SPARK TECHNOLOGY SERVICES LIMITED

Fully Managed WiFi, Patient Engagement, Entertainment, Media and Fusion Solution

WiFi management, authentication, engagement and entertainment services.

Filtered internet for staff, patients and visitors on tablets, BSUs and BYOD.

Services are free including games, TV, magazines, nurse call, HL7 integration, meal ordering, signposting, surveys and analytics.

Customisable, compliant, supported, monitored every day of the year with UK based telephone helpdesk.

Features

• Complete visitor engagement solution from design, installation and management.
• Multiple WiFi networks with bandwidth management & network management services.
• Enterprise software, best of breed hardware and network equipment.
• Maximum engagement and signposting users via the custom designed portal.
• App & HL7 integration, surveys, and CRM integration.
• Friendly WiFi Scheme, industry accredited content filtering, safe internet browsing.
• WiFi access to entertainment: Radio, TV, Films, Newspapers, Magazines.
• Business intelligence platform; advanced analytics and service performance analytics.
• Data analytics to build buyer profiles and monitor usage
• GDPR, legal compliance, data security and 24/7 technical support

Benefits

• Single provider managed service for efficient solution, business continuity.
• Eliminate bandwidth constraints: buffer-free visitor streaming services.
• Robust solution, high availability, 24/7 support with remote monitoring.
• White labelled, full customisation, to promote business messaging, business brand.
• All in one solution, eliminates disparate systems with app integration.
• Safe, secure and compliant WiFi solutions with content filtered internet.
• Free entertainment, user engagement, increase dwell time and enrich experience.
• User engagement and return on investment opportunities, brand reinforcement.
• Drive customer loyalty, targeted messaging, engage users and inform users.
• Compliant and fully managed solution alleviating your IT staff.

£12 a unit a month

• Free trial 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 sales@sparktsl.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

790783730669275

Contact

Sales Team
0344 848 9555
sales@sparktsl.com

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: Mobile Apps, CMS Systems, clinical integration, health applications.
• Cloud deployment model: Private cloud
• Service constraints: SPARK TSL requires an enterprise grade WiFi Network to provide its services over. Considerations will be made of the clients core infrastructure when designing a SPARK TSL solution but being technology agnostic in our approach gives us the freedom and flexibility to adapt to the project in hand.; The majority of our patching software and system upgrades are deployed with no impact to service. On rare occasions when an upgrade is service impacting we choose maintenance windows to minimise service impact and ensure buyers are notified well in advance via our Change Control procedure.
• System requirements:
  • Buyer is responsible for buyer's infrastructure licensing
  • Buyer to provide at its cost suitable mains power supplies
  • Buyer to ensure mains power remains connected and live 24/7
  • Buyer to provide suitable rack space if required
  • Buyer to ensure remote and physical access available as required
  • Buyer to ensure permissions granted for kit location if appropriate
  • Only Samsung and Apple tablets are supported for tablet solutions.
  • If translation required agreement with service provider required e.g. TheBigWord
  • Adequate Internet Connection
  • Gain consent for images used on the system

