Networked PACS based reporting of imaging will also be an important feature, creating the potential for shared review and reporting of imaging by in-demand specialists located in different hospitals.
Dr Tony Newman-Sanders, chief of cancer and diagnostics at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “This is an important step in the strategic future of our diagnostic services that will equip our professionals with 21st century technology that is fit for the future. It will allow us to align with fellow providers in Surrey and Sussex, and provide the means to develop imaging services that are better able to meet the needs of our patients.”
The development will allow the trust to meet important recommendations in Sir Mike Richards’ review of diagnostic imaging in the NHS, also enabling the trust to become an equal partner in the South East 2 Imaging Network.
The new cloud-based PACS service provided by Sectra is expected to reduce infrastructure burdens, enhance security, and allow the flexibility to add more trusts in the future. Ambitions to connect the regional initiative with networks in London, Kent and Wessex are also being explored as part of a wider roadmap.
Jane Rendall, UK and Ireland managing director for Sectra, said: “The addition of Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust to a forward-thinking group of trusts in the region, will extend benefits to many more clinical teams and their patients.
“Sharing a common connected imaging system opens the potential for regional workforce transformation in radiology, in ways that can improve equity and access for patients to important diagnostic expertise.
“More immediately, diagnosticians in sites across Surrey and Sussex have told us they are excited about being able to better support patients as they move around the region – whether that’s cancer patients, trauma cases or a whole range of pathways where imaging is vital to effective diagnosis and decisions.”
Tarian Technology, a Wales-based provider of cybersecurity solutions and commercial spin-out of Exsel Electronics, announces today a ground-breaking licensing agreement with Ploughshare, the commercial face of the UK Government’s Defence Science and Technology Labs (Dstl), for the use of game-changing cybersecurity products.
The partnership brings together years of work between Exsel Electronics and Dstl and demonstrates both organisations’ ambitious desire to bring Defence R&D into the wider market.
Under the new agreement, Tarian Technology gains rights to bring to market data-centric security (DCS) models, developed in collaboration with Dstl. It represents a significant leap in cybersecurity, focusing on ensuring that data and information remain secure at rest, in transit and in use across all domains.
The first to market with this approach is Bastion, a software that intrinsically protects data and is self-subscribing. Bastion works to fortify the protection of data beyond the network protection level. It adds an additional layer of encrypted security written into each document, meaning that if the network is penetrated, sensitive files remain secure. It works as an additional armour to protect valuable information and a business’s intellectual property from theft or cyber espionage.
Marie Thirlwall, Digital & Data Commercialisation at Ploughshare said: “The underpinning DCS architecture to which Bastion has been built, is the result of extensive research and development efforts; carried out in conjunction with Dstl and Tarian’s parent company, Exsel Electronics.
“DCS systems, as the core enabler of multi-domain information management, will revolutionise how organisations protect sensitive data and information in an ever-evolving digital landscape – and we’re excited that Bastion will be the first of many developments we bring to market together for this purpose and beyond.”
Key features of the Bastion DCS system include:
Comprehensive Data Security: Bastion provides comprehensive protection for data and information at every stage of its lifecycle, ensuring it remains secure regardless of its location or usage.
Next-Generation Technology: Leveraging cutting-edge cybersecurity technology, Bastion DCS sets new standards for data protection, guaranteeing peace of mind for organisations handling sensitive information. Secure, often multi-layer, information objects are bespoke built for each business use case, which is unique to this system.
Collaborative Development: The collaboration between Exsel Electronics and Dstl demonstrates a unique synergy between private industry and government research, emphasising the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing cybersecurity.
Tarian Technology is excited to bring the Bastion system, that has been evolving behind the scenes with Dstl, to the wider market. The established licensing agreement with Ploughshare signifies Tarian’s dedication to providing state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions to businesses, government agencies, and organisations worldwide.
Commenting on the partnership, Tarian MD, Keith Hughes said: “We are proud to be at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation, and this agreement with Ploughshare allows us to introduce game-changing products to the world. Data Centric Security is the future of information protection, and we are committed to helping organisations secure their most valuable assets.
