News
Thurrock Council and Vertex set to transform key services in the UK's most significant strategic partnership agreement
12th November 2004
Believed to be one of the most significant contracts awarded in local government to date, the strategic partnership aims to radically improve residents’ experience when dealing with the Thames Gateway council.
Thurrock's 145,000 residents will see key services from their local authority transformed as part of a ground-breaking agreement between Thurrock Unitary Council and Vertex - the customer management arm of United Utilities PLC.
The 15 year agreement, worth up to £427million, is based on a strategic partnership between Thurrock Council and Vertex which will put the resident at the heart of council activities by radically transforming the way services are delivered. Vertex will achieve a step change in both quality and effectiveness by implementing its ‘Citizen First’ service solution, developed specifically to meet the needs of the local government modernisation and efficiency agenda.
Ten council services are to be managed by Vertex ranging from administration and customer services to revenues, procurement and human resources - one of the broadest sets of public sector service activities so far undertaken within a public-private partnership.
Pictured (l to r) Cllr Garry Hague, Deputy Leader Thurrock Council, Andy Hunt Vertex Director of Sales and Marketing, Cllr Anne Cheale, Leader Thurrock Council and David White, Managing Director, Thurrock Council
Commenting on the improvements Thurrock residents will experience as a result of the partnership with Vertex, Leader of Thurrock Council, Cllr Anne Cheale said: "We have reached a milestone in our bid to radically improve the way this council serves residents. Our partnership with Vertex will allow us to provide a more effective and efficient service and help Thurrock to achieve its goal of becoming an excellent council."
Around 600 Thurrock Council employees will transfer to Vertex when the partnership commences on 1 April 2005. There are also plans to create a state-of-the-art business centre in Grays, Thurrock which will house a new customer contact centre, offer a range of community services and supply office accommodation for new business start-ups within the borough.
Thurrock Council’s urban regeneration programme will also be assisted by Vertex creating more than 600 new jobs over time, which will provide new and varied opportunities for employment, training and development in the area.
Cllr Garry Hague, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member responsible for Business Development at Thurrock Council, said: "This partnership will have the cumulative effect of attracting new businesses and jobs to Thurrock and encouraging further investment in the area. It will also provide extra depth and breadth in the type of jobs and personal development opportunities available for council staff and for the people of Thurrock generally. We believe it will act as a real catalyst for economic regeneration, encouraging other businesses to invest in Thurrock and take advantage of the positive changes taking place here, and to capitalise on the area's strategic location in the Thames Gateway and its close proximity to London."
Thurrock Council Managing Director David White said: "While this is an historic opportunity to transform how services are delivered in Thurrock, it is also an exciting time for the staff who will transfer to Vertex as part of the new arrangements. Each staff member will have their terms and conditions protected, and they will have new opportunities to pursue their careers in directions in which they may never have previously imagined."
Significantly, Vertex will implement and manage the full range of the partnership’s £10 million IT transformation programme which will underpin the comprehensive service provision aimed at increasing resident’s choice and council accessibility. Vertex will build upon its experience in delivering major transformation and technology programmes within the commercial sector by executing the programme in its entirety.
Vertex will work in association with its sister company - ‘United Utilities Contract Solutions’ - who will provide facilities and property management as well as highway engineering and transportation services.
Vertex Managing Director Tom Drury concluded: "Thurrock Council is going through a major programme of modernisation and recognises the need to bring in expertise from Vertex to help transform the vital link between service users and service providers.
"Partnership is at the core of our relationship with Thurrock and we look forward to working closely with the council, helping to develop their key services and also welcoming those employees who will transfer to Vertex."
