Atlantic Lithium Regulatory News (ALL)

9 May 2005 07:00

Manpower Software PLC09 May 2005 MANPOWER SOFTWARE PLC (the "Company") ALLIANCE AGREEMENT WITH SPECIALIST COMPUTER CENTRES PLC ("SCC") Manpower Software plc is pleased to announce that it has signed an AllianceAgreement with SCC, the pan-European technology integrator and servicesprovider, for the resale of Manpower Software's MAPS Workforce Planning and DutyRostering software in the UK. The Agreement will initially focus on sales ofMAPS Taskforce Duty Rostering software to the UK National Health Service ("NHS"). SCC is the technology enabler brand of Europe's largest independent technologygroup, which employs over 6,000 employees, across a pan-European network of 65offices located in key cities, generating a turnover approaching three billioneuros. In the UK, SCC has a market leading public sector division that spans sixverticals including healthcare, education and local government. SCC's productsand services are directly aligned to the modernising Government agenda. Forexample, ahead of the implementation of the National Programme for IT, and anoutstanding testimonial for the programme, SCC provided a leading technologysolution for the Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS Trust that releases cliniciantime and is delivering tangible improvements in patient care. SCC is a G-CAT (Government IT Catalogue) approved supplier for computer softwaresales to the NHS. Manpower Software has been approved as an accreditedsub-contractor to SCC by the Office of Government Commerce, which is responsiblefor G-CAT through its Executive Agency OGCbuying.solutions. Manpower Software anticipates two important benefits from the Agreement: • first, an increase in orders for MAPS Taskforce as SCC introduces MAPS to its extensive NHS user base; and • second, faster order intake and a shortening of the average sales cycle, since customers will be able to purchase MAPS Taskforce from SCC on a non-competitive basis. MAPS Taskforce Duty Rostering cost-effectively solves two critical problems forthe UK NHS: high expenditure on bank and agency nurse staffing and theconsiderable front-line staff effort needed to create rosters. These problemsare now receiving significant attention internally within NHS Trusts andgovernment. In addition, correct rostering not only reduces clinical risk andallows better patient care, but also improves staff morale and increasesretention levels of existing staff. The Company has a unique and strong productoffering in this area. Paul Scandrett, Director Strategic Markets for Manpower Software, commented: "MAPS Taskforce can help reduce the use of agency staff significantly, asalready proven in pilot studies that we have carried out recently with NHSHospital Trusts. Because costs of agency staff to an NHS Acute Trust may runinto many millions of pounds a year, improving rostering and cutting the use ofagency staff is a high priority for many Trust Boards. For this reason webelieve that SCC's NHS customers will respond enthusiastically to the benefitsof MAPS Taskforce." Sharon Hurd, Head of Healthcare at SCC, said: "SCC is totally supportive of the NHS National Programme for IT's objectives andis already delivering proven services and solutions. Through the selection ofManpower Software as a partner, we continue to expand and deepen our offer tothe healthcare sector. "The NHS has the largest nomadic workforce in the country and extensively usestemporary employment and recruitment agencies. Improving patient care throughbest maximising the resources available to it, whilst seeking to createadministrative efficiencies, is a key priority. Manpower Software's MAPSTaskforce solution will aid the effective utilisation of clinical staff toensure front line care is available where and when it is most needed." Enquiries: Manpower Software plc Simon Thorne, Finance Director 020 7389 9500 Shore Capital Alex Borrelli 020 7408 4090 Dated 9 May 2005 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange