ANS Group

Data Centre of Excellence

Data Centre of Excellence offers ability to develop an internal CoE Capability for Data in the cloud. Service includes Training, team structuring, tooling and operational process development inline with existing operating models. Includes:

Data Architecture
Data Engineering
Data Analysis
Data Scientist
Data Integration
Cloud Engineering
DevOps Engineering
Data Warehouse Reporting

Features

• Resource capability.
• Structured Development Process.
• Agile Principles.
• Enterprise Governance.
• Native Platform Integration.
• Expert MSP.
• Cloud Integrated Expertise.
• Common Data Service Integration.
• Performance Testing.
• Global Scale.

Benefits

• Reduced risk through 24 x 7 technical support.
• Reduced operational overhead with ANS performing repeatable tasks.
• Improved stability with ANS design guidance.
• Increased availability through 24 x 7 x 365 proactive monitoring.
• Simplified operations and reduced overhead with task automation.
• Reduced consumption bill with financial efficiency management.
• Increased control with data services governance and security
• CDS and environment management.
• Agile delivery approach.
• Managed DevOps backlog.

£0.01 to £0.30 a unit a month

• 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 tenders@ansgroup.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

676869342591027

Contact

Steve Carroll
+44 (0) 1612271000
tenders@ansgroup.co.uk

Planning

• Planning service: Yes
• How the planning service works: Bespoke engagement to meet the customer's needs producing a tailored output aligned to the business outcomes a customer requires.
• Planning service works with specific services: Yes
• Hosting or software services the planning service works with:
  • Microsoft Synapse
  • Microsoft Fabric
  • ADF
  • Power BI
  • Databricks
  • Azure Data Lake Storage
  • Spark
  • SQL
  • DevOps
  • Purview

Training

• Training service provided: Yes
• How the training service works: ANS offer customers access to regular boot-camp training courses for its staff and technical team. The boot-camps offer Technical Training on the Microsoft Azure Platform. Additionally, the support service offers customers access to advisory services so that on demand advice and training is always available to customers.
• Training is tied to specific services: Yes
• Services the training service works with: Microsoft Azure

Setup and migration

• Setup or migration service available: No

Quality assurance and performance testing

• Quality assurance and performance testing service: Yes
• How the quality assurance and performance testing works: This is bespoke to the customer's environment and services being supported.

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:
  • CHECK
  • CREST
  • Tigerscheme

Ongoing support

• Ongoing support service: Yes
• Types of service supported: Hosting or software provided by a third-party organisation
• How the support service works: ANS provide either Co-Managed or Managed Services, covering all solutions across our Cloud and Digital Portfolios.; ; Co-Managed solutions are where the client and ANS has shared responsibility for the uptime, performance, management and maintenance of a solution, and Managed solutions are where ANS assumes all responsibility. Co-Managed and Managed solutions include Expert Access and Technical Operations; Expert Access is where ANS make available a suite of capability to assist the client with 'How to' questions, architecture and/or operations validation, and implementation assistance. Expert capability includes Enterprise Architecture, Solution Architecture, Technical Architecture, Technical Consultancy, and Technical Engineering. Technical Operations is the part of the service which ensures robust and efficient operations, through managing uptime and performance, managing change, and managing cost and optimisation. All Co-Managed and Managed Services have the benefit of ANS' Cloud Management Platform, ANS Glass.

Service scope

• Service constraints: N/A

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: Customers will be able to take advantage of industry leading certified engineers and experts on the end of the phone 24x7x365.The service desk is backed by ITIL aligned process and provides comprehensive Response SLAs from P1 to P5:; ; P1 - 30 Mins ; P2 - 1 Hour ; P3 - 4 Hours ; P4 - 1 Day ; P5 - 2 Days; ; All incidents are recorded in ANS’ Service Desk ITSM system under the Incident Management workflow. ANS records the name of the person reporting the incident, call time and any pertinent information, along with resolution criteria ensuring that the workflow is initiated correctly.
• 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: No
• Support levels: All ANS customers have access to ticket and telephone-based support, unless they choose to take an unmanaged service. Customers have access to a named Account Manager who takes overall responsibility for the customer's commercial, technical and support relationship with ANS. Customers are assigned a support "pod" based on the type of solution they have with ANS. This ensures customers will always be supported by the same core team of support engineers who are technical experts in their particular solution. Enterprise and public sector customers also have access to a named Customer Success Manager in addition to their Account Manager.; ; Standard support is provided 08:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday and includes 1st line (User support) through to system management, monitoring and administration. Additional support is available to extend the service support to 24/7 at additional cost.

