Civica Strengthens Public Sector Consulting Practice

Announces consulting team appointments

6th May 2004, London... Civica, one of the UK’s most experienced providers of public sector consulting, software and services, today announces two key appointments to its consulting team and the appointment of public services director Paul Tonks to the group management board.

Paul Tonks joined Civica in October 2003 to take forward Civica’s consulting practice. Prior to this he worked for District, Unitary and Metropolitan councils at Head of Department and Strategic Director level. The appointment of Philip Barker and Angela Oliver continues Civica’s focus on driving systems and consulting support through people with first hand ‘practitioner’ experience and knowledge.

1. Philip Barker joins Civica from West Lancashire District Council. He has worked predominantly in the public sector for 18 years, developing services and driving policies in leisure, community services, public engagement and performance management. His role is to drive partnerships which engage Civica at the heart of policy development in public services and to create solutions that achieve greater value for clients and improved service delivery
2. A senior public sector manager, Angela Oliver has extensive knowledge of improving services through technology and performance management. MBA educated with professional qualifications in Environmental Health and Occupational Safety and Health, Angela previously worked in all disciplines of environmental health at the London Borough of Southwark. She will be working closely with clients to develop solutions for the demanding requirements of public protection.

Simon Downing, chief executive of Civica, said, “Building our consulting business is a key strand in our strategy to create value for customers and shareholders. At the front end of our business, it enables Civica to work alongside customers to target their key outcomes and to identify, deliver and support business solutions and added value services. The addition of Paul to the management board reflects our growing emphasis and commitment in this area.”

Examples of recent engagements include ICT consulting for Sheffield City Council, the first phase of a structured approach to the Council’s Public Service Access and e-Government agenda to 2005 and beyond, and the development of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) funding bids on behalf of authorities including Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council, which sees Civica developing the case for funding to improve service performance in Revenues and Benefits departments using both Civica and non-Civica software.

About Civica plc
Civica (www.civica.co.uk) is one of the UK's most experienced specialist providers of software and services to the public sector. Supplying many organisations in the UK, Australia and the USA, including over 700 local authorities, the company has an 18-year history of delivering effective software solutions to local government, police, healthcare, criminal justice and education organisations, and major commercial firms. Civica Services Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary, is an approved Prime Contractor for software in the UK Government's GCat procurement catalogue. The company employs approximately 450 people in the UK, Australia and the US and has a record of profitable growth.