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PIN Communications

PIN Secure online nominations

Our secure online nomination solution is used for board & council/committee elections. It’s easy to use and flexible. With encryption and email confirmation embedded, our solution makes it easy undertaking candidate nomination processes. Our system can be branded with a client’s logo, colour scheme and imagery to increase engagement.

Features

  • Online Nomination site (PDFs, FAQs, Videos/Social Media Links)
  • Platform Supports Candidate submissions (including Proposers/Supporters)
  • Confirmation emails embedded to improve user confirmation
  • Open Rates and Click through monitoring emails providing engagement statistics
  • Candidate can return via unique link provided to update submission
  • Aesthetically pleasing digital interfaces. Fully customisable with multi-language options.
  • Realtime submission information for client to monitor activity/progress
  • Platform optimised for desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone.
  • SSL Secured using the latest secure encryption certification

Benefits

  • Customisable digital solutions to present the customers brand identity.
  • Help the environment using digital solutions by reducing Printing/Postage
  • Fully Managed Election Services (Digital/Postal) Nominations to publishing the Results
  • Independent Election Scrutineer awarded Customer Service Excellence (UK Cabinet office)
  • Improve Member/Voter Engagement utilising extraordinary artwork and design
  • User friendly digital voting experience facilitates engagement by reducing barriers
  • Mobile optimised technology allows 'Nominations on the move' via Smartphone
  • Digital products fully supported by our Admin Support Team
  • ISO9001 & 27001, Certified Cyber Essentials and Fully GDPR compliant
  • Registered with Information Commissioner’s Office covering Data Protection

Pricing

  • Education pricing available

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

Framework

G-Cloud 15

Service ID

8 9 8 3 4 6 7 8 9 6 2 5 5 6 3

Contact

PIN Communications Andy Tye
Telephone: 0161 209 4800
Email: sales@printimagenetwork.com

About your service

Service categories

Applications

Content workflow and management

  • Capture
  • Document
  • Media Services
  • Creative
  • EDiscovery and forensics

Content services

  • Content Sharing and Collaboration Applications

Persuasive content management

  • Website Software
  • Digital Asset Management Applications
  • Content Marketing Applications
  • Video Platforms
  • Digital Adoption Platform

Enterprise portals and digital workspaces

  • Multi-Audience Portals
Multi cloud support
No

Service scope

Software add-on or extension
No
Cloud deployment model
Private cloud
Service constraints
None
System requirements
Internet enabled device with browser

User support

Email or online ticketing support
Yes
Support response times
We respond to service requests (Working days: Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, excluding bank holidays) dependent on the type of service issue, to ensure we prioritise the most critical need: Down time: Within 4 working hours Software failure: Within 4 working hours Problem not affecting key functionality: Within 4 working hours Query: Same and/or next working day
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
Onsite support
Yes, at extra cost
Support levels
We provide a fully managed election service with a dedicated/named account manager working with the customer on Working days: Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, excluding bank holidays. We provide end-user support via email and telephone on Working days: Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, excluding bank holidays. We aim to answer the phone within 3 rings. Any support required outside these hours can be provided (price on application)
Support available to third parties
Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

Getting started
As part of our ISO 9001 and Customer Service Excellence standards, we operate a robust onboarding process to welcome clients to our service. Our 5 Stages of Onboarding are: 1. Compliance: Administration of GDPR documentation, agreements and internal setup 2. Welcome: Introduction to the team and named account manager for daily contact 3. Consultation: Most if not all of your requirements, regarding your process, will have been covered in any tender response, meetings or partner plan. However, this is an opportunity to clarify requirements and complete a comprehensive project brief, which your Account Manager will follow. We will also set expectations for the service ahead and goals you would like to achieve for the project. 4. Planning: Your Account Manager will help plan the specifics of your process including timetables, any pertinent requirements set out in your election rules (or Articles of Association/Constitution), voting methods, design (based on previous examples of voting materials or entirely new concepts) which will require adhering to your brand guidelines. 5. Project Duration: As a new client, we ensure that your experience and result are as you expect. Our Account Managers will adhere to the timescales set to ensure the process meets every single deadline.
Service documentation
Yes
Documentation formats
PDF
End-of-contract data extraction
At the close of the nomination process the client is sent all candidate details to undertake the moderation checks. All client data is destroyed 30 days after the voting period closes unless prior agreement is made. Updates throughout the nomination period are available from the account manager.
End-of-contract process
After the election has concluded, we will undertake a review process and look to obtain your feedback. We will also raise the invoice for the electoral services provided. Arrangements will be made for the data to be destroyed in line with any agreement or legislation. Also we will send details of any communication relating to changes of member details such as email address, etc.
Documentation accessibility standard
None or don’t know
How the documentation is accessible
Simple format PDF file.