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: SPARK TSL provides telephone, email support & live chat 24/7/365. ; Calls are answered within 60 seconds on average. ; >90% of calls are resolved at first contact. ; All calls are logged on our Service Desk ticketing system and call reference issued. ; Emails / tickets are responded to within 4 hours on average.; Response & Target Resolution times: ; Priority 1 - Total loss of service - 30 mins - TR 1 day.; Priority 2 - Major service degradation - Same-day - TR 1 day.; Priority 3 - Service requests, and minor or cosmetic faults - Next business day - TR 5 days.
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: No
• 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: Industry standard tools from Zendesk are in use which conform to WCGA2.1 AA ; Full details https://www.zendesk.co.uk/company/agreements-and-terms/accessibility/; ; We have not conducted any web chat testing in-house for accessibility, however we have conducted testing by running an W3C accessibility automated testing tool against our products. The results informed some of the changes we made to our products - listed below.; ; Our solutions are custom designed to meet each client's requirements. We encourage clients to use the following standards during the design and scoping process but this isn't always possible due to their branding guidelines or agreed design. ; ; To enable assistive technology we would include high colour contrast, minimum 16px size font size with support to further scale text within browser settings, button and form field labels, alt text for images, focus indicators when using the keyboard to tab through content and clear HTML Markup to identify headings, paragraphs, and links.
• Onsite support: Onsite support
• Support levels: SPARK TSL provides telephone, email support & live chat 24/7/365. ; Calls are answered within an average time of 60 seconds. ; >90% of calls are resolved at first contact. ; All calls are logged on our Service Desk ticketing system and a call reference issued. ; Emails / tickets are responded to within 4 hours on average.; Response & Target Resolution times: ; Priority 1 - Total loss of service - 30 mins - TR 1 day.; Priority 2 - Major service degradation - Same-day - TR 1 day.; Priority 3 - Service requests, minor or cosmetic faults - Next business day - TR 5 days.; ; On escalation from the helpdesk, an engineer will investigate in accordance with the relevant priority response target. SPARK TSL has on-call engineers that operate 24/7/365 to cover P1 incidents.; ; SPARK TSL can interrogate systems remotely and often affect repairs without site visits, however these can be arranged without cost when necessary.; ; Major Incidents – If an event warrants fast-tracking to an enhanced level of response this is invoked by declaring a “Major Incident”. A Major Incident Manager will be appointed to actively manage the situation to an agreed resolution. Enhanced levels of communication and reporting will accompany this.
• Support available to third parties: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: SPARK TSL will provide a Sales Manager to support and deliver a general introduction to the platform and associated services. The UX team will be involved in the users/admin introduction to reporting, SPARK® Analytics Portal, Content Management System, and SPARK® Dashboard. User guides and marketing materials are made available for staff to provide to the end users, and training sessions over MS Teams or telephone can be organised for staff, if required, free of charge.; User guides, troubleshooting guides and FAQs are linked to on the User Experience Portals that end users can link through to, which are also available on our support portal.; A Service Delivery Manager will also be assigned to the buyer to carry out regular Service Performance Reviews with a report detailing uptime and usage statistics and gather feedback and actions recorded on the report.
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats:
  • HTML
  • PDF
• End-of-contract data extraction: SPARK TSL is fully compliant with the GDPR and the Data Protection Act and keeps data as defined by law. Data reporting, removal or destruction can be fulfilled upon request. The only other context for Data Collection is for RIPA/DRIPA requests for lawful tracking.; Data is accessed via SPARK® Analytics. The client will be given a log in to the Dashboard where real-time data can be viewed instantly, or historic data reports extracted. Data access is managed via secure access control mechanisms which ensure only authorised personnel are allowed to view the data and all access sessions are logged for audit purposes. ; ; At the end of the contract, any account information is held for the amount of time required by HMRC and then securely overwritten. With regards to Personally Identifiable Information, the data is held for the amount of time required by the Data Controller. In the event services are no longer required buyers can export the data themselves from the SPARK® Analytics dashboard or send a request to support@sparktsl.com and we will securely export any data requested by the Data Controller. We hold the data for one calendar month after cessation of the contract and then overwrite the data.
• End-of-contract process: On an agreed termination date all services will cease. The buyer, and the buyers end users, will no longer have access to the services. Hardware installed by SPARK TSL at no cost to the buyer remains the property of SPARK TSL for the contract duration, and will be removed on the agreed cease date or soon after; this includes managed leased line routers. SPARK TSL is not responsible for the removal of hardware purchased by the buyer. If services terminate earlier than the end date stated on the call-off contract, the buyer is liable for paying the following charges until the end of the original term stated on the call-off contract, either according to the payment schedule or in a single lump sum:; 1) Connectivity monthly costs in full plus any early termination fee, excess construction charges and set up fees.; 2) The full cost of the hardware purchased by the Supplier; 3) At 90% of the original cost to the buyer: platform costs, vendor support, and licensing.; SPARK TSL shall provide reasonable assistance in transitioning the services to a replacement supplier, chargeable as time and materials to the buyer at the listed rate.

