Collaborate 2008 Suffolk ACRE – Collaborating to enhance rural service delivery By Matthew Morling

Contents Introduction Suffolk Online Present & Future Suffolk Online ICT Support Database & Web Development Performance Management System (PMS) Discussion/Questions

Introduction

Suffolk Online

Present & Future

Suffolk Online

ICT Support

Database & Web Development

Performance Management System (PMS)

Discussion/Questions

Introduction Graduated in July 2001 with IT degree Started employment with web design company in Suffolk in Nov 2001 working on Suffolk Online project Moved to Suffolk ACRE in Feb 2004 Since has developed a more strategic and management role within the organisation

Graduated in July 2001 with IT degree

Started employment with web design company in Suffolk in Nov 2001 working on Suffolk Online project

Moved to Suffolk ACRE in Feb 2004

Since has developed a more strategic and management role within the organisation

How We Started – Suffolk Online

How We Started – Suffolk Online Aim Suffolk Online (SOL) began as a government funded project given to Suffolk ACRE & funded by EEDA & DFES to bridge the digital divide between people who have Internet access in rural areas and people who don’t. Video - http://www.suffolkacre.org.uk/main.php/video/X_Of8qrQB-s/SuffolkOnline_Promo

Aim

Suffolk Online (SOL) began as a government funded project given to Suffolk ACRE & funded by EEDA & DFES to bridge the digital divide between people who have Internet access in rural areas and people who don’t.

Video - http://www.suffolkacre.org.uk/main.php/video/X_Of8qrQB-s/SuffolkOnline_Promo

How We Started – Suffolk Online (cont) How it was achieved By providing 1500 free computers with Internet connections via Suffolk Online The allocation of computers focused on the socially and financially deprived Heavily subsidised Internet access

How it was achieved

By providing 1500 free computers with Internet connections via Suffolk Online

The allocation of computers focused on the socially and financially deprived

Heavily subsidised Internet access

How We Started – Suffolk Online (cont) Coverage Area

How We Started – Suffolk Online (cont) Customers were provided with the following: A free computer and printer An Internet connection via Suffolk Online Free basic training courses A locally based helpdesk to deal with all queries A two year computer warranty supported by a locally based engineer and the computer manufacturer themselves Volunteer champion support via knowledgeable local people A website portal for users to interact with each other across Suffolk

Customers were provided with the following:

A free computer and printer

An Internet connection via Suffolk Online

Free basic training courses

A locally based helpdesk to deal with all queries

A two year computer warranty supported by a locally based engineer and the computer manufacturer themselves

Volunteer champion support via knowledgeable local people

A website portal for users to interact with each other across Suffolk

How We Started – Suffolk Online (cont) Successes 1500 people got access to computers and the Internet that wouldn’t have otherwise Championed activation of rural telephone exchanges for Broadband Setup a wireless broadband network for those villages who BT had no plan of activating their local exchange Setup local Internet points in prominent community places The local helpdesk received excellent feedback

Successes

1500 people got access to computers and the Internet that wouldn’t have otherwise

Championed activation of rural telephone exchanges for Broadband

Setup a wireless broadband network for those villages who BT had no plan of activating their local exchange

Setup local Internet points in prominent community places

The local helpdesk received excellent feedback

Present & Future – Suffolk Online More conventional ISP Generates valuable income to fund other work within Suffolk ACRE & the ICT Department Local support and honest service delivery key to it’s future Recently moved back end supplier to further push products and sales

More conventional ISP

Generates valuable income to fund other work within Suffolk ACRE & the ICT Department

Local support and honest service delivery key to it’s future

Recently moved back end supplier to further push products and sales

Present & Future – ICT Support Mission The mission of the service is to improve efficiency, value for money in IT infrastructure and allow those specialists in the voluntary sector to do their job.

Mission

The mission of the service is to improve efficiency, value for money in IT infrastructure and allow those specialists in the voluntary sector to do their job.

Present & Future – ICT Support Comprehensive and good value IT support service, including telephone & remote support, on-site support, procurement and general advice Offers an honest and straight forward approach to IT Understands the needs and budgets of the sector Clients across county

Comprehensive and good value IT support service, including telephone & remote support, on-site support, procurement and general advice

Offers an honest and straight forward approach to IT

Understands the needs and budgets of the sector

Clients across county

Present & Future – ICT Support (cont) Prices £45 £40 £35 16-30 PC’s £35 £30 £25 6-15 PC’s £25 £20 £15 1-5 PC’s Prices per month £30 £35 £40 On-site hourly rate Yes Yes No Free Health Check 3hrs per month 2hr per month 1hr per month Tel & Remote Support Gold Silver Bronze

Present & Future – ICT Support (cont) ERIC = Eastern Region Information Cluster ICT Leads of all counties in East Anglia Collaborating to encourage more effective use of ICT in the region Produced strategy documents that have buy in amongst every county in region Shared information in ICT projects across the region assisting each other where possible Have provided real assistance to ICT issues

ERIC = Eastern Region Information Cluster

ICT Leads of all counties in East Anglia

Collaborating to encourage more effective use of ICT in the region

Produced strategy documents that have buy in amongst every county in region

Shared information in ICT projects across the region assisting each other where possible

Have provided real assistance to ICT issues

Present & Future – ICT Support (cont) Working closely with Advice for Life in Cambridge and the ERIC group to provide a regional ICT helpdesk for the Eastern Region. The helpdesk’s vision is to provide a one-stop shop of all ICT services, including signposting, discounted procurement & telephone & onsite support

Working closely with Advice for Life in Cambridge and the ERIC group to provide a regional ICT helpdesk for the Eastern Region.

