Leicestershire County Council enforces school parking scheme with transport technology

The requirement

Back in September 2018, a trial was launched across the county called the School Keep Clear Project, aiming to combat the issue that parents, residents and teachers experienced with inconsiderate parking outside schools during the school run.

Parking outside schools can be dangerous due to increasing traffic congestion as well as inconsiderately parked vehicles which can make crossing roads more difficult. This can have a negative impact on the safety, health and wellbeing of children, as well as their parents, teachers and communities. As a result, Leicestershire County Council decided to tackle this issue head on with the help of the CCS Traffic Management Technology 2 agreement.

The solution

To implement the trial, traffic regulation orders were put in place through upgrading the existing advisory school keep clear markings, with mandatory signs and lines to ensure that the new mandatory zig-zag zones were enforceable.

Enforcement officers aimed to continue with their normal duties, while a patrol vehicle with a camera was used to enforce the mandatory zig-zag zones outside school entrances.

To enable the vehicle to do this, Leicestershire County Council purchased in-car automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) using the Traffic Management Technology 2  agreement, allowing officers to collect the necessary evidence to enable fines to be issued via post to drivers who parked on the zig-zag markings.

The results

Councillor Blake Pain, cabinet member for environment and transport, said:

“The trial isn’t about catching and fining motorists – we want people to stop parking inconsiderately near schools as it endangers the lives of pedestrians and causes a great deal of concern for schools and parents.

“We work closely with schools and colleges to improve issues around on-street parking which also involves providing help and guidance on school travel plans to help tackle the problem where necessary.”

Since it launched in September 2018, the scheme has seen 154 schools sign up.

For further information

To learn how Traffic Management Technology 2 could support your initiative:

View the framework page

View the Government eMarketplace

Complete this online form

Call us on 0345 410 2222

We have started looking at Traffic Management Technology 2’s replacement. To find out more about this, please take a look at: Smart Cities – Transport Technology Infrastructure.

UPDATED: GSI Convergence Framework

The GSI Convergence Framework (GCF) is not a CCS procurement framework but a Vodafone technology platform sitting at the heart of the Public Service Network. Public bodies use it to send information digitally and securely. 

CCS is leading the project to migrate users from GCF to cutting edge, cost effective replacement services. You can read the very latest in our monthly newsletter (see below).

Regular GCF Customer Working Group conference calls take place at which you can listen to updates and ask questions on all aspects of GCF withdrawal. To be added to the invitation list, please email GCFWithdrawal@crowncommercial.gov.uk

See also

The vision for the Future Networks for Government (FN4G) programme

GCF Exit July Newsletter

GCF Exit June Newsletter

GCF Exit May Newsletter

Note: Due to coronavirus there was no April newsletter

GCF Exit March Newsletter

GCF Exit February Newsletter

GCF Exit January Newsletter

GCF Exit December Newsletter

GCF Exit November Newsletter

GCF Exit October Newsletter

GCF Customer Working Group Call – 011019 – Notes

Buy Facilities Management services online from CCS

Buyers from both central government and the wider public sector can access the online portal to purchase a range of facilities management services, covering everything from maintenance and cleaning to security and catering. 

The portal has been developed to provide a simplified procurement route to save customers time and allow them to focus on the priorities that matter most to their organisation. 

Users of the portal can benefit from: 

  • a compliant route to market for both further competition and direct award
  • easy-to use system that guides you through the process
  • ability to shortlist suppliers, by specific location, ready for further competition 
  • obtain an estimated contract cost 
  • storage of key information about your buildings, enabling easy updates for future procurements

Over the coming months, we will be working with our customers to gain feedback to allow us to improve and develop the portal to meet customer needs. Further details of this will be provided shortly. 

The portal is now available for customers to register and use. Existing users of the Supply Teachers, Management Consultancy or Legal Services digital portals can use the same login details to access the FM Marketplace portal – there is no requirement for an additional account. 

Start seeing the benefits today – visit the portal to get started, or the framework page if you require further guidance.

£105 million to keep rough sleepers safe: how we can help you

An announcement yesterday confirmed the release of further funding and we have developed an integrated solution that can be used in part or in full.

For immediate temporary accommodation suppliers on our accommodation and travel framework will ensure you have 24/7 access to a hotel provider. Read the full details.  

For interim needs there are a number of options. To maximise the funding and provide a long term legacy you can buy modular accommodation blocks providing single or family layouts. There are options to buy and hire through lots 5, 6 and 7 of Modular Buildings Solutions. If you have existing property suitable to repurpose we can support you with any change of use or refit / refurbish works through our Construction framework. 

