[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":843},["ShallowReactive",2],{"allPosts":3,"pagePosts-15-13":56},[4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20,22,24,26,28,30,32,34,36,38,40,42,44,46,48,50,52,54],{"path":5},"/news/50-government-dpos-report-more-doubling-data-protection-requests-introduction-gdpr",{"path":7},"/news/a-week-supporting-women-in-tech",{"path":9},"/news/ai-is-eating-the-world",{"path":11},"/news/continuing-our-commitment-women-technology",{"path":13},"/news/fiv-team-turns-fiv-teen",{"path":15},"/news/fivium-awarded-gold-investors-people-accreditation",{"path":17},"/news/fivium-breaking-barriers-and-championing-gender-pay-equity-uk-tech-industry",{"path":19},"/news/fivium-continues-buck-uk-tech-industrys-gender-pay-gap-trend",{"path":21},"/news/fivium-digital-asf",{"path":23},"/news/fivium-digital-deliver-redesigned-energy-technology-list-website-help-uk-meet-net-zero-2050",{"path":25},"/news/fivium-joins-pledge-end-mental-health-discrimination",{"path":27},"/news/fivium-ltd-shortlisted-gold-employer-year-investors-people-iip-awards-2023",{"path":29},"/news/fivium-raises-12400-childnet-support-safer-internet",{"path":31},"/news/fivium-secures-investment-from-bgf-to-accelerate-support-for-public-sector-organisations",{"path":33},"/news/fivium-selects-childnet-its-charity-year",{"path":35},"/news/fiviums-student-placement-scheme-fueling-growth-and-empowering-young-talent",{"path":37},"/news/how-fivium-use-stress-container-model-support-their-peoples-health-and-wellbeing",{"path":39},"/news/iip-awards-2025",{"path":41},"/news/introducing-the-future-of-public-sector-case-management-ecase-ai",{"path":43},"/news/investing-people-2022-review",{"path":45},"/news/keeping-our-tools-sharp",{"path":47},"/news/kindness-matters-all-year-round",{"path":49},"/news/mens-mental-health-and-wellbeing-fivium",{"path":51},"/news/reflections-on-ecase-foi25",{"path":53},"/news/why-working-public-sector-it-great",{"path":55},"/news/youre-hired",[57,124,167,233,319,385,425,530,583,627,714,752,776],{"id":58,"title":59,"authors":60,"body":65,"date":112,"description":113,"extension":114,"hideHeroImage":115,"image":116,"imageAlt":117,"lede":118,"meta":119,"navigation":120,"path":35,"seo":121,"stem":122,"__hash__":123},"news/news/fiviums-student-placement-scheme-fueling-growth-and-empowering-young-talent.md","Fivium's student placement scheme: Fueling growth and empowering young talent",[61],{"name":62,"role":63,"image":64},"Chris Tasker","Software Engineering Manager","assets/authors/chris-t.jpg",{"type":66,"value":67,"toc":104},"minimark",[68,72,77,80,84,87,91,94,98,101],[69,70,71],"p",{},"For over 15 years, Fivium has recognised the paramount importance of emerging talent in driving our company's growth and fostering innovation through our student placement scheme. By collaborating closely with renowned universities such as Bath, Kent, and Surrey, we are able to provide valuable practical experience to aspiring software developers whilst also harnessing their potential to propel Fivium's progress. As the Head Mentor, I am immensely proud to witness the indispensable role our students play in the dynamic growth of Fivium, as well as their profound impact on improving public sector services.",[73,74,76],"h2",{"id":75},"empowering-young-talent-for-growth","Empowering young talent for growth",[69,78,79],{},"The students participating in Fivium's placement scheme are not just interns or temporary additions to our workforce; they are a critical component and contributor to our company's success. We recognise their potential and provide them with meaningful roles and responsibilities within our teams. By engaging students in challenging projects and providing them with mentorship and support, they’re able to make a real difference on both the projects and the teams they’re working with.",[73,81,83],{"id":82},"fostering-innovation-and-new-perspectives","Fostering innovation and new perspectives",[69,85,86],{},"One of the key reasons why our student placement scheme is vital to Fivium is the fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that are introduced to our organisation. These young minds, unencumbered by preconceived notions, inject new energy and creativity into our projects. Their unique viewpoints and up-to-date knowledge of emerging technologies inspire our teams and contribute to the culture of innovation that sets Fivium apart.",[73,88,90],{"id":89},"cultivating-a-culture-of-learning-and-collaboration","Cultivating a culture of learning and collaboration",[69,92,93],{},"Our student placement scheme has instilled a culture of continuous learning and collaboration at Fivium. This plays a crucial role in the growth of every team member at Fivium and is paramount to ensuring we provide a nurturing environment where mentorship, guidance, and knowledge-sharing flourish. The symbiotic relationship between our students and experienced professionals fosters a vibrant atmosphere that propels individual growth and is a key reason so many of our students return as graduates.",[73,95,97],{"id":96},"building-long-term-relationships","Building long-term relationships",[69,99,100],{},"At Fivium, we believe in building enduring connections with our students. The impact of our placement scheme extends far beyond the duration of the program itself. We are proud to see many of our former students return to Fivium as graduates, bringing with them a deep understanding of our company's values and vision. These long-term relationships strengthen our team, as they bring diverse perspectives, enhance collaboration, and contribute to the cohesive growth of Fivium. There’s no better evidence for the strength of those relationships and the attraction of working for Fivium, than the fact that our first-ever placement student is still with us to this day!",[69,102,103],{},"Fivium's student placement scheme plays a pivotal role in our company's success. By empowering young talent, fostering innovation, and cultivating a culture of learning, we harness the potential of our students