CHARTERHOUSE VOICE & DATA LIMITED

Halo

Elevate public engagement with Cirrus's contact centre: AI-enhanced, omnichannel solutions seamlessly integrated with Microsoft Teams. Experience unparalleled communications across voice and digital channels with advanced AI automation, smart routing, and analytics. Effortlessly scalable, our CCaaS (Contact Centre as a Service) platform ensures top-tier service with end-to-end encryption and data sovereignty.

Features

• AI-powered contact centre, with advanced NLP, automation, ML
• Omni-channel routing across voice, digital channels (chat, email, SMS, social)
• Customisable AI chatbots for 24/7 customer service
• Seamless integration with Microsoft Teams for unified communications
• Contact centre analytics for actionable insights and real-time data
• Intelligent IVR routing and customisable scripting improve interaction quality
• AI/ML workforce optimisation for scheduling, quality
• AI-driven conversation analysis enhances service quality
• PCI-DSS compliant payments with DTMF suppression and secure links
• API-driven contact centre integrations with CRM, UCaaS and business applications

Benefits

• Automate customer interactions, reduce handling time, improve accuracy and productivity
• Route enquiries across channels, reduce effort, response times and consistency
• Provide 24/7 self-service, deflect queries, cut costs and improve satisfaction
• Work directly in Teams, reduce app switching and streamline collaboration
• Gain real-time insights, optimise performance, identify issues and make decisions
• Route callers intelligently, reduce transfers, shorten queues and improve experience
• Take secure payments, reduce risk, protect data and meet compliance
• Optimise staffing levels, forecast demand accurately and improve agent utilisation
• Analyse conversations automatically, uncover trends, improve coaching and service quality
• Connect systems quickly, automate workflows and eliminate manual data entry

Service documents

• Pricing document

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

Framework

G-Cloud 15

Service ID

742767625734238

Contact

Liz Holmes
02076137441
publicsector@cvdgroup.com

About your service

• Service categories:

  Applications

  Customer relationship management

  • Sales force productivity and management
  • Customer service
  • Contact centre
• Multi cloud support: No

Service scope

• Software add-on or extension: Yes, but can also be used as a standalone service
• What software services is the service an extension to: Can be used as an overlay on existing VoIP/UC/PBX solutions. Integrates to other BI systems via RESTful Web APIs
• Cloud deployment model: Public cloud
• Service constraints: We operate with zero downtime implementation and a fully managed infrastructure, removing typical changeover risks. Our platform is hosted in Microsoft Azure and integrates flexibly with existing systems via open APIs. There are no constraints on specific hardware, and we support a wide range of third-party technologies. Planned maintenance is handled non-disruptively, with no impact to service availability.
• System requirements:
  • Business grade internet connection
  • Internet Browser

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Yes
• Support response times: Cirrus services are supported 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for all service faults. For day to day support there are 3 levels of support customers can opt for: Fully Managed Service – 24/7; Fully Managed Service – Business Hours; 2nd Line Support – Business Hours. Pricing is provided under the Cirrus Support Services for G-Cloud 15 Service Listing. You will be assigned a Service Delivery Manager, details of this can be found within the Service Definition document accompanying this listing.
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: Yes
• Online ticketing support accessibility: EN 301 549
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support: No
• Onsite support: Yes, at extra cost
• Support levels: Cirrus services are supported 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for all service faults. For day to day support there are 3 levels of support customers can opt for: Fully Managed Service – 24/7; Fully Managed Service – Business Hours; 2nd Line Support – Business Hours. Pricing is provided under the Cirrus Support Services for G-Cloud 15 Service Listing. You will be assigned a Service Delivery Manager, details of this can be found within the Service Definition document accompanying this listing.
• Support available to third parties: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: Following consultations with our customers, we provide tailored training programs for agent, supervisor and administrators. All training content is customised for customer's operations and requirements. Our trainers are Contact Centre experts who not only provide training on the products and features but also provide guidance on effective ways to manage their Contact Centre and team using the tools available to them. Our training programme is delivered in phases to maximise the benefits for our customers. Training is provided on the design and features of the new system before the service is launched. Our training approach is a combination of scenario-based demonstrations, repetition of actions, and hands-on experience in using the Contact Centre environment.
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats: PDF
• End-of-contract data extraction: The customer will need to extract any customer generated statistics and data from the platform. There is a per GB cost for the transfer. Cirrus will confirm the file size once notice has been received. All remaining customer data will be destroyed following a 28 day data extraction period.
• End-of-contract process: Cirrus provides a simple and quick exit process for customers. Additional costs are related to data extraction, if there are any remaining recordings on the Cirrus platform. Customers can give notice in accordance with the terms in the contract.
• Documentation accessibility standard: WCAG 2.2 AA

