Government ups support for IT suppliers' code
OGC throws weight behind best-practice code
The code of best practice for public-sector IT suppliers was given a much-needed credibility boost last week when the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) increased its support for the scheme.
Suppliers, including channel players, said the OGC had been slow in putting its weight behind the code, which was introduced more than a year ago and aims to establish official standards for all government IT providers.
Derek Hardmann, director of government systems at Fujitsu Services, who led the development of the code for the IT and electronics trade body Intellect, said: "There's now an element of the suppliers getting their act together and waiting for the government to catch up."
The code will benefit the channel only if government departments do business with suppliers that adhere to its rules. But Hardmann said: "We do not see the pull in the marketplace from government in the way that Intellect wished when the code of practice was set up."
He added that the OGC announcement last week signalled increased commitment.
Paul Everist, project manager at the OGC, who worked with Intellect in developing the code, denied that government support for the programme had been lacking. "There's an ongoing commitment to embed the code. This is not a new commitment," he said.
"We recognise there is a lot more effort we have to put in. But a lot of work has been done."
Suppliers have also been slow to rally to the scheme. Since its launch in 2003 only 50 out of 1,000 Intellect members have signed up.
Nick Kalisperas, Intellect's head of e-government, said: "We always knew when we launched the code that it would be a long-term process.
"I'm comfortable with where we are because nearly all the major government suppliers have adopted the code."