to drive our organisation forward. We are honoured to witness our students' progress and I am proud to see them return as graduates, armed with valuable experience and a shared passion for Fivium's mission.",{"title":105,"searchDepth":106,"depth":106,"links":107},"",2,[108,109,110,111],{"id":75,"depth":106,"text":76},{"id":82,"depth":106,"text":83},{"id":89,"depth":106,"text":90},{"id":96,"depth":106,"text":97},"2023-07-03T00:00:00.000Z","Chris, the head of our student placement scheme, explains why it's key to our success","md",false,"assets/news/students.jpg","Four smiling students facing the camera",null,{},true,{"title":59,"description":113},"news/fiviums-student-placement-scheme-fueling-growth-and-empowering-young-talent","iLhy8N9-NJ-FvuLiED_QB3PETnmEa6P7e9dPuIb78RA",{"id":125,"title":126,"authors":118,"body":127,"date":160,"description":151,"extension":114,"hideHeroImage":120,"image":161,"imageAlt":162,"lede":118,"meta":163,"navigation":120,"path":17,"seo":164,"stem":165,"__hash__":166},"news/news/fivium-breaking-barriers-and-championing-gender-pay-equity-uk-tech-industry.md","Breaking barriers and championing gender pay equity in the UK tech industry",{"type":66,"value":128,"toc":158},[129,140,149,152,155],[69,130,131,132,139],{},"With gender pay gaps persisting in numerous industries, the UK tech sector has been under scrutiny for its unequal compensation practices. According to ",[133,134,138],"a",{"href":135,"rel":136},"https://www.womenintech.co.uk/the-gender-pay-gap-in-tech-how-do-we-close-it/",[137],"nofollow","Women in Tech",", 91.1% of tech companies pay their male employees more than their female staff at a gap of 16%; this is far higher than the national average of 11.6%.",[69,141,142,143,148],{},"Fivium is proud to publish its analysis of the Gender pay gap. Our results are published voluntarily in response to the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee’s ",[133,144,147],{"href":145,"rel":146},"https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmbeis/928/928.pdf",[137],"Closing The Gender Pay Gap report"," and cover April 2022 to the end of March 2023.",[69,150,151],{},"We are delighted to announce that we are once again turning the tables on the gender pay gap, paying our median female employees 12.95% more than median male employees.",[69,153,154],{},"“Fivium has long recognised the importance of fostering an inclusive workplace culture. From the outset, we have strived to create an environment where all employees, regardless of demographic, feel valued, empowered, and fairly compensated. This commitment to inclusivity has helped shape our forward-thinking approach to tackling the gender pay gap head-on and is reflected in the current results of our pay gap analysis. With the talent pool available in the tech industry being heavily male-dominated, we are continuing our programme to encourage school children, particularly females, to study STEM subjects.",[69,156,157],{},"“At the heart of Fivium's progressive pay structure lies a transparent and objective evaluation process that considers skills, experience, and expertise without bias. By openly sharing our success and encouraging other companies to follow suit, we hope to catalyse a wider movement toward gender pay parity.” - Richard Clarke, Director, Fivium",{"title":105,"searchDepth":106,"depth":106,"links":159},[],"2023-05-16T00:00:00.000Z","assets/news/gender.png","Interlinked male and female gender symbols",{},{"title":126,"description":151},"news/fivium-breaking-barriers-and-championing-gender-pay-equity-uk-tech-industry","SgNIiJ1gx0FggN4GnLP5phCQX6fEkttEeaQBcrilqW0",{"id":168,"title":169,"authors":118,"body":170,"date":225,"description":226,"extension":114,"hideHeroImage":120,"image":227,"imageAlt":228,"lede":118,"meta":229,"navigation":120,"path":43,"seo":230,"stem":231,"__hash__":232},"news/news/investing-people-2022-review.md","Investing in People - 2022 in Review",{"type":66,"value":171,"toc":217},[172,175,179,182,186,189,193,196,200,203,207,210,214],[69,173,174],{},"2022 marked another year where Fivium made significant investments in our employees and strived to create an unparalleled working environment. From mental health awareness to top employee awards, working at Fivium is better than ever. Check out some of our fantastic achievements from 2022 below:",[73,176,178],{"id":177},"gold-investors-in-people","Gold Investors in People",[69,180,181],{},"2022 saw success in achieving Investors in People (IIP) Gold accreditation for the 3rd time following a rigorous assessment process. This accreditation is given to organisations that demonstrate a clear and significant commitment to their employees. Only 17% of IIP-accredited organisations achieve the gold standard, making our achievement even more remarkable.",[73,183,185],{"id":184},"gender-pay-gap","Gender pay gap",[69,187,188],{},"Fivium was proud once again to publish its analysis of the gender pay gap. As part of our ongoing commitment to reinforcing our status as a socially responsible organisation, we announced that we have once again bucked the industry trend and closed the gender pay gap by paying median female permanent members of staff more than 4.7% than their male counterparts.",[73,190,192],{"id":191},"mental-health","Mental health",[69,194,195],{},"Fivium continues to take mental health and wellbeing seriously with our programme of various support initiatives spearheaded by our Mental Health First Aiders and Wellness Ambassadors. This year we continued to support the Time to Change campaign, led by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness to continue to build a working environment that is supportive to all and nurtures balanced, successful and happy individuals.",[73,197,199],{"id":198},"creating-a-lasting-culture-of-innovation","Creating a lasting culture of innovation",[69,201,202],{},"Integral to our vision is creating a culture of true innovation amongst our employees. 2022 saw us venture to Windsor for a company away day (and night!) for a series of talks and interactive workshops that aimed to instil creative thinking techniques into everyday life at Fivium.",[73,204,206],{"id":205},"charitable-donations","Charitable donations",[69,208,209],{},"This year Fivium continued its tradition of charitable fundraising by raising over £5300. This was achieved through a combination of organised challenges and donations through our Fivium Awards Scheme and benefitted several charities including Red Cross, Shelter, Save the Children, Crisis, Haven House Children's Hospice, RNLI, Myeloma UK, Nourish Community Foodbank and Calm.",[73,211,213],{"id":212},"net-zero-emissions","Net zero emissions",[69,215,216],{},"As part of Fivium’s dedication to fighting climate change, creating social value and operating in a socially and environmentally responsible way, Fivium is delighted to have committed to being a Net Zero emissions company by March 2030. Find out more",{"title":105,"searchDepth":106,"depth":106,"links":218},[219,220,221,222,223,224],{"id":177,"depth":106,"text":178},{"id":184,"depth":106,"text":185},{"id":191,"depth":106,"text":192},{"id":198,"depth":106,"text":199},{"id":205,"depth":106,"text":206},{"id":212,"depth":106,"text":213},"2022-12-23T00:00:00.000Z","2022 marked another year where Fivium made significant investments in our employees and strived to create an unparalleled working environment.","assets/news/conference.jpg","People sitting in a conference hall",{},{"title":169,"description":226},"news/investing-people-2022-review","_hepUjeUkpTYSueG9P-tJfdLO6UQI8a1ZKP5P_c20FQ",{"id":234,"title":235,"authors":236,"body":241,"date":311,"description":312,"extension":114,"hideHeroImage":120,"image":313,"imageAlt":314,"lede":118,"meta":315,"navigation":120,"path":37,"seo":316,"stem":317,"__hash__":318},"news/news/how-fivium-use-stress-container-model-support-their-peoples-health-and-wellbeing.md","How Fivium use the Stress Container model to support their people's health and wellbeing",[237],{"name":238,"role":239,"image":240},"Louisa Wells","HR Manager","assets/authors/louisa.jpg",{"type":66,"value":242,"toc":309},[243,246,249,252,255,258,261,264,267,270,273,289,292,306],[69,244,245],{},"At Fivium, our people’s health and wellbeing is at the forefront of our people strategy. We want to break down the stigma surrounding Mental Health and the Workplace by addressing issues head-on.",[69,247,248],{},"Our Wellbeing programme of events is designed to both keep the conversation going around stress and mental illness and also to normalise life challenges that we all face from time to time. We provide support and guidance and help our people really show up at work and feel empowered to be their true selves.",[69,250,251],{},"We are proud to have joined the Time to Change campaign, led by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness to continue to build a working environment that is supportive to all and nurtures balanced, successful and happy individuals. We have 3 fully qualified Mental Health First Aiders and 3 supporting Wellness Ambassadors. One of our Mental Health First Aiders, Adam Horrell, shares his thoughts on the Stress Container Model below.",[69,253,254],{},"Adam writes: In the same way that fat in our diet isn’t itself necessarily a bad thing, neither is stress. However, too much stress can make you ill when not kept in check. I wanted to share and put my perspective on a model called the Stress Container that is taught in the Mental Health First Aid course by MHFA England that I recently attended. I think everyone should be aware of this model because it helps us understand the link between the stresses of daily life and the mental health problems that can occur when these stresses exceed our individual tolerances.",[69,256,257],{},"In the model, your personal level of vulnerability to stress is represented by the size of the container. The bad news is that, as in many walks of life, it seems that each person’s capacity to cope with a given amount of stress is different, so you’re at a disadvantage if you’ve been dealt a bad hand. The good news is that although your container size may be relatively fixed, there are mechanisms that you can control to keep problems from developing.",[69,259,260],{},"Imagine the day-to-day stresses of life filling up your stress container. If you take no action in the form of helpful coping strategies, your container will fill up and eventually overflow. Once the container overflows, problems develop. The symptoms will be different for everyone, but they could be irritability, tearfulness, indecision, inability to concentrate, tiredness, headaches, stomach pains etc.",[69,262,263],{},"A tap at the bottom of the container is either opened or closed by the introduction of helpful and unhelpful coping strategies respectively. Examples of helpful coping strategies are exercise, eating a healthy diet and getting quality sleep. Examples of unhelpful coping strategies are drinking alcohol, overeating and overworking.",[69,265,266],{},"I reflect on this model regularly. For example, I’m acutely aware that I have a number of big changes in my life at the moment; I recently not only moved house but also moved to a completely new area of the country! To some people, this may not seem like a lot of stress, but from past experience, I know that my container will be reaching its capacity if I don’t take measures to open the proverbial tap.",[69,268,269],{},"With that in mind, I’ve cleaned up my diet, made sure that I am consistently training in the gym and I’ve re-engaged with my meditation practice. It’s worth noting as well, that we take on some stresses optionally, so I’m making sure that I know what my current priorities are so that I can say “yes” to things that are important and feel comfortable saying no to things that are less so.",[69,271,272],{},"Some helpful coping strategies that you can employ at work could include:",[274,275,276,280,283,286],"ul",{},[277,278,279],"li",{},"Communication with team members about your workload or other challenges - Standups and retrospectives are a great place to share concerns with your