“With the Bastion launch, we are poised to change the face of encryption software. This isn’t a ‘one-size-fits-all’ package like traditional DCS offerings but a tailor-made solution for enterprise and government.”
For further information about Tarian Technology and its cybersecurity solutions, please visit tarian.tech
RE-100 electrification solution extends the life of the vehicle
Fleet managers concerned about the cost and availability of buying a new electric van when there is still life in their existing vehicle now have an alternative: an advanced retrofit solution using innovative in-wheel motor (IWM) technology which fits to existing diesel vans to make them both electric and/or diesel at the touch of a button.
Launched by BEDEO, an electric vehicle supplier and manufacturer based in Farnham, the new RE-100 Range Extender, part of its Reborn Electric range, enables organisations to retain those vehicles for longer while still transitioning to an electric future.
A vehicle fitted with a RE-100 Range Extender is electric first, with 117km of electric range, making it ideal for ‘Last Mile’ deliveries. Its existing diesel mode can be used when needed for longer trips, switching to electric when entering a low-emission zone and densely populated areas to eliminate emissions and accelerate decarbonisation.
At the heart of RE-100 are two in-wheel motors fitted to the rear axle of the vehicle. The motors are more compact, lighter, efficient and easier to install than an equivalent e-axle and powered by a 37kWh battery. No suspension modifications are required to the front or rear, which means there is no loss of ground clearance and no loss of load space or height.
BEDEO works for businesses such as OCADO, DHL and TNT. Founder Osman Boyner says that with the concept of Reborn Electric he is providing a new business model for an industry caught between the twin goals of cost and sustainability.
“Electric vans today don’t meet the needs of the market and even Euro VI diesel vans are still responsible for a disproportionate amount of carbon emissions. With the RE-100 we have created a new category of hybrid that not only meets the needs of the market but also accelerates transport decarbonisation.”
The RE-100 is a hybrid in as much as it can have two modes of power – electric and diesel – but with the BEDEO technology the vehicle cannot be operated as diesel within controlled low emissions zones, unless in an emergency. Outside of controlled zones the driver is in control and can determine when to stay in electric for a more pleasant driving experience, or switch to diesel for longer distances.
The ability to retrofit BEDEO’s IWM into an existing vehicle is an entirely new proposition: “BEDEO has leveraged this advanced IWM technology to develop the next generation of retrofit vehicles, unlimited by the constraints of a standard e-axle,” Osman adds.
Osman believes that while switching to an all-electric fleet is desirable, it is also very expensive and wasteful, requiring investment not only in the vehicles themselves, but also the infrastructure to support them: “While sustainability is, of course, a key driver, the end-to-end sustainability (whole lifecycle) of the vehicle also needs to be taken into account,” he continues.
“It cannot be sustainable to replace a vehicle that has not reached the end of its useful working life, neither is it sustainable to replace not only the vehicle, but also the refrigeration units or bespoke fit-out that many of these vehicles have.
“Retrofitting with electric overcomes these challenges and more, satisfying the need to reduce emissions in our city centres where the majority of the ‘Last Mile’ journeys are required, breathing new life into older vehicles.”
The UK Government has made no secret of its ambitions to become an artificial intelligence (AI) superpower. Introducing a pro-innovation approach in the recent AI regulation policy paper, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Michelle Donelan, outlined a technology-led future leading to better public services and high-quality jobs.
“Most of us are only now beginning to understand the transformative potential of AI as the technology rapidly improves,” wrote Ms Donelan.
“Recent advances in things like generative AI give us a glimpse into the enormous opportunities that await us in the near future if we are prepared to lead the world in the AI sector with our values of transparency, accountability and innovation,” she said.
But the UK — or any other nation — cannot lead the world in AI unless it can muster enough people with the right skills to make it happen.
A report by the National Audit Office (NAO) on digital transformation published earlier this year warned the “existing skills gap is getting worse” with the public sector lagging behind the private sector.