Resellers

• Supplier type: Reseller providing extra features and support
• Organisation whose services are being resold: Microsoft

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Conforms to BS7858:2019
• Government security clearance: Up to Security Clearance (SC)

Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001: LRQA
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: 18/08/2023
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: N/a
• ISO 28000:2007 certification: No
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: Yes
• Who accredited the PCI DSS certification: Blackfoot UK Limited
• PCI DSS accreditation date: 10/08/2023
• What the PCI DSS doesn’t cover: N/a
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• Other security certifications: Yes
• Any other security certifications:
  • ISO27017.
  • ISO27018.
  • NCSC Certified.
  • SOC 2 Type 2 Report.

Social Value

• Social Value:

  Social Value

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

  Fighting climate change

  We are a company built on our culture and values, with a strong committing to protecting the world and demonstrating our social responsibility. ANS are PAS2060 Carbon Neutral Certified and compliant for a number of years and are aiming to be net zero by 2050. Furthermore, we have and extensive variety of processes and procedures in place to support our commitment, which include: ; • Recycled 10 Tonnes of old servers with all profits going to charity. ; • Relocated data centre cooling equipment in 2022 to reduce the solar gains and save energy. ; • Removed old, inefficient computers so all staff PCs are now modern efficient laptops. ; • Recycle 100% of our WEEE waste using appropriate 3rd party providers.; • PAS2060 certified and compliant. We appointed Carbon Footprint Ltd, a leading carbon and energy management company, to independently assess our Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in accordance with the UK Government’s ‘Environmental Reporting Guidelines: Including Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting Guidance’.; • In 2023 we offset 1265 tons of Carbon Dioxide by supporting numerous projects. ; • Cycle to Work scheme available to all employees including great bike sorage facilities on site.; • Introduced a salary-sacrifice electric car scheme.; In addition to the above, we believe environmental awareness is something which needs to be considered further, at home and at work. We provide environmental internal training and communication, which includes:; • Environmental Aspects and Impacts ; • Employees’ responsibilities ; • Environmental Policy ; • Waste Disposal ; • Travel and Transport ; • How ANS helps employees reduce their carbon footprint ; • CSR; • Our Certification

  Covid-19 recovery

  ANS is a proud Manchester based organisation and supports the local community, businesses and charity’s which has helped in the recovery from COVID-19. ANS continued to operate throughout Covid, with measures in place and allowing for remote working.; Creating Employment for those affected by COVID; ANS worked on numerous projects in the lockdowns to assist frontline organisations. One example was a council, to quickly and easily coordinate requests for support and volunteering in the community in response to the Covid.; Furthermore, ANS worked alongside universities to enable students to resume studying, in addition to working with NHS Trust to assist with the tracking and coordination of the Royal Free Hospital’s 15,000 staff during the pandemic.; This meant ANS was able to recruit and provide opportunities.; Support organisations to recover and a new way of working; ANS worked with a council to build a mobile-friendly application using the Microsoft Power Platform which works by pulling together data on individuals who are considered to be vulnerable, from a range of sources and formats, along with a request service.; Furthermore, ANS worked with a university to enable remote working for students.; A council worked with ANS to launch a complex case management system for coronavirus contact tracing which helped contain and manage Covid-19 outbreaks across their population of over 300,000 residents.; ANS had controls in place which included social distancing, we also operated a remote service where this was possible alongside ensuring measures were in place for those unable to work from home, including:; Social Distancing; Covid testing; Workspaces sanitised daily; Adequate ventilation is the building; ANS have numerous flexible working policies in place, including remote and hybrid working which has allowed a large majority of the company to remain working from home post-Covid, however, some roles do require being in the facility.

