Acuity Business Solutions

Strategy Development

Acuity helps public sector organisations to develop organisational vision, focused strategies, and Target Operating Models that optimise organisational effectiveness across business and Information Technology operations. Our experience of central and local government, and our use of proven techniques helps shape business vision and supporting objectives, and define achievable delivery plans.

Features

• Stakeholder engagement to define and articulate the organisational vision
• Use of effective transformation mapping tools to document the vision
• Identification of strategic objectives supporting the achievement of the vision
• Recognised tools to define supporting business or IT operating models
• Documentation of a strategy delivery and implementation roadmap
• Strategic alignment of objectives to key project milestones and deliverables
• Visual ‘Strategy on a Page’ to clearly communicate the plans
• Implementation of strong organisational performance monitoring and governance mechanisms
• Experience of defining shared strategic plans for cross-sector collaborations
• Experience in Service-led IT and Digital strategy and business transformation

Benefits

• A clear vision enabling organisational understanding and buy-in
• Strategic responses that effectively target and support organisational objectives
• Clear ‘Golden Thread’ ensuring alignment across strategic and operational plans
• A clear view of priorities to avoid wasted cost
• Focused activity to ensure strategies deliver successful improvements
• Clear ownership and accountability for delivery of strategic responses
• Reusable tools to support internal strategy development capability
• Consistent and relevant messaging to maximise stakeholder buy-in
• Identification for shared opportunities for cross-sector benefits
• Strategy delivered through strong project, programme and business governance

£450 to £1,350 a unit a day

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Skills Framework for the Information Age rate card

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at sarah.thomas@acuitynet.co.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

321301797789546

Contact

Sarah Thomas
01392826035
sarah.thomas@acuitynet.co.uk

Planning

• Planning service: Yes
• How the planning service works: Acuity provide an end to end range of planning services aimed at ensuring our clients obtain the best possible outcome for the procurement and implementation of their cloud support service. For clients wishing to procure a new solution Acuity offer detailed requirements gathering and analysis, engaging with all key internal and external stakeholders to ensure there is enough information to select the best possible solution. In conjunction with this, Acuity also support clients to conduct any market engagement required. Once requirements have been adequately outlined Acuity then support clients in the development of any procurement specifications, clearly detailing both the business process and technical requirements of the implementation. This specification will then be used to inform the development of a business case to ensure that all viable options are assessed for value for money (in line with government Green Book Guidelines.) For clients wishing to procure a new solution, and those who have already secured their solution Acuity offer hand on project management experience, taking responsibility for the planning and managing the schedule, costs and risks from inception through to implementation. Acuity have experience in planning for these types of implementation at both local government and national level.
• Planning service works with specific services: No

Training

• Training service provided: Yes
• How the training service works: Acuity offer a full range of training services that can be applied to cloud support services. Our training packages can be applied individually or as a package in both project and business as usual environments. Services that Acuity offer include: • Training needs analysis, where we evaluate staff’s current skill set against the required skill set of their job role. This evaluation is then used as a basis to develop either individual or corporate wide training plans. • Development of Training Strategies and Plans. • Development of face to face and e-learning training packages. As part of this service we: o Capture the requirement of the training package in terms of what the type of training is, who the target audience is, what amount of time will be allocated to the training, if any outputs are required from the training (e.g. completion certificates). o Determine the technical environment the training will be delivered via for e-learning modules o Capture the content of the training module(s) and handouts. o Develop the training package, supporting script and handouts. • Delivery of face to face training for staff and stakeholders at all levels. • Ongoing maintenance of e-learning modules.
• Training is tied to specific services: No

Setup and migration

• Setup or migration service available: Yes
• How the setup or migration service works: At the start of the set up and migration of the cloud service process Acuity work with the client to review the business processes, technical infrastructure and resource requirements of the existing services. In conjunction with this activity Acuity will also carry out an evaluation of the future service from a business process, technical needs and resource perspective. Using these two assessments Acuity then carry out a gap analysis between the two to determine the key change requirements. This provides a baseline from which Acuity build a migration plan to enable a seamless migration from one cloud service to another. During migration, Acuity work with the client to revise the business workflow to enable the adoption of the new cloud service by designing and implementing new process and operating practices. We do so using standard Business Process Re-engineering and Lean methodologies as a fundamental basis for this process. Acuity also provide support to the business and technical migration between Cloud services, through our provision of hands on project and programme management, taking responsibility for the planning and management of the schedule, costs and risks from inception through to implementation.
• Setup or migration service is for specific cloud services: No

Quality assurance and performance testing

• Quality assurance and performance testing service: No

Security testing

• Security services: No

Ongoing support

• Ongoing support service: No

Service scope

• Service constraints: This service has no constraints within the scope.