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Supported browsers:
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
  • Other
• Application to install: No
• Designed for use on mobile devices: No
• Service interface: Yes
• User support accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AA
• Description of service interface: The service is available entirely through a web-browser – regardless of user role (agent, supervisor, administrator) – and can be accessed anywhere with an appropriate internet connection. Our browser-based administration portal allows those with the appropriate permissions to make changes to the service in real-time from any internet-enabled location. We have ensured that a wealth of detail is provided directly within the service's browser-based interface, enabling quick and easy reference for administrative tasks, regardless of complexity.
• Accessibility standards: WCAG 2.2 AA
• Accessibility testing: We have enhanced our platform accessibility by developing several Agent interface widgets to support visually impaired / blind Contact Centre staff. Staff have the ability to magnify the text on the interface via ZoomText. Narration software can provide audio indications of where their cursor is on the interface to aid navigation. We have tested across various screen-enhancing software packages with the Digital Accessibility Centre to provide a simplified, easy-to-navigate interface using colour and contrast to assist viewing. In addition, our platform is in use with the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), who provide feedback across a range of accessibility needs and technologies.
• API: Yes
• What users can and can't do using the API: Cirrus provides RESTful APIs based on open API standards, allowing for a wide range of operations to control and manage the platform. Cirrus also allows users to configure remote API calls within the platform, allowing customers to pull information on demand from other third party systems. Variable data can be stored and manipulated within the platform allowing customers to implement complex business process. API access and security can be configured via the Cirrus portal.
• API documentation: Yes
• API documentation formats:
  • Open API (also known as Swagger)
  • PDF
• API sandbox or test environment: Yes
• Customisation available: Yes
• Description of customisation: Our service offers a flexible, user-centric approach to customization, designed to meet the specific needs of each organisation. With a modular licensing model, users can mix and match functionalities to tailor the service to their operational requirements. Service interfaces is highly customizable, allowing for adjustments to better align with individual workflows, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness.

Scaling

• Independence of resources: TBC

Analytics

• Service usage metrics: No

Resellers

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

Staff security

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

Asset protection

• Knowledge of data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Data storage and processing locations: United Kingdom
• User control over data storage and processing locations: No
• Datacentre security standards: Complies with a recognised standard (for example CSA CCM version 4.0)
• Penetration testing frequency: At least every 6 months
• Penetration testing approach: Another external penetration testing organisation
• Protecting data at rest: Physical access control, complying with SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Equipment disposal approach: Complying with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0, CAS (Sanitisation) or ISO/IEC 27001
• Data sanitisation type: Deleted data can’t be directly accessed / Cryptographic Erasure

Data importing and exporting

• Data export approach: Data is available via online portal download
• Data export formats: CSV
• Data import formats: CSV

Data-in-transit protection

• Data protection between buyer and supplier networks: TLS (version 1.2 or above)
• Data protection within supplier network: TLS (version 1.2 or above)

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: The proposed solution is hosted via Azure in the UK1, leveraging Azure's robust and redundant network reflected in our 99.999% uptime SLA.
• Approach to resilience: Azure availability zones provide physically and logically separated datacentres with their own independent power source, network, and cooling. Availability zones ensure that if there's an event impacting a datacentre site—for example, if someone cuts the power, or there are issues with cooling—your data will be protected. In addition to Azure availability zones, the Halo platform is designed with multi-active proxies to ensure uninterrupted VoIP services and each tenant has a primary and secondary host with automatic failover capabilities.
• Outage reporting: Dashboards, Email, SMS and Voice IVR alerts where the circumstance require.

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: Users log in to our web-based UI with a simple username and password, providing inherent capability for Users to work outside of the office as a true home / remote working solution. 2-factor authentication provides an additional layer of security to help protect customer data.
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least every 6 months
• Management access authentication: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Audit information for users

• Access to user activity audit information: Users have access to real-time audit information
• How long user audit data is stored for: User-defined
• Access to supplier activity audit information: Users have access to real-time audit information
• How long supplier audit data is stored for: User-defined
• How long system logs are stored for: User-defined