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Supported browsers:
  • Internet Explorer 11
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
  • Opera
• Application to install: No
• Designed for use on mobile devices: Yes
• Differences between the mobile and desktop service: Fundamentally there are no differences between the mobile and desktop service.; SPARK TSL design all User Experience Portals (UX) to be completely fluid and responsive on all WiFi enabled devices and work regardless of the operating system or browser. Therefore, the SPARK TSL solution looks equally as professional and is equally as responsive on phones, tablets and laptops. ; A one-time registration process and welcome back email means returning users can be automatically reconnected and recognised and this will be the same for whatever device is being used.
• Service interface: Yes
• User support accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
• Description of service interface: To connect to the service, ensure that the WiFi is enabled on the device. From the device settings, select and connect to the network SSID (usually SAPRK TSL identifiable). ; The user will then be redirected to the UX (User Experience registration page). This is a buyer branded UX that allows internet access via the authentication chosen by the buyer. (E.g data for capture, social media, account login etc.) Once registered, they will be taken to the either the client website or landing page, or maybe gain access straight out to the internet, depending on the user journey the buyer requires.
• Accessibility standards: WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
• Accessibility testing: We haven't completed testing with users of assistive technology, however our services are tested through our QA procedure, not directly with end users as the service is tested rigorously in-house prior to production release. We have conducted testing by running an W3C accessibility automated testing tool against our products. The results informed some of the changes we made to our products (Listed below.); Our solutions are custom designed to meet each client's requirements. We encourage clients to use the following standards during the design and scoping process but this isn't always possible due to their branding guidelines or agreed design. ; ; This would include: high colour contrast - in most instances, at least 4.5:1, minimum 16px size font size with support to further scale text within browser settings, form fields have accurate labels, alt text or a similar solution is used for images that convey meaning, focus indicators when using the keyboard to tab through content, clear HTML markup to identify headings, paragraphs, and links, navigation elements are consistent throughout the site, status updates can be conveyed through a screen reader and headings are used in logical order.
• API: Yes
• What users can and can't do using the API: The SPARK® API is a resource rich, proven interface to the SPARK® Managed Service Platform that allows developers to create complex, intuitive and well-designed WiFi on-boarding and analytics services. buyers can develop and host their own user experiences in their own environment using their own developers for true flexibility to stay ahead in innovative WiFi applications.; ; Three key concepts make up the bulk of the API’s usage. Hotspot - Is the wireless enabled area onto which subscribers can connect sessions. Subscriber: End user access account, optionally contains a username and password. Session: The active connection of a device onto the network, with a direct relationship to a subscriber; Whilst SPARK® has its own in-built portal logic, it may not be exactly what the buyer requires so using the API allows for a fast time to market for new and innovative WiFi applications.; ; The API is a level3 compliant REST interface, supporting a wide range of HTTP verbs that can manipulate service Resources.; The API supports JSON. ; ; There are no restrictions of this service as long as the feeds are made available to us.
• API documentation: Yes
• API documentation formats: Other
• API sandbox or test environment: Yes
• Customisation available: Yes
• Description of customisation: The SPARK® system is flexible and configurable, that is built to buyers requirements. The buyer can customise the User Experience Portal design (UX) and user journey. This includes authentication methods, what content users see, where they get redirected to after registration, (whether its the buyers website or a custom built page with ads, info, or if it's SPARK® Media - our entertainment and engagement platform.); ; The buyer also chooses the content filtering deployed, the data collected and that other applications the service integrates with. The buyer is able to specify their requirement which is then outlined in a Project Charter documentation, signed off by the buyer and executed by SPARK TSL.; ; The UX design can be customised by the buyer through CMS (changes include images or banners) or by SPARK TSL, but the buyer will have input at every stage of the project implementation to outline requirements, making the solution suited to meet the criteria specified.; The buyer will appoint individuals to be responsible for the solution who will liaise with SPARK TSL throughout the implementation. These individuals will be able to customise the elements above. ; ; The solution is tailored to the buyer and prices are in the rate card.

Scaling

• Independence of resources: The SPARK® Platform applies bandwidth at an authentication level to allow a fair connection to all. The SPARK® service will efficiently manage each connected session, enforcing pre-agreed bandwidth throttling to help protect overall bandwidth so that individuals cannot consume more than others.; As an option buyers can charge end users for a Premium Connection on a higher bandwidth (End user tariff to be agreed between SPARK TSL and buyer), to allow streaming for example, there is no cost to the buyer for this premium connection. This could have a different User Experience if required.; Our platform autoscales based on demand.

