BLUE HAT ASSOCIATES LIMITED
Rapid Prototyping
Our consultants implement a rapid (12 week) prototype of cloud-based digital services. These include websites and data analytics. The concept can be turned into a working product to test the idea. This prototype allows the idea to be visualised by stakeholders, tested by users before committing to more significant investment.
Features
- Initiated with an Ideas Workshop in week one
- Rapid iteration with new versions delivered weekly
- Working software deployed on cloud servers
- Effective security and permissions to control access
- Closed with a Retrospective to size MVP
- Delivers scope, size and estimates for complete build
- For data prototypes, reports delivered to replicated systems
- For web prototypes, ideas converted to clickable software
- Tech stack: React - Python/Django - Postgres
- Other technologies are also available
Benefits
- Allow users and stakeholders to immediate feedback
- Reduce overall development time of web and data applications
- Initial small outlay to test a range of ideas
- Fast results with user feedback on the idea in weeks
- Build an early and strong collaboration between teams
- Creating a good reference for later developers
Pricing
£300 to £1,400 a unit a day
- Education pricing available
Service documents
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Framework
G-Cloud 14
Service ID
7 6 9 8 1 4 5 9 2 4 5 4 0 9 1
Contact
BLUE HAT ASSOCIATES LIMITED
Marcus De' Freitas
Telephone: 07966 155 836
Email: marcus.defreitas@thinkbluehat.com
Planning
- Planning service
- Yes
- How the planning service works
-
We can either follow your prototyping principals or use our own RAD (Rapid Application Development) Methodology tailored to our Blue Hat frameworks, this includes;
- Project management, controlling scope
- Structured workshop agendas, with weekly end of sprint reviews
- Standard application templates for "starting points" allowing quick wire-framing
- Design and creative services to create a highly visual prototype
- A prioritising of Customer Experience (CX) and User Experience (UX) to ensure prototype feels like the real system
- Early sample data creation, using anonymised or fictitious data
- Security framework to restrict access to the prototype - Planning service works with specific services
- No
Training
- Training service provided
- Yes
- How the training service works
- Where required we support the training of users on the prototype. Due to the speed of delivery, we do not provide technical training during prototype projects.
- Training is tied to specific services
- No
Setup and migration
- Setup or migration service available
- Yes
- How the setup or migration service works
-
Our prototypes allow clients to move from on-premise technology with typical heavy constraints on scalability and performance, to a horizontally scalable cloud architecture.
The prototype uses many cloud-native functions as these are both fast to develop, and illustrate the possible functionality.
This includes serverless architecture, automated capacity scaling, system performance monitoring, and access control. - Setup or migration service is for specific cloud services
- No
Quality assurance and performance testing
- Quality assurance and performance testing service
- Yes
- How the quality assurance and performance testing works
- Our software is developed using TDD (Test Driven Development) and BDD (Behaviour Driven Development). Whilst prototypes typically don't include TDD (unless this is a specific objected), we implement a small amount of BDD to test functionality is performing. The prototype is not intended to be a full production system, but in rationalising the scope this will define the full TDD/BDD plans to build a testing framework for the eventual production system.
Security testing
- Security services
- Yes
- Security services type
-
- Security strategy
- Security risk management
- Security design
- Security audit services
Ongoing support
- Ongoing support service
- Yes
- Types of service supported
- Hosting or software provided by your organisation
- How the support service works
- We do not offer support for production systems, but typically host and support the prototypes that are developed. We believe this is essential as the speed of software development is achieved by reducing uncertainty and risks of miscommunication in the hosting arrangements.
Service scope
- Service constraints
- Due to Covid-19, our ability to be on site is limited. We are equipped to work remotely. We follow government advice and expect to be working in person as soon as this is recommended.
User support
- Email or online ticketing support
- Email or online ticketing
- Support response times
- We respond within 4 hours during UK working days, although expect to respond significantly quicker.
- User can manage status and priority of support tickets
- No
- Phone support
- Yes
- Phone support availability
- 9 to 5 (UK time), Monday to Friday
- Web chat support
- No
- Support levels
- We will support the prototype for an agreed time period, ensuring the services remain available and fixing bugs which block the prototype application.