Security governance

• Named board-level person responsible for service security: Yes
• Security governance certified: Yes
• Security governance standards: ISO/IEC 27001
• Information security policies and processes: As part of our own ISO 27001 processes and Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation requirements, we have enlisted an external CREST certified service provider to provide independent penetration testing and feedback every quarter at Board level. We perform regular risk assessments of our internal network and application architecture as stipulated under our ISO 27001 certification; recertification audits verify completion of the Management Review Minutes, forming part of our Monthly Senior Leadership Team (SLT) agenda.
• Software Security Code of Practice: Yes

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Complies with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Configuration and change management approach: The configuration management processes are part of the overall Service Asset and Configuration Management process. Our Configuration Items (CIs) include hardware, software, buildings, people and formal documentation and the relevant information is managed throughout the lifecycle. The processes for doing this are clearly documented, for example Change Control processes.
• Vulnerability management type: Complies with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Vulnerability management approach: Our company has implemented a set of security measures to ensure the safety of our clients' data. We conduct quarterly external vulnerability scans and internal vulnerability scans on a regular basis. Additionally, we perform annual penetration testing on our network perimeter, infrastructure, and websites used to host, process, or transmit client data as part of our Cyber Essentials Plus certification. We also conduct internal penetration testing and monitor our database for security-related patches. Our anti-virus software is industry-accredited and updated at least once a day to provide maximum protection against threats.
• Protective monitoring type: Complies with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Protective monitoring approach: The service is monitored 24 hours a day using both Azure Monitoring Services and Paessler PRTG which collects various statistics from servers, applications, and devices. Any potential compromises are immediately alerted via email to the Cloud Infrastructure team. Response times and rates are specific to the nature of the potential compromise, for example, a user failing authentication 3 times in under 5 minutes would be treated differently to a user failing authentication 50 times in under 60 seconds.
• Incident management type: Complies with a recognised standard, for example, CSA CCM v4.0 or ISO/IEC 27035:2011 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Incident management approach: Cirrus has standard incident management procedures in place to ensure that we are able to restore a service as quickly as possible and to minimise adverse impact on business operations. Customers are able to raise an incident or service request by telephone or email. Queries to Cirrus Support are logged as cases within our support system and categorised according to Priority. Incidents are triaged by severity, investigated, contained, eradicated, and lessons learned are incorporated into our controls and customers receive incident reports via email
• Post-quantum cryptography secure: Yes

Secure development

• Approach to secure software development best practice: Independent review of processes (for example CESG CPA Build Standard, ISO/IEC 27034, ISO/IEC 27001 or CSA CCM v4.0)

Public sector networks

• Connection to public sector networks: Yes
• Connected networks: Other
• Other public sector networks: NHS Network (N3)

Pricing

• Discount for educational organisations: No
• Free trial available: No

Discount percentage by annual call-off contract value (excluding VAT)

• Less than £250,000: 0%
• Between £250,000 and £500,000: 0%
• Between £500,001 and £1,000,000: 0%
• Between £1,000,001 and £2,500,000: 0%
• Between £2,500,001 and £5,000,000: 0%
• Over £5,000,001: 0%

Non-mandatory Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001: British Assessment Bureau
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: Wednesday 15 September 2021
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: N/A
• ISO 28000:2022 certification: No
• ISO 9001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO 9001 certification: British Assessment Bureau
• ISO 9001 accreditation date: Wednesday 15 September 2021
• What the ISO 9001 doesn’t cover: N/A
• Quality management systems (QMS): Yes
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Please provide your Cyber Essentials Certificate Number: 1262dde2-a549-4219-84b1-37a198214f7a
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• Please provide your Cyber Essentials Plus Certificate Number: Df7e6f59-c464-4b18-a1d5-e04189e9309d
• Other security certifications: Yes
• Any other security certifications: NHS Data Security & Protection Toolkit

Social value

• Section B - Commitment for Future: Delivery:

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 1: Fair work: That offers fair wages and good working conditions. Help people get a job, stay in work, and progress in their careers, with good employment opportunities across the country. Notes: Where there is a large proportion of labour costs in the contract, commercial teams should consider MAC in Outcome 1 as a priority

