Parity secure order to extend their support to the Charity Commission
~ Parity to provide IT services to help reduce charities’ administrative burden ~
Parity, the IT and business services company, has announced an order under their existing framework agreement with the Commission.
Under the order, which runs from April 2008 until 2013, Parity will continue to work as a strategic partner to the Charity Commission to support and enhance its ICT application portfolio. Parity will undertake a major application transformation project to replace the Register of Charities application suite in addition to providing support, upgrades and enhancement services to the ICT application portfolio.
As part of the existing relationship with the Charity Commission, Parity has developed web-based solutions to give charities access to perform transactions online. Parity re-developed the Commission’s website, enabling charities to update and submit information and accounts securely via the web, significantly reducing their administrative burden. The Commission has reduced the cost of transactions to only one tenth of the original cost; a paper form costs £4 to process, whereas an online transaction costs 40p. The order will see Parity continue to provide application support and web-hosting for the Commission’s online presence in the five year order period.
Nick Allaway, Executive Director at the Charity Commission, described the uptake to date: “We are really pleased with the success of our on line systems. Over three-quarters of the main registered charities are now using our Online Services. The system Parity has built makes it much easier for them to submit returns, to update us on changes in their organisation, and reduces duplication in effort on our side. It makes a huge difference to the Commission’s administrative burden, saving time and money. Over time, we anticipate the take up rates to rise even further and we aim to expand the range of our online services.
As a small department we need an IT business partner like Parity that is affordable and delivers workable solutions. To do this their team have to understand the needs of our business.”
One of the key factors behind the Charity Commission’s decision to extend the contract was Parity’s approach to Support and Service Management. The Charity Commission was also confident that Parity would continue to provide value for money and work collaboratively with them to ensure that business efficiencies and cost savings were achieved over the course of the relationship.
Alwyn Welch, Chief Executive of Parity, commented: “Extending our already strong working relationship with the Charity Commission into a further five-year partnership gives us the opportunity to work together on innovative solutions to support charities across the UK. Parity has an outstanding track record in serving our customers’ needs and we are looking forward to helping the Commission achieve its strategic aims.”
Notes to Editors:
Parity is a leading IT technology and resource services organisation delivering a range of technical, resource and training solutions that contribute to the business growth and economic performance of private and public sector clients. Their experience allows for effective business transformation through innovative managed service and outsourced programmes.
Parity's 30 years’ expertise in Project and Programme Management minimises business risk associated with systems implementation, integration or business change for clients. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Parity recorded a turnover of over £150m in 2007.
Parity has deep industry knowledge and expertise in Finance, Utilities, Telecoms and the Public Sector delivering people, skills and concepts for IT projects and programmes throughout the UK. Parity have provided these services to a range of blue-chip clients, including BAT, Ministry of Defence, BT, DWP, Ofgem, Ministry of Justice and Northern Ireland Electricity.
For further information, please contact:
Caroline Overholt, Parity
c.overholt@parity.net
0845 873 6942