teammates and get help with your workload",[277,281,282],{},"Speaking with your work workplace BFF",[277,284,285],{},"Talking to your wellness ambassadors",[277,287,288],{},"Taking breaks",[69,290,291],{},"Fivium also supports mental health in the workplace through the following initiatives that people can engage with:",[274,293,294,297,300,303],{},[277,295,296],{},"An Employee Assistance Programme with Simplyhealth, where our people can have access to a counselling service with either face-to-face or remote sessions to work through the issues with a professionally trained expert.",[277,298,299],{},"A guided meditation group that meets every morning, people can join in the office or remotely and work through a meditation programme. Morning meditation helps set the tone for the day and promotes good focus, contentment and optimism.",[277,301,302],{},"Regular Tea and Talk sessions, whereby we discuss topical or important factors that might be affecting our well-being and if there's anything we can do as an employer to help further support people. Our aim is to become a workplace free from the stigma of discussing mental health in the workplace and we believe the biggest example of this is talking about it openly as a company, supporting each other and providing practical advice or potential solutions and ensuring people get help if they need it.",[277,304,305],{},"A whole host of other activities from nutrition cooking demonstrations to office chair massages and coaching sessions on Strengths and Beliefs.",[69,307,308],{},"We hope that this model helps to clarify the relationship between stress and mental health problems and empowers our people to proactively monitor and manage the factors that can prevent issues from developing.",{"title":105,"searchDepth":106,"depth":106,"links":310},[],"2022-10-10T00:00:00.000Z","One of our Mental Health First Aiders, Adam Horrell, shares his thoughts on the Stress Container Model","assets/news/sixteen-miles-out-lthWC8oevDg-unsplash.jpg","Assorted metal buckets",{},{"title":235,"description":312},"news/how-fivium-use-stress-container-model-support-their-peoples-health-and-wellbeing","B88rNvimuXt922eNtoySDBFxNMTQySkyTI3GNu0BFWc",{"id":320,"title":321,"authors":118,"body":322,"date":378,"description":326,"extension":114,"hideHeroImage":115,"image":379,"imageAlt":380,"lede":118,"meta":381,"navigation":120,"path":15,"seo":382,"stem":383,"__hash__":384},"news/news/fivium-awarded-gold-investors-people-accreditation.md","Fivium awarded Gold Investors in People Accreditation",{"type":66,"value":323,"toc":375},[324,327,330,334,337,366,369,372],[69,325,326],{},"Fivium is delighted to confirm that we have been successful in achieving Investors in People Gold accreditation for the 3rd time. The award follows a rigorous assessment process by Investors in People earlier this year.",[69,328,329],{},"Fivium began its Investors in People journey in 2016 where we were awarded Gold. We have now been subsequently reaccredited with a Gold award in both 2019 and 2022.",[73,331,333],{"id":332},"how-were-we-assessed","How were we assessed?",[69,335,336],{},"Through a series of meetings, surveys, and policy documentation, Investors in People assessed us in the following areas:",[274,338,339,342,345,348,351,354,357,360,363],{},[277,340,341],{},"Leading and inspiring people",[277,343,344],{},"Living the organisation’s values and behaviours",[277,346,347],{},"Empowering and involving people",[277,349,350],{},"Managing Performance",[277,352,353],{},"Recognising and rewarding high performance",[277,355,356],{},"Structuring work",[277,358,359],{},"Building capability",[277,361,362],{},"Delivering continuous improvement",[277,364,365],{},"Creating sustainable success",[69,367,368],{},"With 96% of employees completing the survey and over 20% of the organisation interviewed, Fivium comfortably met the criteria for Gold accreditation.",[69,370,371],{},"Upon achieving the award, Matt Fletcher - Fivium Co-Founder, said, “Having doubled in size since we were first accredited in 2016, it’s been of paramount importance that we sustain and improve upon our core purpose and values. This external accreditation has proved that we have been able to do this, whilst giving us an insight into how we can continually improve and maintain our position as a great place to work.",[69,373,374],{},"“When we started Fivium, we wanted to ensure that it is a place where we would want to work ourselves, one that truly values its people and focuses on delivering positive outcomes for its customers. We try to balance a friendly, creative, stimulating and fun environment. Over half the team have been with us for over 5 years which we believe is a true measure of a great place to work.”",{"title":105,"searchDepth":106,"depth":106,"links":376},[377],{"id":332,"depth":106,"text":333},"2022-08-24T00:00:00.000Z","assets/news/iip-gold-2022.png","The Investors in People Gold logo",{},{"title":321,"description":326},"news/fivium-awarded-gold-investors-people-accreditation","xNe1CAZyxS19HcW-cxCbkyWT15CUovcE3Mfbq1-fjvA",{"id":386,"title":387,"authors":118,"body":388,"date":417,"description":418,"extension":114,"hideHeroImage":120,"image":419,"imageAlt":420,"lede":118,"meta":421,"navigation":120,"path":19,"seo":422,"stem":423,"__hash__":424},"news/news/fivium-continues-buck-uk-tech-industrys-gender-pay-gap-trend.md","Fivium continues to buck the UK tech industry's gender pay gap trend",{"type":66,"value":389,"toc":415},[390,397,406,409,412],[69,391,392,393,396],{},"Fivium is proud to once again publish its analysis of the Gender pay gap. Fivium’s results are published voluntarily in response to the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee’s ",[133,394,147],{"href":145,"rel":395},[137]," (PDF) and cover April 2021 to the end of March 2022.",[69,398,399,400,405],{},"According to a recent ",[133,401,404],{"href":402,"rel":403},"https://www.verdict.co.uk/exclusive-how-big-is-the-gender-pay-gap-in-the-tech-industry-in-britain-and-who-are-the-worst-offenders/#:~:text=In%20total%2C%20326%20companies%20had,the%20national%20average%20of%2011.6%25.",[137],"Verdict