The London Borough of Bexley has signed a five-year deal with Northgate Public Services that it claims will save £11m in IT spending.​

The deal includes managing the migration of data centre services, providing the council with network and infrastructure services, service desk management, and business applications.

The contract also has provision to recruit apprentices from the borough. They will learn IT skills the council needs to support its work.

There is also an ICT Enabler Fund, which will see Northgate look at developing new ways of delivering IT services.

Northgate has similar deals in place with councils in Reading, North Lanarkshire, Hartlepool and Nottingham.

Georgina O’Toole, research director at TechMarketView, said Northgate is a local government “stalwart” and is adept at adapting to local government needs.