Impact
We were commissioned to lead a transformational change programme for national charity, following a successful tender process.
The commission needed to lay the foundations for the charity’s future technological aspirations across its 150+ UK wide sites, following the publication of its Digital Strategy.
Programme successfully delivered within budget to the tight and immovable deadline of nine months
Full programme and project management of six workstreams
150+ sites fully migrated
Implemented improved security and monitoring across all devices providing a centralised view of security across the estate
Developed procedures for new ways of working and best practise, through a remediation workstream
The challenge
This complex programme across the entire Charity’s estate needed to provide new infrastructure to enable the ICT service to be managed in-house rather than being reliant on third party contracts. This would give the organisation an enhanced digital service to its various stakeholders and act as the launchpad for future technical innovation. Entec Si’s blended team approach also aimed to improve team collaboration and ways of internal working.
Across six workstreams – cloud, network, security, website, remediation and telecommunications – we successfully worked with the client to deliver this transformational programme within the set timeframe of just nine months. As well as providing strategic direction, programme and project management, the transformation included the full migration of 150+ sites, new network circuits, Wi-Fi and access points installed across its estate, 80 servers moved to the cloud and transition from a traditional telephony system to Microsoft Teams telephony.
Our approach
The complex programme required four experienced consultants from Entec Si to work alongside the charity’s team and several technical partners.
Our Programme Manager oversaw the entire delivery, working with leaders and subject matter experts within the charity to secure the necessary governance structure from the outset. This was vital to ensure the tight deadlines were managed, necessary approvals were achieved, any issues were addressed and reported without delay.
Working as a blended team, three Entec Si project managers led the technical workstreams, responsible for keeping project plans moving forward, resolving issues, being the point of contact for decisions and working in a flexible way to enable rapid but controlled delivery.
Collaborative working was essential to make sure the various projects aligned in terms of delivery actions and everyone was kept informed. Daily stand-up meetings took place to regroup and share updates, and monthly board meetings were held with all partners to share plan trackers and work through decisions. A change board met weekly and an emergency change process was put in place due to the dynamic and fast-paced programme environment.
Engagement and communications was placed as a priority to keep key project stakeholders regularly briefed and able to ask questions. Training packs were developed for end users, and a fortnightly email update was issued to all employees to keep them updated on the programme and when they would experience changes. The charity’s intranet was utilised to provide progress updates, and the impacts and benefits to people and beneficiaries. A live email inbox was set up for colleagues to ask questions or raise concerns. Continuous review of this inbox identified themes, such as further comms, engagement or training needs.