  Tackling economic inequality

  ANS has a strong commitment to tackling economic inequality, and this is demonstrated through our employees and companies we work alongside.; Our people; ANS have continued to grow as a business and are now a team of over 700 employees.; ANS take Continual Professional Development (CPD) seriously, from skills development to apprenticeships. ANS are committed to giving every employee 12 days per year to devote to professional self-development or business innovation.; ANS have a strong commitment to apprenticeships and have the ANS Academy. Upskilling the local workforce, we invest heavily into our junior staff giving them the best development opportunities. The ANS Academy provides industry-leading training and hands-on experience for the next generation of passionate tech leaders. We were recently rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.; We engage with schools and colleges based in Manchester, ANS has direct access to the rich and diverse mix of cultures. This ensures that all groups have access to the information on our apprenticeships. In 2022, this resulted in 45% of Apprentices hired identifying as BAME.; We partner with 2 girls’ schools in our community by running immersive days at our office where groups of students can speak with women from at ANS.; Fostering an inclusive workspace, our diversity groups represent various communities, including LGBTQ+, BAME, disability groups and gender.; Increase supply chain resilience and capacity; We also take into consideration the standards and qualification level of those in the supply chain that we choose to work with and/or recommend. At a practical level, we maintain relationships with local businesses, we value our position as a key contributor to the ‘Northern Powerhouse’. For our own on-site operation, we have contracted with many SMEs and VCSEs.; Demonstrating the value of these partnerships, advantages include:; Fewer overheads; Local employment growth opportunities; Innovation; Reduced carbon footprint; Less bureaucracy

  Equal opportunity

  ANS are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. The scheme, set up by the Department for Work and Pensions, is designed to help employers recruit and retain disabled people and people with health conditions for their skills and talent. As a Disability Confident committed employer, ANS is providing inclusive and flexible recruitment processes such as offering video interviews and supporting flexible working patterns where possible. We also ensure our workplace is suitable to support any employee that may have a disability.; ; ANS recognises equity and fairness throughout the business and that discrimination in any form is unacceptable. Equal opportunities has long been a feature of our employment practices and procedure, that’s why we have an equal opportunities policy in place. Breaches of the policy will lead to disciplinary proceedings and, if appropriate, disciplinary action.; ; The aim of the policy is to ensure no job applicant, employee or worker is discriminated against. We ensure the policy is circulated to any agencies responsible for our recruitment and a copy of the policy will be made available for all employees and made known to all applicants for employment.; ; ANS have a strong commitment to equality in the workplace. We have a full modern slavery policy, but in addition to policies, we have internal iniatives in place to tackle workplace inequality such as having internal EDI groups:; ; • Women in ANS; • Diversity and Beyond (DAB); • The Rainbow Alliance; • The Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE) Group; • ANS Squirrel Club (Neurodiversity); • Parents in ANS; • Let’s Talk About Mental Health; ; ANS also has a strong commitment to equality in the workforce through being a living wage employer, alongside a disability confident employer.

  Wellbeing

  ANS is committed to the wellbeing of our employees and this extends to the wider community, we are strongly committed to the wellbeing of our teams, and provide numerous benefits to help with physical and mental health, which include but are not limited to:; ; • An extra day’s holiday on birthdays and an extra 5 days for tying the knot ; • ‘Celebration Day’ - staff can use for any occasion that is meaningful to them; • Hybrid, flexible and remote working ; • Free onsite gym ; • Private healthcare ; ; Furthermore, we emphasise the importance of mental wellbeing. Internally, we obtained a group of volunteers so that we could provide training to become Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA), accredited by MHFA England. They provide online drop-in and in-person sessions, which is accessible for both staff who work in our office and those who work remotely. The sessions continue to support our employees with their personal issues. In addition to health benefits, ANS are committed to ensuring our employees are able to develop in their careers, and therefore, we provide numerous measures, which include but are not limited to 12 development days per year. These days can be used for courses, examinations, partner training and many other reasons. Additionally, we provide regular PDR’s which enable ANS employees to reflect and set future goals on their career. ; ; ANS have a strong commitment to the local community, this is demonstrated through our community outreach in recruitment for the academy alongside our local community when selecting local suppliers. ANS look to use local suppliers where this is possible, and is demonstrated through the selection of local food vendors for our events, local event management specialists, our active support to local charities, such as the Manchester Youth Zone and using local waste service companies.

Pricing

• Price: £0.01 to £0.30 a unit a month
• 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 tenders@ansgroup.co.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.