Informed Solutions Ltd

Digital Product Management and Delivery

Informed’s Digital Product Management and Delivery service provides the advice, guidance and expertise you need to deliver user centred digital products that achieve your strategic outcomes. The service provides the capability and capacity you need to understand user needs, shape your product vision and roadmap, and deliver value with agility.

Features

• Current state product management maturity assessment
• Conduct user research to understand needs, pain points and sentiment
• Iterative product delivery based on agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban)
• Definition of product vision aligned to your digital strategy
• Definition of product roadmap aligned to your product vision
• Definition of Product Backlog based on your product roadmap
• Definition of Minimum Viable Product (MVP) based on your roadmap
• Definition of product governance controls
• Prioritisation of needs and features into product releases
• Discovery, Alpha, Beta and Live to GDS standards

Benefits

• Alignment of your digital products with your digital strategy
• Realise value early and often through iterative and agile delivery
• Improved ability to deliver desirable, feasible and viable digital products
• Improved ability to understand and prioritise user and business needs
• Improved ability to balance user needs and business value
• Improved ability to control product performance, risks and exceptions
• Improved stakeholder collaboration, confidence, engagement and management
• Collaborative knowledge sharing and upskilling of client teams
• Technology independent advice
• AWS and Microsoft Partner

£450 a unit a day

• Education pricing available

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 opportunities@informed.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

474790587074900

Contact

Ana Demonacos
0161 942 2000
opportunities@informed.com

Planning

• Planning service: Yes
• How the planning service works: We have a proven Queens Award winning service, InformedTRANSFORM©, to plan and implement cloud hosting and cloud software on behalf our clients. InformedTRANSFORM© ensures the most appropriate technologies are selected, effectively configured and operated to maximise service performance and value-for-money. ; ; It specifically includes: ; - engagement with our client's business and technology stakeholders to understand and agree the intended benefits and outcomes, drivers, needs, potential blockers, and current business and technical landscape; ; - where appropriate, undertaking Technology Options Assessments to independently evaluate different cloud hosting and software products based on client needs, ensuring that plans are based on the right solution for the specific client; ; - development of highly practical cloud migration and implementation plans, ensuring a clear understanding of the approach, timescales, costs and risks, assured by experienced and qualified product and technology specialists; ; - establishment of robust governance and delivery management frameworks to ensure that implementations are effectively controlled and risk-managed, according to our ISO9001 Quality Management System (QMS) and our ISO27001 Information Security Management System (ISMS); ; ; Our method is continuously improved by our Cloud Community of Practice, which maintains a current view of the market-place, leading solutions, their forward roadmaps, and their respective strengths and weaknesses
• Planning service works with specific services: No

Training

• Training service provided: Yes
• How the training service works: We use our proven training programme (InformedACADEMY©) to provide world-class digital training for our clients, helping clients build the skills, capability, and insights they will need to successfully use developed systems and solutions and perform their specific role. We shape training packages to clients' needs, based on training needs analysis to identify the range of stakeholders needing training, and the skills that they will need to work effectively. Our training typically includes: ; - End-user training for developed systems and solutions ; - Digital skills development for business stakeholders and technical teams (including coaching in Agile, DevOps, software development technologies and frameworks, cloud capabilities and architecture, ITIL) ; - Executive coaching and support for Directors (including understanding opportunities and the 'art of the possible', developing digital transformation blueprints and roadmaps, establishing robust governance and performance management for complex Agile transformation programmes) ; Training is provided through various channels: ; - Online training (delivered through client's preferred training tools, wikis, or bespoke) ; - On-the-job coaching and skills transfer (delivered according to agreed training plans by certified and highly-experienced professionals) ; - Masterclasses (incorporating training from highly-qualified experts, with exercises, group discussions, and retrospectives to maximise learning) ; - 3rd party training from technology suppliers, supplemented with formal Accreditation/Certification
• Training is tied to specific services: No