    • Providing opportunities for, and measuring and monitoring of, staff workforce conditions over time, including employee engagement, involvement in decision-making and satisfaction and adapting to any changes in the results, with clear processes for acting on issues identified
    • Plans to engage the contract workforce in deciding the most important workplace issues to address
    • Ensuring new workers are informed of their right to join a trade union
    • Monitoring of employee engagement rates (by protected characteristic) and, where necessary, the development of actions to ensure all voices are heard across the diversity of the workforce
    • Employment contracts that reflect actual hours worked; steps taken to ensure employees understand their contracts and have the ability to review and adjust them if actual hours regularly exceed contracted hours
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about, and feel empowered to, address their physical wellbeing
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about and feel empowered to report and address bullying and harassment
    • Activities to cascade good practice on fair working conditions throughout the supply chain
    • Payment of more than the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage (as appropriate) to the contract workforce
    • Monitoring and reporting of gender and ethnicity pay gaps and plans to address them where necessary
    • Measures to support in-work progression to help people in the contract workforce, to move into higher paid work by developing new skills relevant to the contract
    • Support for the contract workforce by providing career advice, and providing opportunities for staff working on the contract with in-work progression career development into known skills shortages or high growth areas
    • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications
    • Volunteering opportunities for staff
    • Understanding of the modern slavery risks and issues affecting the market, industry, sector or country (of origin or of source) relevant to the contract, and the workforce in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key subcontractors
    • Measures to identify, mitigate and manage modern slavery risks relating to the contract and how these will be implemented
    • Outline policies and practices to be applied to or put in place for the contract to mitigate and manage modern slavery risks, including: Pre-employment checks, recruitment practices. Workplace conditions, safeguarding plans and processes in place and regular monitoring with relevant groups considered, which may include sampling
    • How these flow down the supply chain and are monitored Illustrative examples include reporting, site visits, audits, etc.

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 2: Skills for growth: Supporting growth sectors and addressing skills gaps.

    • Understanding of employment and relevant skills issues, and of the education and training issues relating to the contract. Illustrative examples: demographics, skills shortages, new opportunities in high growth sectors, geographic/local community and skills/employment challenges
    • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications
    • Activities to support relevant sector related skills growth and sustainability in the contract workforce. Illustrative examples: careers talks, curriculum support, literacy support, safety talks and volunteering

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 3: Resilient, innovative and flexible supply chains: Support economic growth through enabling resilient businesses, opportunities for small businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises

    • Understanding of the types of businesses in the market and the level of participation by new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutuals
    • Activities to identify opportunities to open up sub-contracts under the prime contract to a diverse range of businesses, including new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutuals
    • Activities that demonstrate a collaborative way to work with a diverse range of businesses as part of the supply chain
    • Structuring of the supply chain selection process to ensure fairness (e.g. anti-corruption) and encourages participation by a diverse range of businesses, including with regard to new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutual

  • Mission: Make Britain a clean energy superpower: To cut bills, create jobs and deliver security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity by 2030, accelerating to net zero

    Policy Outcome 4: Sustainable procurement practices: Reducing carbon footprints, minimising waste, and promoting the use of clean energy and green technologies.

    • Understanding of opportunities for additional environmental benefits delivery in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Collaborative ways of working with the supply chain to deliver additional environmental benefits in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Delivery of additional environmental benefits through the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies

  • Mission: Break down barriers to opportunity: By reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain

    Policy Outcome 6: Employment and training: For those who face barriers to employment

    • Understanding of the issues affecting the representation of disabled people in the workforce in the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors
    • Inclusive and accessible recruitment practices, and retention-focused activities, including those provided in the Guide for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing people with a disability or health condition
    • Introducing transparency to pay and reward processes
    • Offering a range of quality opportunities with routes of progression if appropriate, e.g. T Level industry placements, students supported into higher level apprenticeships.
    • Working conditions which promote an inclusive working environment and promote retention and progression
    • Understanding of the issues affecting inequality in employment, skills and pay in the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors. Measures to tackle inequality in employment, skills and pay in the contract workforce
    • Inclusive and accessible development practices, including guidance for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing people with a disability or health condition

  • Mission: Break down barriers to opportunity: By reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain

    Policy Outcome 7: Creating a pipeline of opportunities: For the contract workforce, reducing barriers to entry for under-represented groups.

    • Other measures to offer development opportunities for the target cohort(s) in the contract workforce
    • Understanding of issues relating to entering the contract workforce

  • Mission: Build an NHS fit for the future: That is there when people need it; with fewer lives lost to the biggest killers; in a fairer Britain, where everyone lives well for longer.

    Policy Outcome 8: Increasing productivity through physical and mental wellbeing: In the supply chain and communities in the relevant area.

    • Understanding of issues relating to health and wellbeing, including physical and mental health, in the contract workforce
    • Understanding barriers to access to health and social care services or employment opportunities e.g. digital inclusion
    • Inclusive and accessible recruitment practices, development practices and retention policies that support-focused activities including those provided in the Guide for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing which support people with a disability or health condition

Service documents

• Pricing document

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