Addressing the AI skills shortage
The report also said only 4% of civil servants are digital professionals, compared with an industry average of between 8% and 12% — a situation made worse because there is already a major digital skills shortage in the UK.
Coupled with the fact that skilled digital professionals command a premium in the market — along with the spike in demand for people with AI skills —it’s clear the recruitment challenge has become even more acute.
Clearly, education is key. Research commissioned by Amazon from Capital Economics found jobs requiring computer science, AI, or Machine Learning skills are expected to increase by 40% in the next five years. Recognising the urgency of the situation, last year the digital giant unveiled a schools-based programme, designed to inspire young people about the potential of AI.
While such schemes are to be applauded, they are a long-term solution that will not deliver results overnight. So, how does the public sector address the skills market?
One idea would be for the Government to tap into resources held by the private sector to recruit the necessary skills.
Looking to the private sector — and beyond — for recruits
It was a point made by Cabinet Office minister Jeremy Quin during the summer in a speech to the Policy Exchange think tank. He said the Government planned to create “a pathway for them [private sector AI specialists] to join the Civil Service” via secondment programmes.
When pressed on the issue of the disparity in pay between the public and private sectors, he suggested more lucrative remuneration packages could be offered. But he also suggested some people may want to be part of the government’s ambitious plans out of a sense of duty. He may well have a point.
In fact, I would go further. If the government is considering parachuting in AI experts from private companies, it must also consider attracting them from abroad as well.
After all, not everyone wants to work for a big tech company. In some global regions, the public sector has a much better reputation than the private sector.
And it goes without saying increasing the number of women in tech could benefit the sector. It was a point made recently in a report published by the Alan Turing Institute.
“There is a troubling and persistent absence of women employed in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science fields. Over three-quarters of professionals in these fields globally are male (78%); less than a quarter are women (22%) (World Economic Forum, 2018).
“In the UK, this drops to 20% of women. This stark male dominance results in a feedback loop shaping gender bias in AI and machine learning systems. It is also fundamentally an ethical issue of social and economic justice and one of value-in-diversity,” it said.
Of course, not every new role in the world of AI will be a tech job. Not everyone needs to be a programmer. However, I would expect people who join the sector to have some basic understanding of coding to give them a better understanding of how AI works.
But perhaps the biggest skill we need, though, is the ability to adapt. After all, there’s little doubt that AI will fundamentally impact the workplace. And that means we will all have to embrace AI — regardless of our jobs as technology plays an ever-greater role in our lives.
The 2023 Spring Budget depicted a further £21.6 billion in unannounced cuts to public services by 2027/28*. In line with this, we’ve seen technology budgets slashed across the sector, with NHS tech funding falling below the £1 billion mark**. As such, the public sector must find new and innovative ways to maintain the supply and quality of technology services despite cuts to funding.
The question begs, how can public sector entities strive to maintain the level of public services, with less overall resource? Automated testing could help address this problem by maximising resources and driving efficiencies without compromising on the quality of service. Investing in automated testing is a strategic move that can revolutionise software development processes, increase efficiency, provide time and monetary savings and improve software quality. For public sector organisations like the NHS, automation has been used to accelerate digital transformation projects that improve the delivery of care and patient outcomes.
What is automation?
Automation is the process of using software tools to execute tests on a website, application, system, or technology to test functionality, performance, or security. Automation allows for faster and more efficient testing processes; enabling businesses to identify defects quickly and accurately.
Automation can carry out repetitive and time-consuming tasks automatically and accurately, 24/7. Without manual intervention, you can reallocate your team’s resources, allowing them to dedicate their time and expertise to other tasks that require human creativity and judgment.
Automation benefits for the public sector
Speed: Automated tests can be executed simultaneously on multiple configurations, around the clock. Public entities often need to test and release updates and new features quickly to keep up with changing requirements. With automation, you can thoroughly and accurately test your software in a fraction of the time it would take compared to manual testing, enabling faster releases.