Setup and migration

• Setup or migration service available: Yes
• How the setup or migration service works: We help clients migrate complex, mission-critical services from on-premise/dedicated data-centres to cloud, or between different cloud providers to provide better overall performance and value-for-money. Our proven method includes:; -Understanding current service – technical stack, APIs, dependencies on other systems/hardware, capacity, licensing, functional and non-functional requirements (including security, data sovereignty, backup and disaster recovery), data and transactions, operational metrics, known issues, vulnerabilities and technical debt; -Designing target service – confirming desired service KPIs and targets (including cost-savings), understanding technology preferences (e.g. based on client’s technology strategy, current investments, in-house skills), selection of to-be technologies (undertaking independent Technology Options Assessments as appropriate), considering modernising deprecated technology, reducing licensing costs, transitioning elements of service to cloud-native/serverless/PaaS, implementing cost-effective application scaling and environments, and transitioning to DevSecOps best practice (e.g. secure-by-design, Infrastructure-as-code CI/CD pipelines and automated test-suites); -Migration – deploying an optimal team of experts to deliver the migrated service using a robust governance and delivery management frameworks to ensure that migration is effectively controlled and risk-managed, according to our ISO9001 QMS and our ISO27001 ISMS (including switch-over and go-live plans); -Hand-over and monitoring – we involve client staff throughout, up-skilling so they become autonomous, using KPIs to evidence benefits and drive ongoing improvement
• Setup or migration service is for specific cloud services: Yes
• List of supported services:
  • Amazon Web Services
  • Microsoft Azure (including Dynamics 365, Power Platform, PowerBI)
  • Google Cloud Platform
  • Oracle Cloud
  • Hybrid to Public Cloud

Quality assurance and performance testing

• Quality assurance and performance testing service: Yes
• How the quality assurance and performance testing works: We provide end-to-end quality assurance and performance testing for cloud hosting and software, and ensure that requirements in this area (and potential risks) are explicitly raised and agreed up-front, and considered throughout migration planning and implementation. We have a proven method for quality assurance and performance testing, which is independently certified as part of our ISO 9001 Quality Management System. Our proven method includes: - Specifying quality assurance and performance requirements up-front (including both functional and non-functional aspects) and monitoring against these throughout - Ensuring that the cloud service design explicitly factors in the capabilities and technologies that will be required to undertake representative QA and performance testing (e.g. through the application of technologies such as Selenium Grid, JMeter, Blazemeter, Flood IO, and resilience testing tools such as AWS Fault Injection Simulator) - Ensuring that QA and performance testing is developed to be automated and repeatable, and is run regularly (typically as part of CI/CD pipelines) to ensure that compliance is understood and potential issues and bottlenecks are identified early - Providing regular, transparent and insightful QA and performance testing reports that enable business representatives to understand progress, issues and readiness for launch.

Security testing

• Security services: Yes
• Security services type:
  • Security strategy
  • Security risk management
  • Security design
  • Cyber security consultancy
  • Security testing
  • Security incident management
  • Security audit services
• Certified security testers: Yes
• Security testing certifications:
  • GBEST
  • CHECK
  • CREST
  • Tigerscheme
  • Cyber Scheme

Ongoing support

• Ongoing support service: Yes
• Types of service supported:
  • Buyer hosting or software
  • Hosting or software provided by your organisation
  • Hosting or software provided by a third-party organisation
• How the support service works: We use our proven cloud support service (InformedSERVICE©) to provide secure, scalable, configurable, and cost-effective cloud hosting and software support services that are tailored to your unique needs.; Our highly-experienced and certified practitioners provide Service Desks, incident and problem management, automated testing and deployment, continuous service improvement, service operational monitoring, and service level management and reporting using configurable frameworks based on DevOps, ITIL, and SIAM. InformedSERVICE© has the following benefits:; - Configurable, cost-effective options for DevOps, ITIL and SIAM needs ; - Continuous delivery and automated testing, using DevOps best practice ; - ITIL compliant, flexible service levels; - End-to-end management of service incidents, requests, and improvements ; - Proactive service analytics and reporting, driving continuous improvements and cost savings (e.g. through adoption of new technologies, reduction in product licence fees, right-sizing environments and elastic provisioning) ; - Delivers ongoing service improvements and incremental benefits ; - Flexible services tailored to individual needs; industry-leading support ; - KPI analytics measurement and performance management tracking ; - Service Desk up to 24/7/365, 1st, 2nd, 3rd line ; - Designed for the cloud, and proven and integrated across leading cloud-vendors including AWS and Microsoft Azure; - All staff BPSS or SC cleared, and fully familiar with GDS standards and assessment