All these options can be supported by Estates Professional Services Services and Project Management and Full Design Services. Once occupied we can also support you with your regulatory duties by providing total facility management services through our Facilities Management framework.

Crown Commercial Service and Google Cloud sign MoU to boost cloud innovation

The new agreement will allow you to take full advantage of technologies across the whole range of Google Cloud’s services and enterprise grade (large-scale) cloud solutions at a significantly discounted rate. These include services for infrastructure, analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), application modernisation, development, and collaboration solutions.

Public sector organisations will also be able to use Google’s multi-cloud management platform, Anthos, designed to help businesses manage IT resources running in the Amazon, Google and Microsoft clouds, as well as those hosted in on-site environments.

Establishing new routes to market and supporting the digital ambitions of organisations across the entire public sector has been a strategic deliverable for CCS and this MoU marks a great milestone in delivering value and operational choice.

For further information please contact Adam Stewart, Google Cloud Regional Manager for UK Public Sector at adamstewart@google.com or call 07919 113421. To speak to one of the CCS team, please email info@crowncommercial.gov.uk.

New digital filtering tools for management consultancy and legal services

The tools are designed to guide you to capable suppliers by filtering by specialism and region of the UK. This will enhance the flexibility and simplicity of buying through the following frameworks:

  • Management Consultancy Framework (RM3745)
    • for objective advice in a number of areas, which may include the identification of options with recommendations as well as implementation and delivery. The services on this framework are divided into 7 lots, each with a selection of different service lines that you can filter by: finance, audit, HR, health and community, education, infrastructure and ICT and digital.
  • Management Consultancy Framework 2 (RM6008)
    • runs in parallel with Management Consultancy Framework for objective advice in a number of areas, which may include identifying options, with recommendations, as well as implementation and delivery. The services on this framework are divided into 4 lots, each with a selection of different service lines that you can filter by: business, strategic, complex and transformation, and procurement, supply chain and commercial.
  • Legal Services for Wider Public Sector (RM3788) 
    • for  legal advice and services across all UK jurisdictions. Access full service and regional firms across a variety of specialisms including social housing, education, and primary care, and specialist lots for law in relation to property and construction, and rail. Although primarily for the wider public sector, lot 1 is available to central government on a limited basis.

Accessing the tools

To use either of the filtering tools please follow the links below and select ‘create a CCS account’ to register:

Legal services digital filtering tool

Management consultancy digital filtering tool

If you would like to use both tools you only need to create one account. You can use the same login details for both tools. 

If you have any questions about using these new tools please email info@crowncommercial.gov.uk with ‘management consultancy digital tool’ or ‘legal services digital tool’ in the subject line.

Social distancing solutions and much more from our new Furniture framework

This new agreement can support your organisation as you plan to reopen amid the new measures that have been put in place by the government, as well as your more general needs, from secure to recycled furniture.

Listed suppliers are offering a range of products including protective screens, hand sanitiser stations and temperature screening booths, as well as consultancy services to help plan space in line with social distancing guidance. There are also temporary solutions available, including working from home and removable furniture for when circumstances change.

Following customer feedback, the new agreement has been developed to provide a wider product offering than the previous iteration, and now includes:

  • security-rated CPNI (Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure) furniture for securing your assets
  • fitted and bespoke furniture 
  • specific furniture for the education sector
  • remanufactured and recycled furniture; a cost-effective and sustainable alternative

Elizabeth Riley, CCS Commercial Lead for the framework, said:

“We have extended what we have on offer with this brand new framework, in response to buyers’ needs.

“CCS consulted with a number of key stakeholders to understand the need for secure and bespoke furniture, and the needs of our education customers have also been included.”

80% of suppliers on this framework are SMEs, supporting the Government’s ambition that, by 2022, one third of procurement spending is with small and medium-sized businesses.

Visit the framework page to find out how you can get started today.

Security solutions for a COVID-secure workplace

Thermal cameras for temperature screening

Using infrared technology, thermal cameras can detect radiating heat from a body to provide an estimated core body temperature. These cameras are an extremely powerful tool, often deployed by firefighters to track smouldering embers and police to search for out-of-sight suspects. Technology has been developed in several formats from hand-held units to mounted cameras, providing increased safety as they allow measuring of multiple people, without the need for physical contact. Thermal cameras will enable businesses to rapidly check the temperature of staff or visitors as they enter a building without contact. They are suitable for workplaces with high footfalls; for example, there are thermal cameras that can scan more than 120 people per minute.