Using the service

Web browser interface
Yes
Supported browsers
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
  • Opera
Application to install
No
Designed for use on mobile devices
Yes
Differences between the mobile and desktop service
The service is device agnostic and will scale automatically and dynamically to the browser screen size.
Service interface
Yes
User support accessibility
WCAG 2.2 AA
Description of service interface
The site is developed with accessibility in mind and meets WCAG 2.2 AA standards.
Accessibility standards
WCAG 2.2 AA
Accessibility testing
Used WCAG testing software that assessed the platform to determine which standards the site met.
API
No
Customisation available
Yes
Description of customisation
Our system can be setup to use the clients branding, including: • Logo • Images/pictures/video • Corporate colour • Languages • downloadable document • Copy text • end of process survey and/or social media share links once vote is cast. Our account management team will undertake all customisations with the details provided and send you a link with proofing code for you to review. The final site will be signed off by you before it goes live.

Scaling

Independence of resources
We use load-balancing infrastructure that is setup to accommodate for peaks of activity, ensuring the operational effectiveness remains constant. As we control the number of users that can access the system at any time, we can proactively plan to scale the systems if required, especially if large volumes of use are expected. We constantly monitor use of the system and have also have Ddos protection mechanisms in place to allow system performance in the event of any targeted activity

Analytics

Service usage metrics
Yes
Metrics types
Metrics can be provided by your account manager
Reporting types
Reports on request
Resource tagging
No
FOCUS resource tagging
No

Resellers

Supplier type
Not a reseller

Staff security

Staff security clearance
Other security clearance
Government security clearance
Developed Vetting (DV)

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
Supplier-defined controls
Penetration testing frequency
At least once a year
Penetration testing approach
Another external penetration testing organisation
Protecting data at rest
Physical access control, complying with another standard
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
We use Progress Sharefile for all data transfers that is encrypted and provides an audit trail along with user notifications. Access to the system is controlled via link, username and password being provided to the responsible person on the client side, once Data agreements are in place. Stored files are protected using AES 256-bit encryption in addition to unique per-file keys. All our file transfers adhere to our ISO27001 certification processes
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 system is installed on dual redundant server hardware meaning it any aspect of our server fails the redundant server takes over in a fraction of a second, Therefore our systems uptime availability is more than 99.99%
Approach to resilience
Data security is paramount for running election processes, which is why we invest significantly in our systems, physical/virtual protection, processes, policies, certifications & staff training. Further details are available on request.
Outage reporting
Our technical team are alerted by SMS and email of any outage, however our systems are also monitored externally by our hosting provider with relevant SLA’s in place for any remedial action required.

Identity and authentication

User authentication needed
Yes
User authentication
Other
Other user authentication
Via email address.
Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels
Access to the management interface is via a small group of our staff via password and username with 2FA. The service is a managed service whereby the administration is undertaken by our staff to independently manage the election process to remove any perceived bias. The client account manager will facilitate any need the client has acting as the communication channel with the technical/administration team.
Access restriction testing frequency
At least every 6 months
Management access authentication
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password

Audit information for users

Access to user activity audit information
Users contact the support team to get audit information
How long user audit data is stored for
User-defined
Access to supplier activity audit information
Users contact the support team to get 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 ISO27001 certification we have the following policies and processes in place relating to information security: - Back up policy - Cryptographic control policy - Network disaster recovery policy - Data protection policy - Access and password policy - Data breach procedure - Software installation policy - Secure data file transfer policy - Access protocol policy - Removable media policy - Information security policy and manual All policies state the processes required to be followed, reporting structure and escalation procedure. We also have cyber essentials certification.
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
We use version control processes with documented release notes to ensure all configurations in a live environment are tracked and managed. All implementations need to be authorised before implementation/roll out. All changes go through a request assessment process before development is undertaken, this includes an impact assessment on the security of the system. Full testing is undertaken before any updates are made to the live system. This is essential to both ensure the security of the system but also to ensure the security of the online voting process.
Vulnerability management type
Supplier-defined controls
Vulnerability management approach
Vulnerability management for our systems is an integral part of our ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials certification. We regularly assess all possible risks to the services we offer and have mitigation procedures in place to accommodate for any considered scenario. This forms part of our business continuity plan and risk management processes. All systems where data is present are proactively monitored and scanned to ensure all the latest patches are applied when released keeping our systems current and updated. We also have endpoint protection that monitors and patches our antivirus, malware, etc.
Protective monitoring type
Complies with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
Protective monitoring approach
All our systems are constantly monitored in relation to network traffic/access, files, operating systems, firewalls to identify any potential compromises. Our ISO27001 policies define how quickly we respond to any incident along with the remedial action and escalation processes, depending on the issue, severity, risk and impact. Some of these processes are automatic and instantaneous such as our Ddos protection systems that immediately kick in when any malicious activity is identified
Incident management type
Supplier-defined controls
Incident management approach
We have a structured incident management process as part of our ISO27001 certification. The process covers how incidents are reported, what action is then undertaken for containment/recovery, any investigation process, how, who and when we notify of the incident and finally how we review and evaluate the incident and its impact.
Post-quantum cryptography secure
No