Service scope

• Service constraints: No

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: Informed Solutions provides configurable Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that specify our response times for incidents and questions. The SLAs are tailored to your specific support requirements and range from supporting business critical national 24/7 infrastructure solutions through to SLAs based on core UK business hours. UK sovereign or global 'follow-the-sun' Service Desks can be provided up to 24/7/365. All clients are provided with access to our Service Management portal (PRISM), which offers a full suite of incident reporting, SLA tracking, chat, self-service support and guidance, and service monitoring features.
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: Yes
• Online ticketing support accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support: Web chat
• Web chat support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support accessibility standard: WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
• Web chat accessibility testing: All of our services undergo appropriate functional, non-functional and accessibility testing. They also provide a proven assisted digital journey that ensures that users with assisted digital needs receive the same high quality user experience.
• Support levels: Informed Solutions offer flexible Service Level Agreements (SLAs) at highly competitive rates and tailored to your specific support requirements. SLAs range from dedicated support for 24/7business critical national infrastructure solutions through to SLAs based on core UK business hours. All clients are provided with access to our Service Management portal (PRISM), which offers a full suite of incident reporting, SLA tracking, chat, self-service support and guidance, and service monitoring features. Each client is assigned a nominated point of contact within our Service Management team and we undertake regular Service Reviews to review SLA performance, identify service improvements, and undertake forward planning.

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Other security clearance
• Government security clearance: Up to Developed Vetting (DV)

Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001: Lloyds Register Quality Assurance (LRQA).
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: Informed Solutions most recent ISO 27001 re-certification was accredited on 16/06/2022.
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: The scope of Informed Solutions’ ISO/IEC 27001 certification covers the provision of independent management and technology consultancy services performed at the company’s Altrincham and London sites, including supporting financial, commercial, personnel, corporate administration, business development and corporate infrastructure operations. All other activities are outside of scope.
• ISO 28000:2007 certification: No
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• 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

  Informed Solutions’ pledges to fight climate change include:; Our Board of Directors full commitment to promoting a culture in which all staff and suppliers share a corporate commitment towards protecting the environment by preventing and minimising negative impacts that result from the company’s day-to-day business activities. ; ; This includes preventing pollution, using energy and materials effectively and responsibly, and maximising reuse and/or recycling of materials whenever possible and practical.; ; Maintaining our status as a certified Carbon Neutral company and Global Action Plan ‘Business for Clean Air Signatory’. We are committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2030 and have published a formal Carbon Reduction Plan, which has been completed in accordance with PPN 06/21 and associated guidance and reporting standards for carbon reduction plans.; ; Applying our ISO14001 accredited Environmental Management System (EMS) to ensure the reduction of carbon through day-to-day business operations for Informed, and for supply chain activity in the delivery of services under the contract. On a quarterly basis we formally communicate the objectives, targets, and regulatory requirements of our EMS to all staff, partners, clients, and our supply chains.; ; Identifying and delivering opportunities to remove or reduce the negative environmental impact of each contract in line with Government obligations through its Greening Government Commitments and by adhering to Government Buying Standards (GBS) for sustainable procurement. Annual environmental objectives for each contract will be agreed and monitored.; ; Assessing and adopting new technologies and activities in alignment with GBS, that have a positive impact on our environmental sustainability processes.; ; Undertaking annual environmental assessments, which will be led our Main Board Director of Operations to ensure that contract impacts are minimized in accordance with our EMS.

  Covid-19 recovery

  Informed Solutions’ pledges to help society and the economy recover from COVID-19 and its related impacts include:; ; Our ongoing commitment to the recruitment and retraining of workers originally left unemployed by COVID-19 or affected by market condition caused by the pandemic. We commit to retraining and digital skills development for unemployed workers (including NEETS) through InformedACADEMY©, our ISO9001 certified world class talent development framework, which will be delivered in partnership with our established local, regional, and national community of support skills partners; ; Maintaining and enhancing our established digital skills and career retraining partnerships that are already in place with Manchester Digital, The Prince’s Trust, the Institute of Coding, and York University’s ‘Step into Tech’ programme, which will broaden the reach and impact of our support activity. Additionally, this training will be made available to those with protected characteristics in the communities where we operate.; ; Alongside this we will continue to promote the five foundational principles of quality work as set out in the Good Work Plan, ensuring fair and inclusive recruitment practices attract good candidates regardless of background, and create employment opportunities, particularly for those facing barriers to employment.; ; Strengthening existing formal commercial charity partnerships with Barnabus and Manchester Mind, which will provide support and guidance for both the homeless and those affected by mental health issues as a result of the pandemic and its associated impacts.; ; Formal Local community support and skills outreach activity is reinforced by a structured programme of volunteering opportunities for all staff wherever we operate.; ; As a certified Great Place to Work with an overall score of 96%, we continue to ensure that workplace conditions including flexible and remote working and sustainable travel practices that support our teams wherever they operate.