Compliance: Government agencies and public bodies often handle large and complex systems and databases. Many public systems and applications must adhere to strict regulatory and security requirements. Automated testing can help ensure that these systems remain in compliance with the necessary standards and regulations, reducing the risk of non-compliance issues, and fostering public trust. What’s more, automated testing tools can generate detailed reports and logs, which can be valuable for audit and compliance purposes and demonstrate due diligence in adhering to regulations.
Consistency: Automated tests remove the element of human error by performing consistent and precise tests. Automation will execute the same test cases with the same data and parameters every time, reducing the chances of errors.
Cost Saving: While there is an initial investment in setting up automated testing frameworks and creating test scripts, the long-term cost savings are substantial compared to manual testing, which often requires a larger workforce and more time. Automated tests can be reused for regression testing, reducing the need for extensive manual testing with each release.
Around-the-clock testing: Automated tests can be scheduled to run at any time around the clock, even when your team is not actively working. This rapid feedback ensures that issues are identified and addressed quickly, much earlier in the lifecycle, preventing costly downtime or emergency fixes later in the development cycle.
Enhanced Security: Government systems often deal with sensitive information and must be secure. Automated testing can help identify vulnerabilities and security weaknesses early in the development process, reducing the risk of security breaches.
Better quality assurance: Ensuring the quality of public software and systems is crucial, as they often serve critical functions for the public. Automated testing can help maintain a high level of quality by systematically identifying and addressing issues, providing a higher level of confidence in the quality of the software. If you are releasing high quality, reliable software, it can lead to improvements in the provision of services to the public.
Nowadays, we live in a world where innovation and speed are paramount, meaning automated testing isn’t just an option, it’s a necessity. In the face of budget cuts and reduced resource the public sector must adapt and find new and innovative ways to boost productivity and efficiency.
The intelligent implementation of automation can help tackle these challenges and improve efficiency, accuracy, compliance, and security, whilst reducing costs and increasing transparency. It is a vital tool for ensuring that government software and systems meet the high standards required of the public sector.
Bakers Basco the industry-leading membership scheme created by Allied Bakeries, Fine Lady Bakeries, Frank Roberts & Sons, Hovis, and Warburtons, is calling upon local authorities and waste management managers to prioritise the environmental consequences of misused grocery delivery equipment. The scheme, which provides and manages an industry-wide bakery equipment solution, aims to raise awareness about the issue of misplaced bread baskets and dollies that often end up discarded in local areas or dumped in landfills.
The campaign initiated by Bakers Basco emphasises the importance of vigilance among local council managers and waste management professionals in safeguarding bread baskets and dolly equipment, which are unintentionally or intentionally taken out of the bakery logistics supply chain. By actively addressing this concern, local councils and waste management organisations can contribute positively to the environment.
As part of the campaign, Bakers Basco has developed a series of posters to increase awareness and understanding of this ongoing issue. A dedicated investigation team has been assigned to tackle the problem, ensuring the distribution of these posters throughout the UK.
Bread basket theft, or conversion, has long been a challenge faced by the baking industry. With reported losses exceeding 60% and, in extreme cases, reaching up to 100%, this issue has been a persistent concern. Since its establishment in 2006, Bakers Basco has been committed to combating abuse and misuse of its pool of five million bread baskets and associated wheeled dollies. This equipment is designed specifically to transport bread safely, cost-effectively, and in an environmentally friendly manner from bakeries to grocery retailers nationwide.
The value of this equipment extends beyond its functional purpose. Misplaced bread baskets often end up in landfills, detrimentally impacting the environment and undermining the green credentials of the retail and related industries.
In a recent incident, a substantial quantity of bread baskets was discovered scattered across multiple locations in a Scottish city, having been irresponsibly discarded. Thankfully, the Commercial Waste Enforcement team promptly took action upon learning about this issue. They reached out to the Bakers Basco team to arrange for the collection of these discarded items. Emphasising the timeliness of their response, this serves as a reminder for other local authorities to consider the convenience of the repatriation process and to get in touch with the recovery team at Bakers Basco to address similar problems within their respective areas.