Secure development

Approach to secure software development best practice
Conforms to a recognised standard, but self-assessed

Public sector networks

Connection to public sector networks
No

Pricing

Discount for educational organisations
Yes
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
ISOQAR
ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date
Monday 21 October 2024
What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover
None
ISO 28000:2022 certification
No
ISO 9001 certification
Yes
Who accredited the ISO 9001 certification
ISOQAR
ISO 9001 accreditation date
Monday 21 October 2024
What the ISO 9001 doesn’t cover
None
Quality management systems (QMS)
Yes
CSA STAR certification
No
PCI certification
No
Cyber essentials
Yes
Please provide your Cyber Essentials Certificate Number
A8980e91-5d21-4ecc-919c-2d34f268806c
Cyber essentials plus
No
Cyber Essentials Alternative
In relation to the services you do not have a current and valid Cyber Essentials Plus certificate which has been awarded by one of the government approved Cyber Essentials accreditation bodies but you are working towards gaining it, and will be in a position to confirm that you have been awarded a current and valid Cyber Essentials Plus certificate by one of the government approved accreditation bodies within 12 months of the date of award.
Other security certifications
No

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

    • New or retained jobs on the contract workforce in the relevant area that meet the criteria set out in MAC 1b, 1c and 1d
    • New apprenticeships on the contract workforce in the relevant area that meet the criteria set out in MAC 1b
    • 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
    • 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
    • Entitlement to sick pay for the contract workforce, with provision in place for any staff who do not meet the earnings threshold for statutory sick pay, payment of sick pay from day one of absence and payment of staff on the contract workforce who are off sick a replacement income of 100% of their usual earnings for as long as possible
    • Plans for an appropriate income replacement policy for staff who are required to spend time away from work to care for a sick dependent or close relative
    • Understanding of in-work progression issues affecting 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 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 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
    • 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.
    • Means of influencing staff, suppliers, customers, communities and/or any other appropriate stakeholders with respect to modern slavery risks relating to the contract
  • 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
    • Delivery of apprenticeships, supported internships and T Level industry placement opportunities (Level 2, 3 and 4+) in relation to the contract
  • 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
    • Plans for engaging a diverse range of businesses in engagement activities prior to appointing subcontractors (including activities prior to award of the main contract and during the contract term)
    • Activities that demonstrate a collaborative way to work with a diverse range of businesses as part of the supply chain
    • Ensuring accessibility to contracting and subcontracting opportunities for disabled business owners and employees
    • 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
    • Understanding of local demographics, needs and opportunities for the co-design of the goods, services and works to be delivered under the contract
    • Methods for engaging with different parts of the community (including the education system and charities representing the community) and how communities come together to inform decisions, strategy and projects to leave a positive legacy for future generations
    • Measures to involve local stakeholders and/or users in design (e.g. in the design of services, systems, products or buildings)
    • Plans for positive actions with community groups.
    • Measures to engage users and communities and build relationships to increase community integration build trust and influence how the contract is delivered
    • Plans to respond flexibly and adapt approaches to community engagement and initiatives
    • Support for community-led initiatives relevant to the contract. Illustrative examples: improving transport links; reducing loneliness; helping with English language proficiency; and facilitating social mixing among people with different backgrounds
    • Collaborating with anchor institutions and community groups to make facilities available for education, training or community events
  • 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
    • Understanding of how to influence staff, suppliers, customers, communities and/or any other appropriate stakeholders through the delivery of the contract to support climate and nature protection and improvement
    • Activities to reconnect people with the environment and increase awareness of ways to protect and enhance it
  • 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 employment and skills issues, and of the skills and employment shortages of high growth sectors relating to the contract
    • Creation of employment opportunities particularly for those who face barriers to employment, such as prison leavers, care leavers and/or who are located in deprived areas, and for people in industries with known skills shortages or in high growth sectors
    • Delivery of training schemes and programmes to address any identified skills gaps and under-representation in the workforce for the contract (e.g. prison leavers, care leavers, kinship carers, disabled people)
    • 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
    • Collection of the views and expertise of disabled people and their representative organisations on successfully supporting disabled employees or applicants
    • 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
    • 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.

    • Understanding of the issues affecting the development of new skills by target cohort
    • Understanding of the underlying factors affecting improvements to reduce barriers to entry and training schemes for the target cohort(s) related to the contract workforce
    • Other measures to offer development opportunities for the target cohort(s) in the contract workforce
    • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort
    • Understanding of issues relating to entering the contract workforce
    • Creation of outreach activities to create a pipeline of employees for the future contract delivery
    • Content of the outreach activity is designed to suit the target cohort
    • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort
  • 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
    • Actions to invest in the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the contract workforce

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