DWP and SCC

The overview

After acquiring a brand new 77,000 sq. ft. site in the heart of Manchester, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) needed help in creating a digital media suite. As a long-term, valued partner, SCC was on hand to help deliver this time-sensitive project.

A multi-functional showcase area

“For our new Manchester development, we wanted to implement a big showcase events space,” explains David Travis, development manager at DWP Digital Group. “Initially, we thought about purchasing some big TVs and ‘sticking them on the wall’, but after speaking to one of our senior managers, the plan changed.”

“SCC really ‘mucked in’ and pushed us over many hurdles – I was really impressed with the level of support we got”

The manager in question instead requested a unified communication system – something a little bit more special. “We have a long-standing history with SCC, who’ve helped us previously with unified communication, so we went straight to them,” says Travis.

SCC assisted the DWP in identifying the most appropriate use of technology to make the most of the large, multifunctional, showcase area. The DWP had some requirements which included: the space needing to offer functionality for all users and match the rest of the building in being a modern and vibrant commercial work space; for Skype for Business to play a large part in their future communications strategy; and the space being able to host less formal events, such as video game tournaments.

“We had an idea of what we wanted,” Travis confirms, “but we didn’t know what that was in reality until we started having conversations with SCC.”

Looking forward

DWP Manchester now brings people across the country to use the suite, and it’s not just a space for government employees. “People from IBM have run courses in there already, so we’re making important links and expanding our reputation to businesses across the country.

“The facilities we now have are something to stand up and feel proud about. It’s doing so much for us.”

Time challenge

SCC was tasked with delivering the project in a short space of time. Travis explains, “We had a 16-week window in which to build everything in the new building, so we had to plan very carefully as certain elements needed to be done within a certain timeframe to allow the rest of the build to continue.”

He continues, “For instance, we had a huge vinyl floor that needed to go down, and as soon as it did, you couldn’t do anything under the floor. Cables needed to be put down and SCC stepped up and came in and laid the cables so we could move on with the rest of the build. They really ‘mucked in’ and pushed us over many hurdles – I was really impressed with the level of support we got.”

Between SCC Support and the DWP, many challenges were overcome and the 16-week deadline was made. “It was very collaborative; we worked side-by-side, daily,” Travis applauds, “SCC rolled their sleeves up, got stuck in, and gave us what we needed in great time.”

“The facilities we now have are something to stand up and feel proud about. It’s doing so much for us”

New and improved

“The work SCC has done has really helped us from a reputation point of view,” states Travis. “We are now able to offer a competitive environment for people to come and showcase the work they are doing; to be able to do that across sites, across the network, means we’re able to really stand out as ‘transformative’. That is always our goal at DWP Digital, to transform the way people work and to showcase DWP as a forward-thinking and forward-looking employer.”

Every day the DWP are now booking events for 80-100 people in the suite. “People are really enjoying using this space and the facilities that we have – we’re now running with ideas left-right-and-centre on how to further use the space and progress.”

One of the DWP’s requirements was that ‘the system should not require technical support staff in order to operate it due to limitations on the availability of staff with enhanced technical AV knowledge’. SCC managed to accomplish this as Travis acknowledges, “Core to our progression is the IT we now have in there and the integrated simplicity. You don’t need to be a degree-educated computer technician to use it. The system is so easy to use, and that’s a really important feature.” Dave Travis, DWP said, “We are now able to offer a competitive environment for people to come and showcase the work they are doing; to be able to do that across sites, across the network, means we’re able to really stand out as ‘transformative’. That is always our goal at DWP Digital, to transform the way people work and to showcase DWP as a forward-thinking and forward-looking employer.”