analysis"," of 326 UK tech companies, 91.1% pay their male employees more than their female staff, with the median hourly pay being 16% higher.",[69,407,408],{},"As part of our ongoing commitment to reinforcing our status as a socially responsible organisation, Fivium is delighted to announce that it has once again bucked this industry trend and is part of the small minority of UK tech firms that has closed the gender pay gap by paying its median female permanent members of staff more than 4.7% than their male counterparts.",[69,410,411],{},"“Fivium is committed to being a non-discriminatory organisation. When awarding and reviewing salaries, we focus solely on ability and performance, which reflects in the current results of our gender pay gap analysis. Our efforts to encourage equality go further than just this, however. With the talent pool available in the tech industry being heavily male-dominated, we are continuing our programme to encourage school children, particularly females, to study STEM subjects.",[69,413,414],{},"“Part of Fivium’s success comes from our culture of equality and our commitment to harnessing talent from all backgrounds. We remain true to our values and believe we are one of the best places where people can flourish and reach their potential.” - Richard Clarke, Director, Fivium",{"title":105,"searchDepth":106,"depth":106,"links":416},[],"2022-05-26T00:00:00.000Z","Fivium is delighted to announce that it has once again bucked this industry trend and is part of the small minority of UK tech firms that has closed the gender pay gap.","assets/news/Pay_Gap.jpg","Closeup of hands stacking coins",{},{"title":387,"description":418},"news/fivium-continues-buck-uk-tech-industrys-gender-pay-gap-trend","POm5mE5Duw_ZD8x_Lj9d1S1DECeGILQT4VMMJ8ulV-U",{"id":426,"title":427,"authors":428,"body":433,"date":523,"description":437,"extension":114,"hideHeroImage":115,"image":524,"imageAlt":525,"lede":118,"meta":526,"navigation":120,"path":53,"seo":527,"stem":528,"__hash__":529},"news/news/why-working-public-sector-it-great.md","Why working in public sector IT is great",[429],{"name":430,"role":431,"image":432},"Matt Fletcher","Founder and CEO","assets/authors/matt-f.jpg",{"type":66,"value":434,"toc":519},[435,438,441,444,464,467,470,473,477,480,483,486,490,493,496,499,502,505,508],[69,436,437],{},"If you’re not familiar with public sector software development you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s all about massive failed IT projects, tied up with legacy infrastructure and enough security red-tape to make sure nothing ever gets done. That’s because it was... once upon a time.",[69,439,440],{},"When Anthony and I set up Fivium that’s exactly how government IT projects were being run - slow, expensive and not focussed on what the users actually need. We witnessed countless projects that were more about delivering the financial needs of the oligopolies than meeting the user needs of the customers. We founded Fivium on the idea that we could do better than that.",[69,442,443],{},"Our cause was greatly helped in 2011 when the government created the Government Digital Service (GDS) and established the Digital by Default strategy. It tore up the rule book for how IT projects should be run and raised the industry standard for good. There’s loads of information on the web about the GDS (they must be one of the most prolific bloggers on the planet), but in a nutshell the Digital by Default strategy ensured:",[274,445,446,449,452,455,458,461],{},[277,447,448],{},"Software development should start and end with the users’ needs",[277,450,451],{},"Projects should be run using modern Agile principles (no more thousand-page specs and waterfall delivery failures)",[277,453,454],{},"A fairer playing field for SMEs to enter the market with the huge wealth of innovative engineers they could bring",[277,456,457],{},"Open source software can be trusted - allowing people to challenge the old adage that “no one ever gets fired for buying IBM”",[277,459,460],{},"Software should be seen from the “whole service” perspective, meeting the needs of all the users and use cases in a frictionless and intuitive way",[277,462,463],{},"Digital inclusion, meaning that services must be usable and accessible by all citizens",[69,465,466],{},"This revolution has led to the transformation of many services that you may have used yourself as a citizen - have you taxed your car recently or applied for a passport on your smartphone? Ten years ago you’d have been making a trip to the Post Office to get a paper application form.",[69,468,469],{},"GDS has invested millions of pounds into user research, making design patterns that have been thoroughly road tested and have been reused in the public and private sectors. This investment has changed the game for everyone playing in it now - if your digital service isn’t delivering what the user needs in a simple and intuitive way then it won’t get off the ground.",[69,471,472],{},"None of this is to say that all modern government IT projects are perfect. Of course they’re not, but where they aren’t, they can usually be fixed through incremental improvements without the need to break up multi-million pound contracts and start all over again.",[73,474,476],{"id":475},"thats-an-interesting-history-lesson-but-why-does-it-mean-that-working-in-public-sector-it-is-great","That’s an interesting history lesson, but why does it mean that working in public sector IT is great?",[69,478,479],{},"As a tech engineer, a scrum master, user researcher, tester, product owner I’ll bet you get the biggest kick out of taking on a challenging problem, breaking it into solvable pieces and making something that works.",[69,481,482],{},"Now, imagine that “the thing” you’ve made work is capable of delivering social value to real people - not just exploiting someone’s vast data lake of personal information to produce better targeted adverts. Imagine you are building software that serves a real-life purpose. Rather than shaving micro-seconds