Barclays set to review £190m desktop deal

Changes could result in job losses

High-street bank Barclays is reviewing a seven-year $350m (£190m) desktop migration contract signed in 2003 with IT services firm EDS.

A Barclays spokesman says that as the bank evolves, it needs to review and adapt its IT systems to ensure that the right structures are in place to meet the needs of the business.

‘We are in the process of reassessing the structure and nature of our contract with EDS based on the changing IT needs of the bank,’ he said.

‘We have ongoing relationships with HP, Accenture and Microsoft. This contract relates to migrating desktop software, and is by its very nature a one-off contract.’
EDS says it understands that the bank is reviewing its IT procurement strategy.
‘We are confident our agreement with Barclays has the flexibility to accommodate their changing requirements,’ said a spokeswoman.

Alterations to the contract could result in job losses, but Barclays says it does not issue specific figures on such matters and insists that there will be an eventual net increase in IT jobs.