Analytics

• Service usage metrics: Yes
• Metrics types: SPARK® Analytics provides powerful insights with real-time data.; ; WiFi - Number of visits, new vs return registrations. User data: Data captured on registration, e.g. demographics, device types, operating system, data transferred.; ; Media - TV & Radio Access, viewable by channel, Charity Banner Clicks - Home Page, Donation Link, Hospital Radio Clicks, Meal-Ordering Access numbers, External Link Clicks, O/S Type.; ; Custom- Returning users, visits over time and peaks, buyer captivation.; ; On login, real-time data viewed instantly, or reported on historically. Access managed via secure control mechanisms ensuring only authorised personnel can view/change data. Sessions are logged for audit purposes.
• Reporting types:
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Regular reports
  • Reports on request

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Other security clearance
• Government security clearance: Up to 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: Managed by a third party
• Penetration testing frequency: At least once a year
• Penetration testing approach: ‘IT Health Check’ performed by a Tigerscheme qualified provider or a CREST-approved service provider
• Protecting data at rest: Other
• Other data at rest protection approach: SPARK TSL gleans, processes and enriches data on demand, however the data remains yours and logically segregated within our cloud solution. ; ; SPARK TSL buyer data is held securely behind enterprise level security in our cloud and at rest is encrypted using 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).; SPARK TSL also use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer Security (TLS) to protect data in transit between applications and our servers.
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Data sanitisation type:
  • Explicit overwriting of storage before reallocation
  • Deleted data can’t be directly accessed
• Equipment disposal approach: Complying with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v.30, CAS (Sanitisation) or ISO/IEC 27001

Data importing and exporting

• Data export approach: Data can be accessed and exported via SPARK® Analytics by the buyer, not the end users. Access is managed via secure control mechanisms which ensure only authorised personnel are allowed to view or extract data, with all sessions being logged for audit purposes. ; ; buyers can request their data to be sent to them securely by emailing support@sparktsl.com; ; Data is held and stored securely for the duration of the contract and can be requested up to one month following the date of contract termination.
• Data export formats:
  • CSV
  • Other
• Other data export formats: .pdf
• Data import formats: CSV

Data-in-transit protection

• Data protection between buyer and supplier networks:
  • Private network or public sector network
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
  • Bonded fibre optic connections
  • Other
• Other protection between networks: SPARK TSL has extensive experience in providing both public and professional networks and in ensuring security standards are adhered to.; All guest networks operate on their own isolated layer 2 networks to ensure complete traffic separation. Layer 2 client isolation is also configured to ensure wireless devices cannot inter-connect unless provisioned.
• Data protection within supplier network:
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
  • Other
• Other protection within supplier network: The SPARK TSL service, SPARK®, manages the wireless network end-to-end and includes a stateful firewall which protects the internal networks from the connected outside networks by only permitting ingress and egress connections that have been agreed to ensure the service is operational.; ; Each SSID supports roaming between APs and can be configured with encryption and 802.1x authentication to protect sensitive data and permit secure authorised use for staff and WiFi connected devices.