from an app’s refresh rate (to cater for our ever dwindling attention span), how about improving an entire business process involving hundreds of users? Saving thousands of hours of effort for publicly funded organisations. Think of what those people can do with the extra time we can gift them. The potential benefits we can deliver really matter.",[69,484,485],{},"Public sector IT provides an endless supply of such projects. There are over 5 million public sector workers - ranging from nurses, doctors, police to government ministers and civil servants - the people who keep the machinery of government turning. Stop for a minute and think about that. 5 million people who are doing public service jobs running the entire spectrum of societal functions. And they all rely on technology to help them do their work. The business case for these projects is that they must help people to deliver public services quicker and more easily.",[73,487,489],{"id":488},"so-we-have-a-near-limitless-supply-of-problems-that-need-solving-but-wheres-the-fun-solving-them","So, we have a near limitless supply of problems that need solving, but where’s the fun solving them?",[69,491,492],{},"Thanks to the work of GDS, our industry has nearly a decade of establishing the principle that good systems are best delivered via modern, agile and user-focussed practices.",[69,494,495],{},"Public sector software development isn’t a race to just ship the MVP in order to get users hooked, or satisfy investors' need to hit a quarterly growth target. It’s about taking the time to understand people’s real world needs and build a solution that solves those problems properly. To do this you need to work in a multi-disciplinary team with the right experts to gain a deep understanding of the problem in order to provide the best solution. These are systems that are built to last, using sound engineering principles rather than throwaway features that will be continually rewritten.",[69,497,498],{},"As tech engineers, designers, researchers, we get to work on well defined problems, where the user needs have been thoroughly established and understood, where we are able to speak directly to the end users to demonstrate our work, to take on board feedback and iterate until it’s right.",[69,500,501],{},"And the payoff can be huge…",[69,503,504],{},"For me, knowing you’re taking the time to create something that is so good it will be used for years to come is one of the most satisfying parts of what we do.",[69,506,507],{},"A recent proud moment in my career was hearing Robin Walker MP, minister for the Department for Exiting the EU, saying to a Parliamentary committee that using Fivium’s software has been a key part of making his department more readily accountable to the public. That really matters.",[69,509,510],{},[511,512,513,514,518],"strong",{},"We’re always on the lookout for likeminded people to join us on our quest to make great software that really matters. If you think this is you, then please ",[133,515,517],{"href":516},"/contact","get in touch with us",", we’d love to hear from you.",{"title":105,"searchDepth":106,"depth":106,"links":520},[521,522],{"id":475,"depth":106,"text":476},{"id":488,"depth":106,"text":489},"2022-03-08T00:00:00.000Z","assets/news/generic/staff/DSC_2754.jpg","Staff standing in a group in the office smiling",{},{"title":427,"description":437},"news/why-working-public-sector-it-great","_FoecnLU8ouNESbaIH0oYRr7xnQVgaun8afJ9X_yOO4",{"id":531,"title":532,"authors":118,"body":533,"date":575,"description":576,"extension":114,"hideHeroImage":115,"image":577,"imageAlt":578,"lede":118,"meta":579,"navigation":120,"path":13,"seo":580,"stem":581,"__hash__":582},"news/news/fiv-team-turns-fiv-teen.md","Fiv-team turns Fiv-teen",{"type":66,"value":534,"toc":573},[535,538,541,561,564,567,570],[69,536,537],{},"This month Fivium celebrates fifteen years of making the work of the public sector easier and simpler. It all began back in 2006 when Fivium’s five original co-founders were working at the then Department for Trade and Industry and were approached to save a failing export licensing project that was running over time and over budget. From this, Fivium was born, the project was saved, and the company has never looked back.",[69,539,540],{},"Fifteen years later, Fivium has successfully maintained its focus on delivering service excellence and real value to its public sector customers and has now become one of the largest SME suppliers to the UK Government, with customers including the Home Office, DfE and HMRC. Work has included:",[274,542,543,546,549,552,555,558],{},[277,544,545],{},"A licensing management solution for the Oil and Gas Authority that manages and monitors regulation across the entire North Sea",[277,547,548],{},"A grants applications management service for the Adoption support fund, helping adopted and looked after children access vital support services",[277,550,551],{},"A centralised end-to-end solution for processing export licence applications for goods controlled by the UK government",[277,553,554],{},"The Environmental and Emissions Monitoring System that monitors greenhouse gas data captured from oil companies",[277,556,557],{},"eCase - an information rights and correspondence case management service used by over 50% of Tier 1 Central Government departments, and throughout the public sector including government agencies, local government and police",[277,559,560],{},"Many more purpose-built licensing, application, and case management solutions for our government clients.",[69,562,563],{},"Over these years the company has grown to over 60 employees with offices based on the Strand.",[69,565,566],{},"“In creating Fivium we have had two main aims: to build a software and services business that really makes a difference to the way government works, and to provide a great working environment with opportunities that allow our staff to grow their career over the longer term. These two aims work hand in hand; both are needed for the business to succeed and we take great pride in seeing