Berwin Leighton Paisner

The IT team at law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner is proud of providing a robust and resilient service to its users, with core applications always available.

As well as maintaining this baseline service, the team also strives to find innovative solutions to both technical and business challenges, illustrated by developments such as its Rapport client extranet service.

The team also demonstrates an incredible commitment to the business; it gave up its Christmas holiday to migrate more than four million documents, 1,100 PCs and 100 servers to new systems without disruption.

Northumberland County Council

Northumberland County Council’s computer services division has successfully restructured itself around seven business teams corresponding to council directorates.

A further three teams handle the delivery and support of networking, hardware and IT services to all council users.

As well as improving efficiency and morale, the restructured division has successfully delivered several high-profile projects over the past year.

These include a web portal allowing community groups to establish an online presence, internal systems for videoconferencing and home working, and business systems that are saving the council some £2m a year.

London Borough of Lambeth

Local government exists to serve citizens, and technology plays a critical role in ensuring demand is met effectively and efficiently.

In the past year, Lambeth’s IT department has transformed itself, becoming an engine for change across the council and beyond.

By July, the department had completed projects totalling £6.4m, on time and under budget, delivering millions of pounds’ worth of savings.

In total, one million requests have been fulfilled through the council’s customer services infrastructure, driven by the department’s commitment to delivering an optimum service.

Ellis Fairbank

The forward-thinking, problem-solving approach of executive recruitment firm Ellis Fairbank’s four-strong IT team has driven its reputation as a respected function within the company that is fundamental to its progress.

Following strict ITIL processes and project management methodology, the team rarely has to fire-fight and instead spends its time understanding and helping to solve real business issues.

The team has led the company’s expansion from three to five sites, with a sixth on the way, in less than 12 months, managing the expansion positively and proactively.

Voca

Voca handles all of the UK’s Bacs payments, processing 90 per cent of salaries, 70 per cent of household bills and most state benefits.

This year the company’s IT department completed a £100m IT programme consisting of 40 projects across 30 of the country’s largest banks. A new payments engine was installed while maintaining the live operation – a challenge likened to rewiring a house with the lights on.

The team successfully implemented a solution that improves service, cuts costs, adds security and gives Voca the flexibility to take advantage of future opportunities.

Waitrose

The IT department at food retailer Waitrose, part of the John Lewis Partnership, has overseen a major infrastructure expansion programme that has boosted performance and helped build positive, productive relationships with the business.

From supporting fewer than 400 desktops at the company’s Bracknell headquarters, the department now supports 1,900 users, including 300 remote workers. Today, Waitrose’s IT department is driven by service level agreements and supports 2,300 diverse devices including mobile technologies.

Remote access technology has cut desk visits and IT support customer satisfaction has risen from 61 per cent to above 90 per cent.

See www.computing.co.uk/awards for more details.