Fixed camera

  • ideal for covering entrances and hallways
  • high efficiency, only one second to detect a person
  • accurate
  • easy installation and configuration

 Handheld wireless mobile camera

  • ideal for mobile use, moving quickly between different venues
  • flexible and quick deployment
  • easy connection, cable free

Face mask detection

  • ideal for checking when and where face masks are required
  • clear intuitive display settings e.g.  red for temperature, orange for missing mask, green for wearing mask and within required temperature range
  • fast history search, selected by temperature and/or mask status 
  • real time alert and voice prompt from camera when an individual is not wearing a mask
  • fast deployment and cost effective, only one camera required

Physical access controls

Controls such as pin pads or biometrics should be assessed, especially where direct contact is concerned. For organizations at higher risk e.g. larger footfalls where there is increased difficulty to manage end-to-end security, the implementation of non-contact inspection of ID by guards might work in the short term with a view to transition to more advanced contactless systems (automated turnstiles/doors) in the long term.

Touch-free temperature screening terminal can be used to give staff an easier way to enter a building, record attendance and simultaneously check temperature without having to touch a terminal or gate, using face recognition and thermographic technologies. The touch-free nature of the terminals makes access easier and safer, suitable for long-term temperature screening with access control for any scenarios with a high footfall of people. Systems can also be provided that allow for people to ‘self-check’ their temperature.

Touch free access control 

  • ideal for contactless doorway access
  • thermographic camera built-in delivering efficient temperature measurement
  • real-time skin-surface temperature display
  • face mask detection 

Entrance metal detector door 

  • ideal for main entrances where immediate testing is required for both metal detection and skin surface temperature together
  • on-board thermal camera providing accurate skin-surface temperature measurement
  • includes a live display for real time skin-surface temperature
  • light and audio alarm built-in
  • fast deployment

Personal proximity sensors 

These can provide visible, audible and vibrating alerts when pre-set distancing rules are broken. These can be provided in a number of formats, from a removable sensor that can be attached to a belt or pocket using a hook, to a more advanced sensor that can be incorporated into a badge holder. 

Digital display and signage 

In order to enable social distancing, it’s imperative that buildings and facilities limit the number of people allowed inside. Many supermarkets, for instance, have a current maximum of 100 people let in at a time.

 The security market can provide automated density control solutions, which will automatically provide clear signage and ways to avoid overcrowding.

Digital display solutions are useful for clearly communicating live information to all your staff by combining temperature screening, density control and face mask detection information with digital and video messaging. It lets individuals know when they can enter your building along with displaying any specific messages in real-time.

All of these services are available to access under lots 1a (security services) and 1b (technical security) of our Workplace Services framework. Visit the framework page to find out more. 

Keep your fleet clean and go green with our Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Solutions

In June 2019, the UK became the first major economy to pass legislation to end its contribution to global warming by 2050 through becoming carbon net zero. 

This means any emissions will have to be balanced by schemes to offset an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere – replacing vehicles with internal combustion engines with zero emission vehicles, for example. 

At a policy level, the 2017 Autumn Statement set out that government fleets would “electrify 25% of their car fleets by 2022 and…100% by 2030”. This Government Fleet Commitment is now captured within the Government Buying Standards for Transport. 

It’s acknowledged that there’s a local nature to the air quality problem, with hot-spots across the UK. This means that at a regional level, public sector organisations are determining how best to tackle the air quality within their areas, resulting in a variety of approaches.

The demand for electric vehicles across the public sector – from operational fleets to the employee travelling for business, as well as public network users – has started to take shape. The momentum for vehicle charging infrastructure installations is expected to be extensive over the coming years, continuing for a generation.

How we are addressing the market

While the vehicle charging infrastructure market is young and fragmented, the supply base is growing significantly, from small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to large suppliers.

This is a growing market, responding to the global environmental agenda. It presents an opportunity for the public sector to meet their social value priorities.

We have responded to this demand and developed a dynamic route to market that provides a suite of vehicle charging infrastructure solutions. 

Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Solutions (VCIS)

We have implemented a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), as it allows suppliers to join at any point, resulting in a responsive solution that adapts to the market as capabilities develop. 

For you, this means the ability to shape your contract to suit your requirements, safe in the knowledge that you can access the very latest, cutting-edge, solutions. 

The Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Solutions agreement is available for you to use now,  giving you access to a range of products and services in the following areas:

  • funding options: the products and services available through the DPS are grouped under three main headings: buyer funded – purchase or lease, supplier funded or where the funding model is yet to be decided
  • location: services across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
  • consultancy and feasibility: professional advice and services to help you understand what you need and your funding options
  • groundworks, civil engineering and construction: to help you design, construct and deliver solutions. Importantly, including facilitation of Distribution Network Operator connection
  • hardware, accessories and associated delivery services: for supply and installation including payment solutions, along with training, maintenance and decommissioning 
  • software and back office solutions: enhancing your infrastructure management through the use of data and intelligent analysis
  • end to end service: for a fully managed solution

Watch our buyer webinar or use our step by step guide to find out more about how to access the DPS to buy your vehicle charging solutions.

More graduates ‘Get into Teaching’ thanks to our Communication Services framework

The uncertainty coronavirus (COVID-19) has brought means those with responsibility for student recruitment are being forced to evaluate and optimise every area of their marketing and communications strategies. 

Many of our framework suppliers are experienced in delivering effective recruitment campaigns, to great impact, in challenging environments. 

In this case study, we explore how the Department for Education (DfE) addressed the decline in the number of graduates who were being recruited into teaching roles by engaging a supplier on our Communication Services framework.

The challenge

In the hugely competitive sector of graduate recruitment – and unable to compete with the starting salaries offered by the big corporate graduate recruiters – DfE faced an uphill challenge to remain relevant to those about to leave university. As such, the teaching profession was struggling to retain its desirability with this audience. 

The challenge for suppliers was to reappraise DfE’s ‘Get into Teaching’ media plan to drive greater awareness and relevancy with the student and graduate audiences. 

With their specialist knowledge, they were best placed to understand how best to showcase the ‘Get into Teaching’ campaign with this hard-to-reach audience and demonstrate the profession as a viable career option.

The solution

Gaining a deep insight into the target audience to understand how their perception of teaching could be influenced was a critical first step. 

To do this, the chosen supplier worked closely with the DfE’s research agency, Populus, to understand when and how their perception of teaching could be influenced. 

As a result of this work, the supplier created in-depth audience segmentation which directly informed a revised media strategy. 

There was clearly a role for broadcast media in showcasing the emotive brand message of the campaign: driving awareness and inspiring individuals to consider a career in teaching. However, their insight confirmed that opportunities to reach younger audiences via TV were in decline. 

The insight also revealed seasonality played an important role in engaging the target audience. 

The greater ‘mental availability’ of students and graduates over the summer to consider a career – evidenced by a significant uplift in online searches for ‘graduate jobs’ – was a clear opportunity to influence the audience, particularly as the DfE had historically under-invested in advertising over the summer months.

ITV programme Love Island offered the supplier a highly effective opportunity. It offers a high volume of the right audience at the right time – a ‘sweet spot’ of TV programming optimisation. 

The supplier showcased a longer-form commercial in a premium position in the launch episode and took advantage of the further audience available within the ITV Player platform. 

The supplier also developed an enhanced role for advertising in cinemas. Based upon their insights, they moved away from the traditional model of selecting films with the biggest reach, instead selecting key films that resonated with the target audience. A highly engaging, impactful environment, cinema is a ‘must-have’ for reaching this audience in a highly social setting.

The outcome

  1. Taking advantage of the advertising opportunities available on ITV Player, in addition to the TV spot in Love Island, doubled the reach of those seeing the ‘Get into Teaching’ commercial’ – adding a further 640,000 unique users to the 616,000 reached via the TV spot.
  2. Activity on the ‘Get into Teaching’ site spiked during Love Island, with a 22% increase in sessions and a 25% increase in new users. Paid search performance improved six-fold at the time of the TV and on-demand transmission.
  3. So successful was this activity that budget was ring-fenced to support an amplification strategy during the next academic year. The reach and impact of ‘appointment to view’ programming opportunities were to be enhanced with relevant video on demand products and other programming-led content such as podcasts.
  4. The latest brand tracking results show the decline in student and graduate consideration of teaching has been arrested – consideration held at 48%, providing a solid base to increase applications from this group.
  5. An 18% year-on-year uplift in website registrations for June – August 2019, with the activity contributing an additional 10,000 applicants for teaching over this period.

Want to know more? 

Regardless of your marketing and research needs – from integrated campaigns and media buying support to research, monitoring, evaluation services – our frameworks are here to help.

For more information, please visit our webpage or contact us.