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North wins £7M connectivity contract with City of York Council

Managed services provider North has announced it has won a £7m contract to provide a fully managed connectivity service to 27 local authority schools and the Council’s corporate estate.

The digital transformation project for Council buildings and schools across York aims to put flexible working, safety, security, and connectivity at the heart of operations.

North said the £7million contract is a significant win and will be the second 10-year managed service contract the company has secured with the City of York Council.

The digital transformation services within the project will oversee the installation of a range of security measures across the network, new digital tools to allow both internal and external threats to be monitored, and faster and more flexible Wi-Fi to support a blended working environment.

Councillor Nigel Ayre, executive member for finance and performance, City of York Council, said, “York’s connectivity is helping to attract investment and jobs to the city, is supporting the city’s recovery from the pandemic and helping us to address 21st century city challenges with innovative smart technology. This has seen us use technology to help us tackle challenges in a wide range of areas transport, social care and make the city an even better place to live and work.

“This long-term investment will help to further improve council services and we look forward to continuing our innovative work with North in the months and years ahead.

Mark Lowe, business development director at North, added, “Digital services have become the essential foundation to deliver enhanced public services across local government with a blended-online approach now commonly adapted in workplaces. Therefore, to ensure businesses are able to operate effectively these structures must be kept up-to-date and secure.

“North will ensure the most advanced infrastructure is established across the City of York’s estate and local schools, facilitating a hybrid working approach that fits the needs of the Council for years to come, while enhancing the education environment for pupils.”