  Tackling economic inequality

  Informed Solutions’ pledges to help tackle economic inequality include: ; ; Our ongoing commitment to creating new businesses, jobs, and skills, whilst increasing supply chain resilience and capacity.; ; Ensuring the localisation of our supply chain through the contract, supporting local business and employment growth.; ; The creation of new jobs and direct employment opportunities for work seekers (and the delivery of digital skills training and retraining to job seekers in communities with known skills shortages, for those in deprived areas, and for those with protected characteristics through InformedACADEMY©, our ISO-9001 certified world class talent development framework.; ; Delivering training in partnership with our established national network of tech industry, business, and charity partners including Manchester Digital, The Prince’s Trust, and The Institute of Coding. Additionally, we will continue to support skills development and educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training that leads to recognised accreditation and qualification.; ; Continuing to adopt and promote inclusive and accessible employment practices including the five foundational principles set out in the Good Work Plan including fair pay, participation and progression, voice, and autonomy.; ; Strengthening supply chain resilience and capacity:; • Increased localisation of our supply chains, identifying Start-Ups, SMEs and VCSE partners local to each contract; ; • Mapping our supply chain ahead of contract commencement, working with Buyers to identify areas for improved diversity, whilst mapping skills and capability needs; ; • Supporting the growth, development, and upskilling of new supply chain partners through workshops using appropriate modules from InformedACADEMY©

  Equal opportunity

  As a GreatPlacetoWork™ certified company, with a trust index rating of 96%, our pledges to identify and tackle inequality in employment, skills, and pay in the workforce include:; ; Continued contractual commitment to equality in the workplace, enshrined in our Equal Opportunities Policy (2010 Equality Act), which employees, contractors, and partners commit to ahead of contracts.; ; An annual commitment to survey and benchmark equality in employment, pay, progression, and skills within our workforce.; Eliminating inequality and ensuring inclusive working environments, in-work progression, and staff development through our ISO9001 accredited InformedACADEMY© learning and development framework; ; Skills-based interviews for recruitment and progression for all staff, with transparency regarding training, promotion, pay, and reward processes.; ; Ensuring our workforce proportionally reflects the communities where we operate, reinforced by our transparent diversity and equality in recruitment and progression policy, which is monitored, measured, and assured by our Main Board Director of People Services. Targets include 35% representation of women and 15% representation of those with protected characteristics (including the disabled) in our workforce by 2025 (currently 30% and 15% respectively); ; Supporting staff from disadvantaged or minority groups move into higher paid work, developing individual progression plans and delivering new skills relevant to the contract through InformedACADEMY©; ; Employing strict processes to manage the risk of, and support elimination of modern slavery: ; ; Our Professional Alliance Charter, which defines the duties mandated by the Modern Slavery Act 2015 are included in all contracts. Annual audits ensure fair work practices are in place for employees, contract workers, and supply chain partners.; Compliance with the Modern Slavery Act through our ISO9001 certified Quality Management System and Employment Framework.; Annual workforce training on fair work practices, equality, and opportunity in the workplace.

  Wellbeing

  Informed Solutions pledges to ensure wellbeing for the contract workforce include:; ; Matching our independent rating of 97% for wellbeing support and caring in from 2023 GreatPlacetoWork® audit for workforces related to G-Cloud 14 contracts.; ; Ensuring every member of the contract workforce has access to Informed Solutions’ Health and Wellbeing guidance toolkit and training. A 20k investment in the toolkit includes guidance from Ali Hashtroudi, a leading Consultant in Occupational Medicine from Guys and St Thomas’s Hospital.; ; Implementing ‘Mental Health at Work Commitment’ standards and complying with ‘Thriving at Work’ recommendations. ; ; Continuing to meet the five principles of the ‘2020 Good Work Plan’ and effectively managing and developing all people, especially those with disabilities or health conditions.; ; Actively promoting an open health culture at Informed, implementing the 6 standards in the mental health at work commitment, including inclusive and accessible recruitment and progression practices. Ensuring the availability of Mental Health First Aiders to monitor and deliver support.; ; Ensuring workers take advantage of flexible working through our £20k annual investment in flexible working technology: Informed Solutions continues to invest in technology for effective flexible working. Individual work plans will ensuring healthy, sustainable, and flexible working conditions for the contract workforce. ; ; Delivering quarterly healthcare and wellbeing courses to the contract workforce through our award-winning, ISO9001 certified InformedACADEMY© learning and development framework. ; ; Continuing our corporate partnership with mental health Charity, Manchester Mind, providing financial support and volunteering resource for the charity and receiving guidance and support for our workforces in return.; ; Ensuring all aspects of physical and mental health and wellbeing are considered in the development of new working patterns and hybrid on-site and remote working patterns.

Pricing

• Price: £450 a unit a day
• Discount for educational organisations: Yes

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 opportunities@informed.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.