The CHIPS project aims to replace Companies House's outdated mainframe system with a new integrated system. CHIPS will drive Companies House processes, workflow and IT solutions. It is needed to enable electronic filing and improve quality, access, and the way Companies House currently operates. CHIPS will provide a modern IT foundation to support current and future business processes and the transition to electronic transformation.

2. IT Update
• Companies House is replacing its legacy
mainframe system
• We affectionately call it ‘CHIPS’
• Companies House Information Processing System
• It will drive our processes, workflow and IT
solutions

3. CHIPS is an integral part of the Companies House
development strategy. It aims to replace outdated
systems and procedures with alternatives which will
be better placed to meet the future requirements of
the organisation and it’s customers.
In addition to looking at the Companies House
systems, the CHIPS project will examine how we
can improve quality, provide more flexible access to
the information we provide to customers
and look at improving the way we
currently do things.
Importance of CHIPS
to Companies House

4. In keeping with the Modernising Government policy
agenda, Companies House needs to have the
capacity to receive, process and provide all company
information electronically. This would be extremely
difficult to achieve with the current systems.
To enable Companies House to implement the
legislative changes in the Company Law Review.
The key aspects of the current systems are 15 years
old, use outdated technology and are
becoming increasingly difficult to
maintain and meet the changing
business needs of Companies House.
Business Drivers

5. What will CHIPS “E”nable?
• Electronic filing is the future and is a directive from
central government
“Our aim is to be at the forefront of the
governments e-delivery in our ambitions and
performance”
• Our long term target for take up of e-filing is 75%
by end of 2007/2008
• CHIPS will help us to get there

6. How will CHIPS “E”nable?
• replacement of STEM
– this outdated system must be replaced
• new platform
– which will support increased take up of
electronic services including e-filing of accounts.
• Quality
– vastly improve quality of the Register
• Data
– in the future we will handle data
rather than paper

7. What part will CHIPS play in preparing
for the future?
• Quite simply it will deliver a modern IT system
capable of supporting our current and emerging
business processes
• But, more importantly, it will also provide one of the
key foundation blocks which will enable the future
e-transformation of CH

8. So how is CHIPS being developed?
• System being built in components - allows us to
make use of already written code - but does not
limit functionality
• Mainly Java based code with some commercial
plug in components:
• For example - JRules and Staffware - which will
enable us to easily change business rules and
processes
• Approach will also allow CHIPS to absorb changes
such as the CLR without drastic rework

9. When will it be implemented?
• 1st cutover will be in Edinburgh in summer 2006
• 2nd cutover in Cardiff in autumn 2006