Please find below a number of frequently asked questions about
South West One. If you are unable to find an answer to your
query here, please submit your enquiry in the Contact
Us section.
Who are the partners in the Joint Venture Company, Southwest One?
The work to establish this joint venture company was initiated by Somerset County Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council in 2005, both excellent authorities who were keen to improve their services further and deliver even better value for money for their council tax payers.
IBM, global business services provider, signed the contract with the two councils in October 2007.
In March 2008, Avon and Somerset Constabulary became the fourth Founding Partner of Southwest One.
Why a Joint Venture Company?
In a nutshell, both Councils and the police have ambitious plans to improve services to their customers which they could not afford without delivering efficiency savings. Therefore, by working with and using the skills of IBM the Councils will be able to use private sector expertise in the public sector which should deliver an exciting combination of improved services and better value for money for council taxpayers.
What are the benefits of creating a new Joint Venture Company?
We are aiming to achieve the following benefits:
- To improve access to and delivery of customer facing services.
- To modernise, reduce the cost of and improve corporate, transactional and support services.
- To help modernise and transform the overall workings of the Councils and the Police.
- To invest in world-class technologies to improve productivity.
- To create an excellent working environment and a more sustainable employment for Council and Police staff in the future.
- To generate economic investment in Somerset.
What services will Southwest One deliver?
The back-office services which the Joint Venture Company will deliver include
Finance, ICT, Procurement, Property, Facilities Management, Human Resources,
Design and Print, Customer Contact services and traded services to schools.
How large is the contract?
The Councils are signing a 10 year contract worth approximately £400m with IBM to deliver improved, more efficient services as well as supporting transformation across both Councils.
How will I now contact the Councils or the Police?
For the time being, contact details for the Councils and the Police will remain the same. See the Contact
Us page for Council and Police website details.
Will this affect my waste collection?
No, your waste will continue to be collected in the same way.
Will other Local Authorities benefit from this?
Yes, this partnership is a 'shared services' initiative and is the first of its kind in the South West. The joint venture includes a framework agreement entitling over 30 other public sector organisations, previously signed up, to purchase similar services through the partnership. This allows these organisations to acquire services without having to adhere to the standard European procurement process.
How do I find out about current job vacancies with Southwest One?
Southwest One will advertise posts from time to time using a range of media, including local or national press.
If I am a supplier, how do I go about finding out more about Southwest One with a view to supporting this local initiative?
We are currently in the process of working out a strategy for how Southwest One will be engaging with new and existing Council suppliers. We will provide further information on our website as to how suppliers can engage with us when our procurement strategy is available. Please keep checking this website for further updates.