The helpdesk’s vision is to provide a one-stop shop of all ICT services, including signposting, discounted procurement & telephone & onsite support

Present & Future – DB & Web Development Online Questionnaire

Online Questionnaire

Present & Future – DB & Web Development Built by collaborating with Suffolk Coastal and our Internal Parish Plans team Designed to improve the response rate and accessibility of local parish plans questionnaires Multi-question, multi answer system Enables parishes to view level of success of questionnaire at any time Security enabled system to ensure validity of answers http:// www.suffolkacre.org.uk/ppq

Built by collaborating with Suffolk Coastal and our Internal Parish Plans team

Designed to improve the response rate and accessibility of local parish plans questionnaires

Multi-question, multi answer system

Enables parishes to view level of success of questionnaire at any time

Security enabled system to ensure validity of answers

http:// www.suffolkacre.org.uk/ppq

Present & Future – DB & Web Development (cont) Insurance Database Collaboration with our own Internal Insurance team to improve efficiency within the team Significant increases in workload due to success of service has required a new system System built within MS Access Early indications from the team are very positive Time savings will allow the team to do what they do best – sell insurance!

Insurance Database

Collaboration with our own Internal Insurance team to improve efficiency within the team

Significant increases in workload due to success of service has required a new system

System built within MS Access

Early indications from the team are very positive

Time savings will allow the team to do what they do best – sell insurance!

Present & Future – DB & Web Development (cont) Insurance Database

Insurance Database

Present & Future – DB & Web Development (cont) Insurance Database

Insurance Database

Present & Future – DB & Web Development (cont) Insurance Database Allows easy management of all policies, quotes & renewals Allows easy access print outs of standard documents Dovetails with parts of our own financial systems Automates all parts of the insurance process Accesses central contact database store

Insurance Database

Allows easy management of all policies, quotes & renewals

Allows easy access print outs of standard documents

Dovetails with parts of our own financial systems

Automates all parts of the insurance process

Accesses central contact database store

Present & Future – DB & Web Development (cont) Websites http://www.suffolkacre.org.uk http://www.onevoicesuffolk.org.uk http:// www.solbits.co.uk

Websites

http://www.suffolkacre.org.uk

http://www.onevoicesuffolk.org.uk

http:// www.solbits.co.uk

Present & Future – DB & Web Development (cont) Booking System Collaboration with our own transport team to deliver a booking system for the booking clerks to deal with the bookings they take for multiple transport projects Currently in beta mode Vision is that this will be built upon in the future to provide a multi-purpose booking system for the sector, that would be payment enabled

Booking System

Collaboration with our own transport team to deliver a booking system for the booking clerks to deal with the bookings they take for multiple transport projects

Currently in beta mode

Vision is that this will be built upon in the future to provide a multi-purpose booking system for the sector, that would be payment enabled

Present & Future – DB & Web Development (cont)

Present & Future – DB & Web Development (cont)

Present & Future – DB & Web Development (cont)

Present & Future – DB & Web Development (cont)

Present & Future – PMS PMS = Performance Management System The PMS is a remotely accessible database system used for monitoring and recording progress on projects. Built with Change Up money and with an external developer Since have been able to provide further upgrades and timesheets capability to the system at the expense of Suffolk ACRE Have already sold the product to 5 RCC’s in the East Midlands. Expressions of Interest from at least 10 RCC’s and county councils across the UK

PMS = Performance Management System

The PMS is a remotely accessible database system used for monitoring and recording progress on projects.

Built with Change Up money and with an external developer

Since have been able to provide further upgrades and timesheets capability to the system at the expense of Suffolk ACRE

Have already sold the product to 5 RCC’s in the East Midlands.

Expressions of Interest from at least 10 RCC’s and county councils across the UK

Present & Future – PMS Summary Screen

Summary Screen

Present & Future – PMS Finances

Finances

Present & Future – PMS Human Resources

Human Resources

Present & Future – PMS Outputs

Outputs

Present & Future – PMS Outcomes

Outcomes

Present & Future – PMS Milestones

Milestones

Present & Future – PMS Risks

Risks

Present & Future – PMS Coverage

Coverage

Present & Future – PMS Notes

Notes

Discussion/Questions How can ICT improve on rural service delivery? Discuss & Question Away!

How can ICT improve on rural service delivery?

Discuss & Question Away!

Thank You & Goodbye! Thank you for listening!

Thank you for listening!

Contact Details Name – Matthew Morling Organisation – Suffolk ACRE Tel: 01473 242521 Fax: 01473 242530 Email: [email_address]

Name – Matthew Morling

Organisation – Suffolk ACRE

Tel: 01473 242521

Fax: 01473 242530

Email: [email_address]