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: The core SPARK® Managed Service Platform has a targeted availability level of >99.95%. Whilst we don’t guarantee a faultless service our Network Monitoring System is in place 24/7/365 days a year and will generate alerts to our Service Desk team who operate the same hours. This ensures any issues are highlighted, investigated and dealt with promptly. Our built-in escalation process means that any service impacting issue that cannot be resolved by Service Desk personnel it can be raised with a senior engineer in our Network Operations team who operate an on-call rota which covers 24/7/365.; Our SLA has strict response and target resolution times for all incidents:; Priority 1 - Total loss of service - 30 Minutes response - 1 Day resolution; Priority 2 - Major service degradation - Same Day response - 1 Day resolution; Priority 3 - Service Requests & minor / cosmetic faults - Next Business Day response - 5 Business Days resolution; Refunds are not offered as the service is free of charge for end users, however we will action them for premium services, should the buyer choose to provide this option, for anyone who has paid to use this service and not received it.
• Approach to resilience: The core SPARK® Managed Service Platform is hosted on a highly resilient platform with several levels of redundancy shared across multiple data centres. Further information is available on request.
• Outage reporting: All SPARK TSL services are monitored 24/7 by the SPARK® Network Monitoring System (NMS). The system will record service availability metrics such as system uptime with a detailed audit trail for historical analysis. This will form the basis for performance-related measures and reviews. When this system detects an unusual event it alerts the SPARK TSL Support Teams via direct visual alerts, email and SMS text messages. SPARK TSL will then call the nominated technical buyer contact via telephone and email follow up if a telephone is unavailable. In addition, critical alerts are posted automatically to the 24/7 service desk tool called Zendesk™ and a case is created for immediate escalation. An API is available for further integration if required. A buyer dashboard facility is available if required. The SPARK® managed service platform is at the centre of the SPARK TSL solution. This is a highly available platform with an availability score of >99.95%. As such, the risk of service outage as a result of the SPARK® managed service is very low and would be measured in minutes.; Planned maintenance outages that affect users will be communicated in advance and displayed on the user experience portal with 10 days notice given.

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication:
  • Username or password
  • Other
• Other user authentication: The buyer has a selection of authentication methods to choose from for authentication purposes on the provided service:; Social media login, ; Email & SMS validation, ; Data-click login, ; Protected account login, ; One-click login, ; Pay to use with Debit/Credit card/PayPal, ; APP integration & authentication,; MAC authentication. ; ; Users reach the login portal after connecting to the network SSID and will go through the registration and acceptance of terms, based on the portal type above.
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: Physical and logical access to all areas and platforms is restricted. SPARK TSL employ a restrict-all security lock down policy. This means that each user only has access to areas essential to their work, both geographically and on the network. User Privilege access is defined roles and authorised by Directors. SPARK TSL can also lock down access by IP address where appropriate.
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least every 6 months
• Management access authentication:
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password

Audit information for users

• Access to user activity audit information: No audit information available
• Access to supplier activity audit information: No audit information available
• How long system logs are stored for: Less than 1 month

Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001: Citation ISO Certification
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: 24/02/2022
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: Hospedia legacy equipment.
• ISO 28000:2007 certification: No
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: Yes
• Who accredited the PCI DSS certification: Lloyds bank
• PCI DSS accreditation date: 8/05/2023
• What the PCI DSS doesn’t cover: All payments methods are covered under PCI-DSS
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Cyber essentials plus: No
• Other security certifications: Yes
• Any other security certifications: Data Security and Protection Toolkit

Security governance

• Named board-level person responsible for service security: Yes
• Security governance certified: Yes
• Security governance standards:
  • ISO/IEC 27001
  • Other
• Other security governance standards: 1. IASME (Information Assurance for Small and Medium Enterprises) Cyber Essentials; 2. Data Security and Protection Toolkit
• Information security policies and processes: SPARK TSL has a comprehensive internal Information Security Policy which covers all data processed and housed through the physical and virtual infrastructure. This policy gives insight into SPARK TSL's processes regarding the physical security of facilities, Disaster Recovery, Password Requirements, Physical Access, Removable Media, Media Destruction, Environmental Hardening, Patches and Updates, Software Development and Transmission of Data. This is not an exhaustive list of topics.; ; These policies are owned and developed by the SPARK TSL Technology team which is responsible for security at SPARK TSL, with close partnership with the Operations Team and Management. The Tech team in turn report to Senior Management and Board members in order to ensure that these policies are adhered to and that any changes to these practices are measured and controlled.; ; All policies are communicated to all staff. The Technology team has the full backing of the senior management team.