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: No
• Phone support: No
• Web chat support: No
• Support levels: No chargeable user support provided

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Other security clearance
• Government security clearance: Up to Security Clearance (SC)

Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: No
• ISO 28000:2007 certification: No
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Cyber essentials plus: No
• Other security certifications: No

Social Value

• Social Value:

  Social Value

  • Fighting climate change
  • Covid-19 recovery
  • Tackling economic inequality
  • Equal opportunity
  • Wellbeing

  Fighting climate change

  Acuity are a professional and environmentally conscious organisation who acknowledge the impact our operations may have on the environment and climate change. Working on our pre-Covid baseline emissions, we achieved Net Zero status in 2022 by offsetting the total emissions generated between April 2019 and March 2022, which amounted to 40 tonnes of CO2e. Going forward we aim to reduce our annual emissions and offset any that are produced by the business as a matter of BAU. We are committed to maintaining our carbon neutral organisation and recognise our responsibility for caring for the environment and fighting climate change. We will reduce the environmental impact of our business by:; • Maintaining Net Zero status and running a carbon neutral organisation by monitoring, reducing and offsetting emissions. ; • Reducing emissions by avoiding travel where possible, using public transport and making use of video calls.; • Taking action to eliminate or reduce adverse environmental impacts.; • Promoting environmental awareness amongst our clients, associates and partners.; • Preventing pollution, reducing waste and implementing measures to protect and preserve natural habitats.; • Controlling and reducing waste and recycling material. ; • Striving to be more conscious of printing and utilising refillable ink.; • Ensuring effective and expedient incident control, investigation and reporting.; • Making environmentally positive choices within our supply chains.; We fully comply with the duties laid out within the requirements of Statutory Legislation and those within Approved Guidance issued by the Environment Agency and other organisations. ; We take steps to ensure potential environmental hazards and risks are identified and implement suitable and effective prevention and control measures. ; We have a Carbon Reduction Plan that calculates and monitors our emissions, providing us with the tonnes of CO2e we need to offset to maintain our Net Zero status and run as a carbon neutral organisation.

  Covid-19 recovery

  When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, Acuity, like the majority of businesses, needed to adjust and adapt to a new way of working. We quickly mobilised our team so they could all be fully functional working from home, ensuring our client delivery was not compromised. To meet this new and unexpected challenge we had to ensure our technology was up to the job and our staff had the relevant equipment and access needed to continue effectively with their roles.; We have been fortunate throughout the pandemic in that we have been able to continue delivery of our existing contracts through changing our ways of working to a more digital approach, particularly in terms of communication. Our team quickly adopted the use of Microsoft Teams and Zoom in order to regularly communicate with our clients and internal team. As a business we moved from partial use of these tools to full implementation. Our experience during the pandemic showed, in a lot of cases, the use of these communication tools improved the quality of relationships. They allowed internal and external teams alike to operate from their respective natural environments which in turn broke down barriers to communication and created a strength and depth to our client and internal relationships. ; In this continuing post COVID-19 recovery stage we see the continued benefit of hybrid working with in person meetings being balanced with virtual meetings. We anticipate that travel will now be more targeted, in turn providing both an economical and environmental benefit. This transformation to a more digital way of working has built resilience in to our business, should we have to navigate any similar scenarios in the future. Our business is able to operate remotely, whilst providing a consistently high-level of delivery to make a real difference to our clients.

