Assisting The University of Cumbria with a Digital Infrastructure Blueprint

The Project

The University of Cumbria engaged 4C Strategies to provide independent advice and guidance and to lead the preparation of a digital infrastructure blueprint that would underpin the University’s ambitious goals for the digital future of its buildings and operations.

Background

The University of Cumbria has recently embarked on two ambitious building projects; the Citadel Project, to relocate and merge its two sites located in Carlisle, and a new facility in Barrow-in-Furness in partnership with BAE.

The strategy and vision for both projects focuses on the use of digital technologies to create an intelligent environment that will enhance the delivery of education, support a flexible learning and working environment and aid in the University’s further objectives pertaining to sustainability.

In addition to this, the University has set out its “Towards 2030” Business Strategy, together with a supporting Digital Strategy, and identified the need for a digital infrastructure blueprint to support these objectives.

Brief

4C Strategies was engaged to assist in the development and preparation of a digital infrastructure blueprint that would support the University’s wider digital and business strategy – one that could then be applied to future building projects, including refurbishment of existing spaces as well as new buildings.

4C Strategies worked collaboratively with the University throughout the project using the two “live” building projects as information sources for the blueprint. This included working closely with the professional design and architecture teams and attending specialist user engagement sessions.

Outcome

4C Strategies worked collaboratively with the University to produce an all-encompassing digital infrastructure blueprint that will provide an invaluable reference point for future infrastructure projects that the University may undertake.

The blueprint report has been prepared for two key audiences, firstly for the University’s senior management team where the report recommendations have been broken down into a helpful traffic light system categorising these into “must haves”, “should haves” and “could haves”, in order to aid the University in its decision making, in line with relevant priorities; and secondly as a key briefing document for project professional design teams.

A further key benefit of this blueprint to the University was the production of a bespoke budgeting tool that can now be applied to future buildings projects, whether that be new buildings or the refurbishment of existing spaces. This budgeting tool allows the University to consider digital infrastructure much earlier in the budgeting process – a consideration which, traditionally, is not always allowed for so early on in a project. This proactive approach to budgeting will also provide significant cost-saving benefits to the University in the long term.

Assisting The University of Cumbria with a Digital Infrastructure Blueprint

4C Strategies was engaged by The University of Cumbria to assist in the development and preparation of a digital infrastructure blueprint that would support its wider digital and business strategy – one that could then be applied to future building projects, including refurbishment of existing spaces as well as new buildings.

WHAT DO OUR CLIENTS SAY?

Ulster University

Donna O'Kane

“Dave very quickly gained a solid understanding of our requirements, some of which are unique due to history and geography in Northern Ireland. He brought an unsurpassed level of market and technical knowledge relating to unified communications and demonstrated a unique ability to balance any business or technical challenges that arose as the project progressed. Dave worked as a genuine member of our team forming strong working relationships with, and most importantly gaining the trust of, all of our stakeholders, ranging from telecommunications staff, through senior academics, to our board directors.”

Cambridgeshire County Council

Sue Grace, Director Corporate and Customer Services

"4C became a valuable member of our project team by producing high quality documentation, helping us to understand the UK marketplace and playing a full and proactive role in the evaluation. The 4C procurement ‘tool-set’ fully captured our requirements and allowed the suppliers to clearly articulate their proposals at all stages of the Competitive Dialogue. If you have a need for an independent ICT consultancy we would have no hesitation in recommending 4C Strategies."

University of Oxford

Stuart Lee, Deputy Chief Information Officer

"We were extremely pleased with the work we commissioned 4C to do for us. Exploring the infrastructure complexities within Oxford is a difficult task, but 4C did this diligently and to a high standard. We were kept in touch all the way through and this felt very much like a partnership, shaping the recommendations jointly. The final report delivered to time and to scope and offered very good value for money."

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust

Steve Mattern, Associate Director of IM&T

“The project to replace the telephone systems in our three hospitals was always going to be a major challenge for the Trust. We retained 4C to help us to develop our strategy, go out to procurement and transition to the new solution in one coordinated step at all three sites.

West London Mental Health Trust

Trevor Nelms, Director of Business Technology

"4C Strategies has assisted in a range of complex ICT projects, from inception through to deployment, and demonstrate a rare ability to bring together technical expertise with business acumen and tight project management skills"

University of Edinburgh

Tony Weir, Director of IT Infrastructure

"We chose 4C as a strategic partner to help the University manage a large-scale project to modernise the University’s telephony service. This project involved full upgrade to the University’s VoIP infrastructure and migrating over 5,000 analogue extensions to the new system. 4C where chosen for their expert skills in telephony, the quality of their strategic advice and their ability to manage a business-critical project, all of which have proved invaluable in assisting the University to deliver a successful project."

University of Westminster

Thierry Delaitre, Head of FST Technical Services Department

"4C has played a key role in defining and delivering this important Mobile Learning project for the Faculty of Science and Technology. Their technical skills, relationship with the wider University, sector knowledge and project & change management skills have significantly contributed to the success of this project and its transition to Business As Usual"