flourishing partnerships forged between our team and our customers’ teams.” - Matt Fletcher, Co-Founder, Fivium",[69,568,569],{},"“From the beginning, we have always set out to build the kind of company that we would want to work for, one that truly values its people and focuses on delivering positive outcomes for its customers. This has resulted in extremely low staff turnover (a considerable number of our staff have been with us for over 10 years and over half the team for over 5 years) and a customer retention rate of 98%. After 15 years, I’m pleased to say we are exceeding the goals we set out to achieve.” - Anthony Ashton, Co-Founder, Fivium",[69,571,572],{},"“I’ve been working here since the very early days of Fivium. Over that time I’ve seen its growth from a handful of developers into the company we are today. I enjoy working for a company that clearly cares for and retains its staff. Right from day one, there were regular socials and events, recognising early on the importance of its people being at the heart of the company. This people-centred approach leads to an open and collaborative workplace where everyone at all levels of the company are encouraged to contribute ideas and feel part of something bigger. Now, working in a role where I rely heavily on the experience and expertise of colleagues across departments, this “team Fivium” mentality remains and is hugely valuable.” - Phil Porter, Senior Support Manager, Fivium",{"title":105,"searchDepth":106,"depth":106,"links":574},[],"2021-04-19T00:00:00.000Z","Fivium celebrates fifteen years of delivering service excellence and real value to its public sector customers.","assets/news/15-collage.png","Collage of Fivium team members taking selfies in navy blue hoodies with Fivium logo and 15 inside a gold laurel wreath",{},{"title":532,"description":576},"news/fiv-team-turns-fiv-teen","i5Gl4sUgGx4qQ23bNNPH_hSmWW8jWNoXRqwWWKeCl-U",{"id":584,"title":585,"authors":118,"body":586,"date":620,"description":590,"extension":114,"hideHeroImage":115,"image":621,"imageAlt":622,"lede":118,"meta":623,"navigation":120,"path":23,"seo":624,"stem":625,"__hash__":626},"news/news/fivium-digital-deliver-redesigned-energy-technology-list-website-help-uk-meet-net-zero-2050.md","Fivium Digital deliver redesigned Energy Technology List website to help the UK meet Net Zero 2050",{"type":66,"value":587,"toc":618},[588,591,594,603,606,609],[69,589,590],{},"Fivium Digital are proud to have launched the redesigned website for the Energy Technology List (ETL) this week, a key part of the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution.",[69,592,593],{},"Built in close collaboration with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the ETL is a database of over 14,000 energy-efficient products, certified by BEIS to be amongst the top-performing products available. The ETL is used across every area of industry to find the most efficient products in categories including boilers, hand dryers, building heating and cooling equipment, industrial motors and more. Selecting ETL-listed products saves businesses millions of pounds in running costs and results in annual emissions reductions for the UK of 0.4 million tons of CO2 equivalent - the same as taking 87,000 passenger cars off the road each year.",[69,595,596,597,602],{},"Featuring in ",[133,598,601],{"href":599,"rel":600},"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-ten-point-plan-for-a-green-industrial-revolution/title#point-7-greener-buildings",[137],"point 7 of the new ten point plan",", the redesigned website delivers a host of features to make it quicker and easier for businesses to find energy-efficient products that fit their needs, including product images, product category browsing, filterable search results and the ability to compare products side-by-side.",[69,604,605],{},"Development of the redesigned site began in March 2020 and comprised several rounds of design, development, user research and usability testing. This ensured the service would provide a significantly improved experience to users.",[69,607,608],{},"Fivium Digital worked closely with energy-saving specialists at The Carbon Trust and ICF to deliver the new service. Matt Eason, a Lead Developer at Fivium Digital, said: “The new ETL website is the latest example of the real-world impact our projects have, and we’re very pleased that the government has recognised the potential of the ETL to contribute to the UK’s target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Working with experts from BEIS, Carbon Trust and ICF was a brilliant experience and helped us to deliver a service that meets the needs of industry users whilst being modern, intuitive and easy to use.”",[69,610,611,612,617],{},"The new ETL website is available at ",[133,613,616],{"href":614,"rel":615},"https://etl.energysecurity.gov.uk",[137],"etl.energysecurity.gov.uk",".",{"title":105,"searchDepth":106,"depth":106,"links":619},[],"2020-11-20T00:00:00.000Z","assets/news/etl-homepage.png","ETL website homepage",{},{"title":585,"description":590},"news/fivium-digital-deliver-redesigned-energy-technology-list-website-help-uk-meet-net-zero-2050","gxJ6uhS6oow2u-71bGa8J-T7kYqoxEwZSwR1In9M4Tk",{"id":628,"title":629,"authors":118,"body":630,"date":706,"description":707,"extension":114,"hideHeroImage":115,"image":708,"imageAlt":709,"lede":118,"meta":710,"navigation":120,"path":5,"seo":711,"stem":712,"__hash__":713},"news/news/50-government-dpos-report-more-doubling-data-protection-requests-introduction-gdpr.md","50% of Government DPOs report a more than doubling in Data Protection Requests since the introduction of GDPR",{"type":66,"value":631,"toc":704},[632,641,644,670,673,687,690,693,696],[69,633,634,635,640],{},"The results of a new comprehensive study published today by eCase - ",[133,636,639],{"href":637,"rel":638},"https://fivium-25512671.hs-sites-eu1.com/gdprimpact",[137],"The Impact of GDPR in Central Government"," - find that half of central government’s Data Protection Officers (DPOs) have seen more than 100% increases in Data Protection