The world inside UK higher education, research institutions and academies is changing faster than one might imagine. New fee structures, cost models, changing demographics of students, sharing and consolidation are driving new funding models and the need for cost and quality control. The consistent examination of IT services, their cost efficiency and value for money delivered by central IT to all users, staff, researchers and students is under the microscope. The pressure to differentiate value and to protect intellectual assets has never been greater, with IT playing a more significant role than ever before… Read more

Financial services suffered in the wake of the last crisis but are now squarely into another tough period of multi-level regulation, cost reductions, drive for increased efficiencies and threats from new world fintechs. Additionally, the pressure on improving customer engagement and driving new revenues in the digital world is forcing new technology investments and agility as never before. IT needs to do more with less, while becoming a crucial enabler in core business processes… Read more

IT is a crucial part of modern healthcare provision, not only supporting administration systems but as a prevalent, if not essential key enabler to all clinical departments – many requiring very robust and high availability IT services. IT can aid the organisation by simplifying and speeding up tasks or allowing additional more complex activities to be readily undertaken… Read more

In the Life Sciences industry there exists a challenge between innovation and cost effectiveness. This is driven by global competition, regulation, cost and price pressures, transparency and collaboration. Companies in this sector, large and small are seeking to transform, to meet these demands by finding improvements in all functions and processes, core and non-core… Read more

Manufacturing has seen many changes over recent years – profitability, margins, sizing, locations to name but a few.  Some countries and continents have increased their presence while others have had their manufacturing sector decrease dramatically.  No matter the pressures – either way – manufacturing industries typically require tight controls over volume operations to support the low margins experienced in that sector… Read more

The public sector is a broad and diverse entity encompassing central and local government, agencies and the NHS. The total budget for delivering services for all parts of the public sector is huge but is continually under scrutiny as increased efficiency, often achieved by cuts, is sought throughout the public sector… Read more

Retail is a highly diverse sector including traditional Bricks and Mortar selling as well as online trading. It is a rapidly changing environment with especially high levels of competition and increasing levels of local and international government regulation. In addition, more than ever before, consumers expectations are high in terms of service, integrated products, social behaviour and ethics… Read more

Telecoms services have rapidly become one of the life-bloods of modern commerce and are frequently seen as an essential, rapidly changing and complex part of our lives. Telecoms organisations are uniquely placed as both a major consumer and supplier of IT services.  As such, the correct service delivery options have a critical and far reaching impact… Read more

The Utility sector has seen significant change in recent years. The gas and electricity sectors have seen increased competition with growing changes to ownership. The gas and electricity market is split between suppliers and distributors of energy and those that deliver to consumers. The water companies have also seen some amalgamation and ownership changes… Read more