Improving services and lives

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

This 10-year strategic services partnership was the result of a major services review conducted by Sefton Council. On 1 October 2008, arvato was appointed to deliver a range of key services, including Customer Services, Revenues Services, Benefits Services, Payroll Services, Accounts Payable, Pensions Administration, Transactional HR Services, ICT Services and Transformation & Change Services.

To support delivery of these services, approximately 450 Sefton Council employees TUPE transferred to arvato on their current terms.

Sefton concluded that it could best transform services and realise efficiencies by harnessing the private-sector expertise and resources of arvato government services. For example, we are investing over £4m in upgrading the Council’s ICT infrastructure and enhancing ICT service provision. To confirm with Sefton that we will deliver on our promises and achieve the Council’s objectives, the transformation agenda is documented in a contractually-agreed Continuous Improvement Programme, which includes a number of key goals:

• To transform services and improve the public’s perception of the Council
• To delivery upper quartile performance at reduced cost
• To help improve local employment through the creation of new jobs
• To make a contribution to the regeneration of the borough
• To create a model for best practice in public sector service delivery
• To enhance the reputation of Sefton

“The partnership with arvato brings with it many benefits for our customers, investment in facilities and also new local jobs to help Sefton Council meet the challenges ahead. This partnership will help Sefton Council ensure that we continue to provide the best possible services for the people of Sefton. I look forward to working with arvato to achieve our joint objectives."
Margaret Carney, Chief Executive, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

“Our strategic services partnership with Sefton Council reinforces our reputation for transforming services, achieving savings and creating local employment opportunities. We look forward to working with the Council to deliver first-class public services to the citizens and businesses of Sefton, and to protect the jobs of transferring staff. Our objective is to help Sefton achieve national top quartile performance for services.”
Michael Jones, Partnership Director, arvato government services