To help repatriate its equipment, Bakers Basco has made substantial investments in GPS technology to track the whereabouts of bread baskets and dollies. Additionally, the scheme has established a dedicated national investigations team responsible for identifying and reclaiming any equipment that has been delayed, lost, or stolen.
Paul Empson, General Manager at Bakers Basco, stated, “Our investigations team has revealed that a significant amount of our equipment is being left unattended in town and city centres and so to address this issue, we have launched a national campaign in collaboration with local authorities. If people only realised the true value of our equipment, the cost it incurs on the industry when lost, and the potential consequences of its misuse, I believe we would witness a reduction in such incidents. Through joint efforts with local authorities, we can protect the environment by ensuring the equipment returns to the supply chain, reducing the need for additional plastic production.”
Anyone who comes across misplaced bread baskets is encouraged to contact the Bakers Basco team, who will arrange collections free of charge. Reports can be made via the recovery helpline: 08000 327323 or by email at enquiries@bakersbasco.co.uk.
Cybersecurity solutions firm, Tarian Technology, part of the Exsel Electronics Group, has launched a new market leading, multi-level file protection software to fully safeguard secret, sensitive or personal information contained in a document before it is shared with pre-approved intended audiences.
The new Need2Know software, has been developed for government departments handling sensitive information as well as military, enterprise and other organisations that want to protect its assets – enabling individuals and organisations to share sensitive data without sacrificing security, control, or privacy.
The software is a superior layer of encryption security, bedded into documents that works off data-centric security (DCS) architecture principles – acting as an additional layer of armour to protect data and intellectual property from theft or cyber espionage. By using a DCS approach to cybersecurity, the software prioritises control and secure access to the data at a granular level, rather than prioritising the systems and networks that store and transmit it.
And, compared to current redaction software already available on the market, which is more easily reversed, this approach acts as a double layer of defence, fortifying overall network protection.
Need2Know enables security levels within a document to be significantly enhanced – if the document is not being read or edited, then it does not exist. Documents are brought together when needed and broken into encrypted pieces when stored on a company’s server by the Need2Know server application. This removed the need for expensive duplication of secure encrypted files, applying security classification at the level of paragraphs, pictures or even individual words to ONE original single file source.
Keith Hughes, Managing Director at Tarian Technology says: “Need2Know is revolutionary in its ability to safeguard top secret, sensitive information. It’s more than just painting over words typically done through redaction tools.
“Our software makes content visible only to the eyes that it is intended for. Need2Know removes the need for expensive duplication of secure and encrypted files. The advantage our new software offers is that it’s a single source of truth, every time.”
Need2Know provides confidence in safeguarding secret, sensitive and confidential information and is a solution to multi-classification security across domains, which will be valuable for sectors including; government, medical and pharmaceutical, national security, military and businesses world over.
Data handlers can mark multiple sections of information within an original document with differing levels of audience and redaction mark-up. A publication is then generated for each audience before being shared. Documents are brought together when needed and broken into encrypted pieces when stored on a secure server by Tarian Technology Need2Know server application.
The software has been created for Microsoft Word documents on Windows PCs and will apply security classification at the level of words, figures, paragraphs and images (tifs). The company is working on developments across multiple applications including PowerPoint and Excel for roll out in the near future.
Tarian Technology is a software-centric systems integrator with a specialised focus on information and cyber security. Central to its expertise lies a deep understanding of data-centric security and its multifaceted applications. Through close collaboration with Governments, the business has consistently pioneered interoperable systems of information security that set new benchmarks in the industry.
Its core domain of expertise revolves around multi-domain communications, data, and system management – ensuring that users and operators have continuous security and accessibility of information across all domains, at all times. Tarian Technology holistic approach encompasses a comprehensive range of security measures, making certain that a company’s data and information remains shielded against ever-evolving threats. Its approach aligns with the UK National Cyber Security strategy.
Tarian Technology is offering a free trial of the Need2Know software. To find out more, visit the website at tarian.tech.
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