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Supplier-defined controls
• Configuration and change management approach: SPARK TSL operates a structured configuration and change control process as part of its ISO 9001 Quality Management System. This incorporates Change Request forms that need approval by client and a senior manager at SPARK TSL before changes are approved. Changes are tested in a staging environment before being released to production in an agreed maintenance window. At the detailed level all changes are assessed for potential security implications as part of the controlled development process. All changes are tracked throughout their lifetime in a change log and can be rolled back if required.
• Vulnerability management type: Supplier-defined controls
• Vulnerability management approach: SPARK TSL employs a comprehensive suite of security tools to monitor, identify and assess vulnerabilities. ; ; We review and prioritise each vulnerability periodically. Critical vulnerabilities are patched within 14 days of release of fix. ; ; Non critical vulnerabilities are patched twice a year. ; ; Patches are always tested against our testing environment prior release to production.
• Protective monitoring type: Supplier-defined controls
• Protective monitoring approach: We use best in class protective monitoring tool incorporating identification of known malware, machine learning for unknown malware, exploit blocking and advanced Indicator of Attack (IOA) behavioral techniques.; We have a fully documented Incident Handling Procedure for all potential compromises which follows the Prepare, Detection, Contain, Eradicate, Recovery, Report, Remediate cycle controlled by a Security Incident Response Team.; Incidents are responded to as soon as possible and through the quickest means possible to ensure swift evaluation, investigation, eradication and resolution is achieved.
• Incident management type: Supplier-defined controls
• Incident management approach: SPARK TSL operates a structured Incident Management process as part of its ISO 9001 Quality Management System. This incorporates recording, designation, prioritising and processing incidents following ITIL best-practice standards. ; Users can report incidents using the 24/7 helpdesk service, via email, telephone and live chat. This creates a case in the service desk where subsequent actions will be logged for traceability. ; Incidents that meet predefined criteria will be defined as Major Incidents and a separate process followed. ; Incident Reports are compiled by the Service Delivery Manager as required.

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 v3.0)

Public sector networks

• Connection to public sector networks: No

Social Value

• Social Value:

  Social Value

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

  Fighting climate change

  As a business we are working towards becoming a sustainable organisation with initiatives planned in for net zero emissions by 2028 alongside implementing a Carbon Reduction Plan. We are working toward the ISO 14001 accreditation which should be completed and audited by the end of Q2 2024. This includes an education programme to increase staff awareness on all aspects of sustainability and how we can all contribute to reducing our impact on the environment.; ; We are currently at Bronze level with the Supply Chain Sustainability School and aim to achieve Silver status by the end of Q2 2024.; ; Transition: Moving our energy supply to Green Energy providers by the end of 2024 and reducing our energy usage through insulation and a policy for low power devices and office environment.; Regenerate: SPARK TSL is promoting the regeneration of green spaces around our offices and the contribution towards tree planting in the local area around Exeter, supporting initiatives such as the National Trust ""Plant a Tree"" scheme.; Sustain: SPARK TSL will choose suppliers and vendors who source their energy from sustainable sources including our cloud platform providers AWS who we chose due to their commitment to be 100% renewable energy sourced by 2025.; ; We have recently introduced a new sustainable payroll giving benefit through Furthr to enable employees to help make a real difference for the environment. The tool measures and analyses emissions and creates a suitable carbon reduction plan. It then guides the individual to select the right high-quality carbon offsetting projects and continues to communicate individual impact in order to sustain and drive engagement.

  Covid-19 recovery

  As a business we have put in place the required workplace conditions to support our team members e.g. social distancing, remote working etc. We have a number of team members who work on-site in hospitals and we regularly provide guidance to them in terms of the need to stay away from site if they test positive for covid.; ; Throughout the pandemic all of our services continued to be supplied at optimum levels. In all instances of Healthcare the services we provide were a lifeline to Patients, their families and friends. We deployed a Working From Home policy to protect our employees and many of our staff continue to do this by adopting a hybrid routine of WFH and attending their local office one or two days per week.; ; Throughout and since the pandemic our staff have continued to exhibit flexibility, tenacity and dedication in ensuring business continuity and growth is maintained.; ; We have trained mental health first aiders throughout the organisation to ensure the well-being of our employees. We encourage our staff to attend an office as often as is practicable, and hold quarterly Town Hall Meetings to bring the whole company together and actively promote social interaction both in person and through conversations via Teams.

