Originmeister, Author at Bramble Hub | Connecting Private & Public Sector Organisations

MH&A to Review Digital Systems at Social Work England

Posted on 13 May 2025 - 16:17 by Originmeister

Bramble Hub, and our partner MH&A, have been appointed by Social Work England (SWE) to conduct a strategic review of their digital, data and technology (DDaT) systems and advise on a future DDaT strategy.

During the review, MH&A will evaluate existing systems, architectures and processes, and produce a draft strategy and implementation plan. The plan will include an evaluation of opportunities and risks posed by emerging technologies, including AI.

Social Work England is a specialist regulator for social workers in England, established in December 2019. Operating as a non-departmental public body, it focuses on public protection by setting professional standards, assuring the quality of social work education and maintaining a public register of qualified social workers.

The contract was awarded via the Management Consultancy Framework 3 (MCF3) from Crown Commercial Services (CCS).

Civiteq Delivering Data Strategy to Liverpool City Council

Posted on 9 April 2025 - 15:24 by Originmeister

Bramble Hub, in partnership with Civiteq, has successfully secured a contract with Liverpool City Council for the provision of a Data Strategy and Implementation Plan. The work will enhance Liverpool City Council’s data management capabilities. The contract commenced on April 1, 2025, and will run until March 31, 2026. This win underscores Civiteq’s commitment to delivering high-quality data solutions to public sector organizations.

The contract was awarded under the Big Data & Analytics framework, a procurement framework managed by Crown Commercial Service (CCS).

Goodbye PTFS; Hello Open Fifth

Posted on 1 April 2025 - 15:24 by Originmeister

Bramble Hub partner PTFS Europe has announced a rebrand to Open Fifth.

The software company, which specialises in open source library solutions, announced the name change on 26 March. Open Fifth retains the company’s core mission of “Freeing libraries to do what they do best”.

“Open fifth” is a musical term, referring to a chord that consists of a first note and fifth note, with no third. This references the fact that the directors Jonathan Field and Andrew Auld met nearly 30 years ago in a choir, where they often sang a fifth apart in their respective vocal parts.

We at Bramble Hub welcome the fresh new brand, and look forward to working in harmony (boom tish) with Open Fifth, as we have done in the past with PTFS.

Democracy Counts: Pioneering Electoral Management Solutions

Posted on 11 March 2025 - 15:19 by Originmeister

Democracy Counts, a Bramble Hub partner and leading provider of electoral management software and services, has been at the forefront of innovation in the democratic process for over a decade. Founded in 2009 by Simon Verdon, the company has deep roots in electoral services, with key personnel boasting over 25 years of experience in the field.

Comprehensive Electoral Solutions

Democracy Counts offers a suite of products designed to streamline and modernise electoral processes. These include Elector8, their flagship election management system and a suite of other tools for managing postal votes, canvassing, polling stations, and more.

The company serves approximately 70 customers across their product suite.

Partnership with Bramble Hub

As a partner of Bramble Hub, Democracy Counts has successfully supplied their products to over 20 UK customers. Notable customers include The Greater London Authority, Ceredigion County Council and Wiltshire Council.

Innovative Approach

Democracy Counts prides itself on being at the cutting edge of electoral technology. Michael Coleman, Client Services Director, emphasizes their focus on innovation: “We’ve always been viewed as innovators. Our aim is to build software that supports users in working smarter rather than harder – we deliver beyond the statutory minimums.”

Key innovations include:

Workflow management capabilities allowing customization of working practices based on local requirements
Automated communication systems integrated with the election management process
Electronic Polling Station and Polling Station Inspection Management

Commitment to Security and Research

The company is actively exploring the future of online voting security. Michael reveals, “We’re working in conjunction with Napier University around cryptography. We’re looking at the secure means of managing elections via individualised digital wallets and ensuring the safe, secure and viable running of digital elections.”

International Reach

While primarily focused on the UK market, Democracy Counts also provides services to commonwealth nations, including Electoral Registration and Management for the Kingdom of Tonga.

Customer-Centric Approach

Democracy Counts emphasizes collaboration with clients and continuous improvement. Michael Coleman states, “We like to focus very much on how we can improve customer experience through collaboration.” This approach extends to their support services, with Michael asserting, “We do believe we have the most comprehensive support team in the sector that is a specialist team who understand the processes.”

As electoral processes continue to evolve, Democracy Counts, in partnership with Bramble Hub, remains committed to delivering innovative, secure, and efficient solutions to support the democratic process across the UK and beyond.

Technology One Delivering New Finance Software to South Tyneside

Posted on 10 March 2025 - 15:18 by Originmeister

South Tyneside Council has agreed a deal with Bramble Hub, and our partner Technology One, for the provision of a Finance and Procurement software solution. The contract is part of the council’s broader strategy to modernise its services.

The new system will replace the existing Oracle EBS platform, enhancing efficiency and transparency in financial and procurement processes. The software will be provided via a Software as a Service (SaaS) model and will be integrated with existing systems. Technology One will provide ongoing support and maintenance. The implementation is set to be completed by April 2026, aligning with the council’s vision for a more effective and accessible service delivery.

Digital Documents Solutions framework extended by NHS LPP

Posted on 6 March 2025 - 15:16 by Originmeister

NHS London Procurement Partnership (LPP) has announced an extension to its Digital Documents Solutions (DDS) framework. The framework will now run until 30 September 2026. The extension provides NHS organizations and other eligible public sector bodies with additional time to access a wide range of digital document solutions and services.

Bramble Hub is a supplier on the Workflow Processes lot of the framework. The extension allows us to continue offering our partners’ expertise and solutions to NHS trusts, foundation trusts, clinical commissioning groups, and various health and social care providers, as well as the wider public sector.

