Capita wins £325m Scottish public sector IT deal

Outsourcing group Capita has won a £325 million contract to deliver a single shared network for all public sector organisations in Scotland.

The nine-year Scottish wide area network (Swan) deal will initially see more than 4,600 sites connected to the network, including schools, hospitals, GP surgeries, pharmacists and local council offices.

Capita said the project is aimed at reducing costs for the public sector, as well as encouraging co-operative working by enabling the sharing of data across organisations.

Chief executive Paul Pindar said: “This is an important contract win for Capita, placing us at the heart of public service delivery in Scotland and providing us with a platform to offer additional services and build our business here.”

Ian Crichton, chief executive of NHS National Services Scotland, said Capita’s bid, which beat competition from BT, Cable & Wireless and Virgin Media Business, offered “excellent value for money for the public purse”.

He added: “Swan is a good deal for the Scottish taxpayer and anyone who uses public services, whether in schools, councils, hospitals or elsewhere.”