  Tackling economic inequality

  We recognise the immense power technology has to drive economic progress and create opportunities. However, we also understand that technological advancements can inadvertently exacerbate economic disparities if not approached thoughtfully. To tackle this challenge head-on, we have implemented a multi-pronged strategy. Firstly, we invest heavily in education and skills training initiatives, providing underserved communities with access to coding bootcamps, mentorship programs, and educational resources, such as the Kick-Starters government program. This empowers individuals with the digital literacy and technical skills required to thrive in today's job market. Additionally, we prioritise diversity and inclusion in our hiring practices, ensuring that our workforce reflects the communities we serve. By leveraging our technological capabilities for positive social impact, we aim to be catalysts for economic mobility and a more equitable society.; ; Until the scheme closed in December 2021, we used the Kick Starter Scheme to bring young people into our Irvine call centre with great success. A significant proportion of the individuals who joined via this route transitioned into permanent roles with the business and continue to deliver to a high standard. ; ; As a technology business, we regularly recruit into skills-scarce roles. We place a high priority on developing internal capability wherever possible and have a robust system of regular performance and development conversations across the business, supported by training and development investment as needed. Where we don't have internal capability for skills-scarce roles, then we look to access the skills externally. ; ; By providing WiFi solutions in hospitals, the company helps bridge the digital divide by offering patients and visitors access to online resources, educational materials, and job opportunities. This can empower individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds with access to information that can improve their health outcomes and economic prospects.

  Equal opportunity

  It is the Company's policy to provide equal opportunities in employment irrespective of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sex, mental or physical disabilities, age, marital or civil partnership status, actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender re-assignment, religion or belief, including political belief. This policy is included in our Employee Handbook which was last updated and issued to all staff in December 2023.; ; The Company's policy is to treat all Employees with respect and dignity, and to ensure that Employees are not victimised or subjected to harassment or discrimination on the grounds outlined above.; ; The Company is committed to equal pay in employment. It believes its male and female Employees should receive equal pay for like work, work rated as equivalent or work of equal value.; ; The Company will make reasonable adjustments to its standard working practices to overcome barriers caused by disability.; ; We have recently grown the size of our People & Culture team and are investing in a broader programme of initiatives to help our people grow and thrive at work. We use our regular communications to increase awareness and raise confidence in addressing issues of inequality and promoting a culture where everyone feels included, able to be themselves and supported in their continued growth and development in the company. We are investing in management training this year to ensure all managers are equipped to lead their teams in a way which promotes equality of opportunity and engenders a psychologically safe environment. ; ; All team members are paid above Real Living Wage and we regularly benchmark and review our pay rates to ensure team members are remunerated in a way that is appropriate for the technical and responsible nature of work they undertake, and which reflects the commitment they show in delivering a high-quality service to our buyers.

  Wellbeing

  SPARK TSL hosts Special Interest Groups whereby staff from hospitals are invited from all departments, to discuss SPARK Media and how it can be improved for patients, visitors and staff. Engaging with the people on the ground allows our services to be relevant and provide the most support and engagement for users and ensures that all NHS staff have an input to the development of the product to put patient wellbeing and staff needs at the forefront.; ; The company provides flexible working, giving employees the option to work from home with all equipment provided or at the office, the latter of which has become more of a social hub for meeting colleagues and buyers.; ; Employees are provided a full annual benefits package which allows up to 3 volunteering/charity and community days and wellbeing days for the employee and immediate family. These days are chosen by the employee and communicated to the line manager for visibility. Community integration is encouraged as is working with our chosen charity. (This year is Cancer Research.) ; We have recently relaunched our employee benefits package. We provide all team members with access to life assurance, contributory pension, healthcare cash plan, gym membership, 33 days holiday per year (including bank holidays) and a range of retail discounts. In addition, team members have the option to buy/sell additional holidays, and opt in to further flexible benefits schemes such as enhanced medical insurance, cycle to work and sustainable payroll giving.; ; We have recently refreshed and relaunched our employee assistance programme (EAP) which offers all employees access to 8 counselling sessions and legal/probate advice should they need it. We have also trained 8 mental health first aiders who can provide support within the workplace and/or direct colleagues to appropriate support provided by the company or within the local community.

Pricing

• Price: £12 a unit a month
• Discount for educational organisations: No
• Free trial available: Yes
• Description of free trial: SPARK TSL is willing to provide a Proof of Concept. This will be a working solution for evaluation purposes for a defined period of time (usually 30 days) with objectives, criteria and KPIs. Terms and costs to be agreed on a per-project basis will be charged at our day rates.

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