  Tackling economic inequality

  Acuity is committed to tackling economic inequality and ensures our employees are provided a level playing field with the same access to opportunities and pay scales.; We ensure economic equality throughout our recruitment, selection, training, development and promotion procedures, ensuring all individuals are treated solely on the basis of their relevant aptitudes, skills and abilities. Pay rates for specific roles are equal, regardless of any characteristic not related to their ability to perform the role. ; We provide:; • Equal pay grades ; • Structured interviews for recruitment and promotions; • Flexible working arrangements and a mixture of remote, office-based and client-site working; • Fast track career progression routes for all employees who wish to develop through the levels of consultancy; • Yearly bonuses based on company and personal target achievement; • Yearly pay reviews in line with inflation; • Starting salaries in line, or above, national average and local counterparts; • Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Shared Parental Pay; • A leave related to long service scheme; • A graduate recruitment scheme; • Work experience placements; • Various training opportunities including access to Udemy as a standard part of our employee package.; We ensure our clients, suppliers and associates are provided economic equality from Acuity at all times by:; • Offering a selection of fair and transparent rates to our clients and associates for work provided.; • Offering a managed service option for consultancy. This delivery model offers cost efficiency, with a day rate commensurate with the task at hand, securing maximum value for money by ensuring senior level, and thus more costly resource, only undertakes activities that could not feasibly be undertaken by junior staff at a more cost effective rate.; • Prompt payment within 30 days of all supplier invoices.; • Prompt payment within 30 days of all associate invoices.

  Equal opportunity

  Acuity is an equal opportunity employer, actively supporting diversity and inclusion. Our individuals are valued and treated with dignity and respect and are selected, promoted, and otherwise treated solely on the basis of their relevant aptitudes, skills and abilities. ; We value people as individuals with diverse opinions, cultures, lifestyles and circumstances and acknowledge the benefits diversity brings to our business. All job applicants, employees and associates are covered by this commitment and it covers all areas of employment including recruitment, selection, training, career development, and promotion. These areas are monitored and policies and practices are amended if necessary to ensure no unfair or unlawful discrimination, intentional, unintentional, direct or indirect, overt or latent exists.; Equality of opportunity, valuing diversity and compliance with the law benefits all individuals in our business as it seeks to develop the skills and abilities of all. While specific responsibility for eliminating discrimination and providing equality of opportunity lies with Acuity’s Managing Director, all employees have a responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect. ; We ensure recruitment, selection, training, development and promotion procedures result in no job applicant or employee receiving less favourable treatment because of a protected characteristic within the Equality Act 2010 which are race, including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin and caste; religion or belief; disability; sex; sexual orientation; pregnancy or maternity; gender reassignment; marriage or civil partnership; and age. ; We ensure nobody is treated less favourably on account of their trade union membership/non-membership, or due to being part-time/fixed-term. ; We have flexible working arrangements, alongside a mixture of remote, office-based and client-site delivery. Our flexible working approach ensures we are can adjust to any needs our prospective/existing employees may have. Everyone brings unique skills and circumstances to the table and our supportive environment works alongside the multifaceted lives of our team.

  Wellbeing

  At Acuity we want our team to enjoy and take pride in their professional life. If our team are happy in work we know our business is working at its best. We expect commitment and professionalism, but never underestimate the importance of the work life balance. We’ve created an open, honest workplace where everyone’s voice is valued, and every individual contributes to the success of the team as a whole.; Our employee benefits package includes healthcare cover and life assurance, reduced price gym membership and a cycle to work scheme, a leave purchase option and a workplace nursery scheme. We invest in our people and want our team to continue to learn and develop.; To support our teams wellbeing we offer an Employee Assistance Programme that can be used for any issue, professional or personal, with a 24/7 helpline offering confidential support, information, counselling and advice. Several of our team have also gained their Mental Health First Aid qualification. Whether our employees need internal support or more specific resources to aid their wellbeing, our door is always open.; Acuity signed the Mental Health at Work Commitment which provides a framework for employers who recognise the importance of promoting staff wellbeing and prioritises good mental health at work. It sets out six standards proven to better equip employers to create an environment where employees can thrive. ; Our clients can rest safe in the knowledge that when they engage with Acuity they are working with individuals who are fully supported in their workplace and whose wellbeing is of the upmost importance to their employer. At Acuity we understand that creating a positive and inclusive working environment that recognises the value of our employees wellbeing brings out the best in our team, which in turn delivers the best possible service to our clients.

Pricing

• Price: £450 to £1,350 a unit a day
• Discount for educational organisations: No

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Skills Framework for the Information Age rate card

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at sarah.thomas@acuitynet.co.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.