With an estimated value of £5 billion over its initial four-year period, the framework demonstrates the significant investment in digital document solutions for the NHS and wider public sector.

Pixel Global: Transforming Procurement and Commercial Solutions in the Public Sector

Posted on 25 February 2025 - 15:13 by Originmeister

Founded in 2018 by sourcing professionals Nilesh Bhandari and James Brathwaite, Bramble Hub partner Pixel Global has quickly established itself as a force in procurement and commercial solutions, particularly within the UK public sector.

Core Competencies

Pixel Global specialises in several key areas:

Procurement and Commercial Expertise: The company excels in designing and developing procurement and commercial models, helping clients shape strategies, build business cases, and navigate through procurement and implementation processes.

Technology Integration: Leveraging their digital expertise, Pixel Global seamlessly integrates technology with procurement strategies, enhancing efficiency and optimizing supply chains.

Programme Governance and Financial Control: With a track record of accelerating delivery and recovering programmes, Pixel Global emphasizes clear governance, repeatable ‘storytelling’, and strong stakeholder relationships.

Mission Critical Transformation: The company brings depth and breadth of expertise to mission-critical programmes, combining commercial/procurement and business/technology capabilities.

Public Sector Focus

Pixel Global has a strong track record in the UK public sector, underlining its commitment to delivering sustainable commercial and procurement solutions that maximize taxpayer value. Their experience spans across the sector, from large government departments to local authorities, positioning them to address the specific needs of public sector organisations.

Partnership with Bramble Hub at DWP

In 2023, Bramble Hub, with Pixel Global as our delivery partner, won a major contract with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). In this ongoing project, Pixel Global is providing strategic and project management expertise, encompassing the following three areas:

Infrastructure Decommissioning and Cloud Strategy: Planning and executing the retirement of legacy systems while defining cloud strategies aligned with programme goals.

Migration and Security: Overseeing migration planning, implementing security measures, and optimizing costs to ensure smooth transitions and regulatory compliance.

Collaboration and Skill Development: Driving DWP service adoption of new cloud services, facilitating effective communication, and developing skills for teams who will manage the cloud services.

Testimonial

The effectiveness of Pixel Global’s approach is demonstrated by customer feedback: a Programme Director at DWP stated, “I do not underestimate the time and effort Pixel has made and the commitment and dedication Pixel has shown, which has gone above expectations”.

Project One Launches Transformation Podcast

Posted on 25 February 2025 - 15:08 by Originmeister

Project One, a Bramble Hub partner and leading UK independent boutique consultancy, has launched Transformation Talks, a new podcast series. The podcast aims to uncover strategies, real-world stories, and insights to help leaders navigate change and transformation with confidence.

Hosted by Project One’s Head of Marketing Hayley Saich, Transformation Talks will feature monthly episodes covering topics such as Leading Change and Transformation, the strategic impact of Change Management, and driving lasting success through PPM and PMO. The first episode, titled The Power of the People, features Emma Anderson and Giles Randle discussing the challenges and key aspects of successful transformations.

Hayley says about the show: “Conversations with our consultants have always been a highlight of my job. Listening to their stories on how they work on some of the most complex change and transformation programmes for some of the largest organisations in the world is fascinating. So, this podcast enables me to share this with the masses and uncover lessons they’ve learned along the way to help others be successful.”

As a Bramble Hub partner, Project One has successfully delivered several time-critical transformation projects and programmes across the public sector. The podcast launch comes as the company celebrates recent accolades after being named the UK’s top boutique consultancy for Project and Programme Management by Consultancy.uk, and recognition as a Financial Times UK Leading Management Consultancy.

The Transformation Talks podcast is available from all leading podcast platforms.

Bramble Hub Secures Spot on Crown Commercial Service’s New BOS2 Framework

Posted on 24 February 2025 - 11:08 by Originmeister

Bramble Hub has been appointed as a supplier on both lots of the new Back Office Software 2 (BOS2) framework by Crown Commercial Service (CCS). This appointment continues Bramble Hub’s successful track record in supplying Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions to the public sector, having also been a supplier on the predecessor Back Office Software (BOS) framework since 2021.

The BOS2 framework, which opened for business on 18 February 2025, provides public sector organizations with access to a comprehensive suite of software solutions and associated services for back office and business management functions. It covers a wide range of applications, including Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Human Capital Management (HCM), and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems.

Richard Archer, Bramble Hub’s Managing Director, commented on the appointment: “We are delighted to continue our relationship with CCS through the BOS2 framework. This appointment reinforces our commitment to providing our partners’ innovative software solutions to the public sector.”

Bramble Hub’s inclusion in the BOS2 framework adds to our portfolio of almost 20 public sector procurement frameworks. Our thin-prime model enables public sector customers to access innovative suppliers while simplifying the procurement process for both parties. With the BOS2 framework set to run until at least August 2027, Bramble Hub is well positioned to continue our role in bridging the gap between private sector expertise and public sector needs.

Castle Point Renews Managed IT Services Deal with ABS

Posted on 13 February 2025 - 10:57 by Originmeister

Castle Point Borough Council has renewed its contract with Bramble Hub, and our partner ABS IT Services (ABS), for the provision of managed IT services and private cloud hosting. The new agreement follows the expiry of a contract awarded in 2020.

Under the agreement, ABS will continue to provide a comprehensive suite of services, including:

Infrastructure and data management
Managed Microsoft 365 and Azure Solutions
User management
A service desk
Management of cybersecurity
Reporting and performance management

The contract was awarded via the Technology Services 3 (TS3) framework from Crown Commercial Service. Bramble Hub is a thin-prime provider on TS3, which is open for new business until March 2026.

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