press release

release detail

Government Connect rewards VEGA with £1.6m contract extension

25 July 2008 – VEGA Group PLC (VEGA), the specialist professional services company, has been awarded a £1.6m contract extension to continue providing specialist support to Government Connect.

Government Connect is the strategic partnership between central government departments and the local government community that aims to build a secure network for English and Welsh local authorities to support better collaboration between central and local government, and share sensitive information online, quickly, easily, accurately and in real time. The programme is an example of how the successful exploitation of technology can enable Transformational Government.

VEGA will support the Government Connect Programme Support Office, and Requirements and System Architecture Team, as well as provide CLAS Security Consultants, and Service Desk and Support Manager. VEGA consultants also form the majority of the central and regionally-based Account Management Team, who act both as Security Advisors and Account Managers, assisting all 410 Local Authorities throughout England and Wales in analysing and proving security compliance, and achieving technical configuration.

As part of its continued involvement with Government Connect, VEGA is working closely with central government departments and agencies including the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP); Communities and Local Government (CLG); the Office of Government Commerce Buying Solutions (OGCbs); the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF); the Local Government Association (LGA); Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC); the Youth Justice Board (YJB); and the Information Assurance (IA) arm of GCHQ (CESG).

The new contract builds on VEGA’s support to Government Connect since November 2006, and runs until March 2009.

VEGA's Director for Government and Defence, Peter Armstrong, said: “This contract extension is confirmation of VEGA’s deep understanding, capability and experience in the provision of secure networks in meeting the technological and security challenges inherent in Government Connect. Moving forward, we are excited about continuing to provide support to this important transformation programme improving the service provision for local government.”

Further information
For further information about Government Connect, please contact Mark Gunning via e-mail on mark.gunning@vega.co.uk.

About VEGA
VEGA is a specialist professional services company. It provides independent consulting, technology and managed solutions, based on 30 years’ experience of specialist market and technological domains. This enables VEGA to offer independent expert advice and pragmatic support services in the effective implementation of business strategy. In doing so, VEGA helps its clients to identify business value, manage risk and realise higher levels of success from their programmes and projects.

VEGA's principal markets are Aerospace, Defence and Government. Its key geographies are the UK, Germany, Holland, France and Spain.

VEGA is Catalist accredited and works with Government departments and agencies to ensure that transformation initiatives are conceived, implemented and integrated effectively and efficiently. We help our clients deliver citizen-centric services that operate with the necessary levels of accessibility and security. VEGA also works alongside the stakeholders of the UK Resilience and Critical National Infrastructure communities to ensure UK security at home and abroad. Clients include the Cabinet Office, Department of Communities and Local Government, Home Office, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, UK Emergency Services, Department of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Defence, Metropolitan Police, and the Welsh Assembly Government.