Resellers
- Supplier type
- Not a reseller
Staff security
- Staff security clearance
- Conforms to BS7858:2019
- 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
- No
- 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
At Blue Hat Associates, we are committed to combating climate change and minimising our environmental footprint. We have implemented measures to reduce our impact, such as optimising office space usage, minimising waste generation, and minimising unnecessary travel.
Moving forward, we will conduct an annual review of our equipment and infrastructure to identify opportunities for improving energy efficiency. Additionally, we will maintain and evolve our hybrid working practices to strike a balance between staff well-being, environmental protection, and delivering excellent client outcomes.
To further our progress, we have appointed an Environmental Champion responsible educating our teams and our clients on sustainability and minimising resources both for economic and for environmental objectives.
By taking these proactive steps, we aim to foster a culture of environmental stewardship within our organisation, while actively contributing to the global efforts in mitigating climate change and preserving our planet for future generations.Covid-19 recovery
Blue Hat associates recognises its responsibility to support individuals and communities in recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to contributing to this recovery effort through our service delivery and broader organisational activities.
During the pandemic, the Blue Hat team build a crowd sourced Covid tracker. The tracker was adopted by the Scottish Government and St Andrews University and contributed towards research into long Covid and health outcomes for those hospitalised during the first lock down.
Recognising the isolation that Covid has created, we are supporting the mental and physical well-being of our staff. We have provided home-working office equipment, facilitated regular informal check-ins, organised regular well-being events, and established dedicated communication channels to wellbeing.Tackling economic inequality
As an SME established by entrepreneurial individuals, our company is committed to fairness, inclusivity, equity, equality, and social justice. Recognising the importance of community involvement, we offer a summer intern program to help GCSE and A level students in local schools gain work experience and build hands on knowledge in software industry.
As a forward-thinking company, we actively support innovation and research into disruptive technologies, aiming to deliver lower-cost and higher-quality software and services. We prioritise modernising delivery methods and increasing productivity through the development of scalable approaches, continuously seeking ways to optimise our processes and operations.
As an SME, we actively encourage collaboration within our supply chain, fostering a fair and responsible approach to working with our partners, ensuring resilience and building capacity in the delivery of our services.
Through these initiatives, we strive to tackle economic inequality by creating opportunities, promoting inclusivity, and driving positive change within our sphere of influence. We believe that by empowering individuals, fostering innovation, and upholding ethical business practices, we can contribute to a more equitable and prosperous society for all including those with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals.Equal opportunity
Recognising the importance of community involvement, we actively volunteer and provide retraining and return-to-work opportunities, mentoring programs, and technical skills development. We address skills gaps through mock interviews, CV guidance, and career counselling. Additionally, we offer internships and experience weeks to facilitate a seamless transition from academic learning to practical application.
Through these initiatives, we strive to tackle economic inequality by creating opportunities, promoting inclusivity, and driving positive change within our sphere of influence. We believe that by empowering individuals, fostering innovation, and upholding ethical business practices, we can contribute to a more equitable and prosperous society for all including those with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals.Wellbeing
We prioritise supporting our staff's physical and mental health and overall wellbeing. To accomplish this, we provide home-working office equipment to ensure ergonomically sound working environments for our employees. Additionally, we support hybrid working arrangements to accommodate varied preferences and lifestyles. We maintain wellbeing-focused and off-topic communication channels, as well as regular in-person events, to foster a sense of community and facilitate open dialogue.
To promote an active lifestyle and encourage physical and mental well-being, we have established a sports and social club for our employees. Furthermore, we implement inclusive talent attraction and selection processes to grow and retain a happy, diverse talent pool that reflects the communities we serve.
Recognising the importance of giving back, we actively support and encourage our employees to engage in volunteering opportunities within our local communities. By doing so, we aim to foster a culture of social responsibility and contribute positively to the areas where we operate.
Pricing
- Price
- £300 to £1,400 a unit a day
- Discount for educational organisations
- Yes
Service documents
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 marcus.defreitas@thinkbluehat.com.
Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.