Requests (DPRs) since the introduction of GDPR and that, even now, two years after it became law, 7% are still concerned about their own compliance with it.",[69,642,643],{},"This newly released report is the outcome of a research survey of DPOs in central government departments, agencies and associated public bodies. The study investigated the effect that GDPR has had on DPOs, their organisations and operations, including the challenges that they have encountered. Its key findings are that:",[274,645,646,649,652,655,658,661,664,667],{},[277,647,648],{},"70% have seen significant increases in their workloads",[277,650,651],{},"40% have not been given any extra team resources to deal with the workload increases",[277,653,654],{},"7% are still concerned about their own compliance with GDPR",[277,656,657],{},"83% have experienced an increase in senior level support & recognition",[277,659,660],{},"33% are still managing their DPRs manually, supported by spreadsheets",[277,662,663],{},"33% of those using in-house custom-built tools to manage their DPRs are ‘Unconfident’ that they can fulfil them within the ICO’s time limits",[277,665,666],{},"100% of those using purpose-built commercial tools are ‘Mostly’ or ‘Completely’ confident that they can fulfil DPRs within the ICO’s time limits",[277,668,669],{},"The most common task that DPO’s would benefit from improving, when fulfilling DPRs, is gathering information in time (74%), whilst the second was redacting the information once sourced (57%)",[69,671,672],{},"As a result of uncovering these findings, the eCase study proposes that central government bodies adopt the following recommendations:",[274,674,675,678,681,684],{},[277,676,677],{},"Data protection teams’ sizes should be increased in line with workload increases, otherwise organisations risk future non-compliance as workloads continue to grow.",[277,679,680],{},"It is critical that organisations continue to provide both senior and peer level support to DPOs and their teams. Without support at both levels, data protection practices won’t become ingrained into routine activities. Organisations will then be left vulnerable to GDPR non-compliance and the significant liabilities introduced under it.",[277,682,683],{},"Extensive and ongoing data protection training and education should be conducted with stakeholders. This will help reduce both the volumes of internal advice requests and the risk of non-compliance.",[277,685,686],{},"With a significant increase in requests, specialist purpose-built commercial tools should be provided to Data Protection teams. This will help them to efficiently and effectively keep up with their ever-increasing workloads",[69,688,689],{},"Speaking on behalf of eCase, Richard Clarke, Director, said, “I’m delighted that we are publishing ‘The Impact of GDPR in Central Government’ report today. Through our work, we recognise that GDPR has presented unique challenges for DPOs across central government, so we wanted to provide a mechanism for them to share common challenges and provide insights into how they can better and more effectively manage their compliance. In the course of our research, we discovered that few are using purpose-built commercial tools. This lack of efficient tooling may not only be affecting their ability to confidently manage their current workloads, but also their ability to fulfil future requests, which will become even more pronounced as their workloads continue to increase.”",[69,691,692],{},"Clarke continued “I believe that the insights and recommendations in this report will provide central government, and the wider public sector, with a clear roadmap for improvement. Given the current pandemic situation, where we know that many teams have been depleted and the focus on the role of data in managing this crisis has sharpened, the risk of Data Protection teams being overwhelmed is greater than ever. I urge all DPOs in Government to read this report and act upon its recommendations, before this happens.”",[69,694,695],{},"Commenting on the report, Jon Baines, Data Protection Advisor at Mishcon de Reya LLP and Chair of the National Association of Data Protection and Freedom of Information Officers (NADPO), said “I welcome this report as its findings should help inform not just decisions made in government and the public sector, but also across the wider spectrum of private organisations.”",[69,697,698],{},[511,699,700,701,617],{},"For further insights, in-depth analysis and recommendations, request your copy of\n",[133,702,639],{"href":637,"rel":703},[137],{"title":105,"searchDepth":106,"depth":106,"links":705},[],"2020-09-07T00:00:00.000Z","A newly released report is the outcome of a research survey of DPOs in central government departments, agencies and associated public bodies.","assets/news/impact-of-gdpr.png","Front cover of the Impact of GDPR in Central Government report, featuring the Palace of Westminster",{},{"title":629,"description":707},"news/50-government-dpos-report-more-doubling-data-protection-requests-introduction-gdpr","uchgOJFQCQe3WfFdayjyTlBWaurxOxpOjJOkS5Gk_QA",{"id":715,"title":716,"authors":717,"body":720,"date":744,"description":745,"extension":114,"hideHeroImage":115,"image":746,"imageAlt":747,"lede":118,"meta":748,"navigation":120,"path":47,"seo":749,"stem":750,"__hash__":751},"news/news/kindness-matters-all-year-round.md","Kindness matters all year round",[718],{"name":238,"role":719,"image":240},"People Team Lead",{"type":66,"value":721,"toc":742},[722,725,733,736,739],[69,723,724],{},"Good mental health in the workplace has become increasingly important to me, not only on a personal level but also professionally too, as Fivium’s People Team leader. Breaking down the stigma around mental health is so important to us, so we’re proud to champion all efforts being made more widely to effect this.",[69,726,727,728,732],{},"Last year, we decided to invest in training two Mental Health First Aiders to help us identify symptoms and to provide effective support and guidance to those in need. Alongside this we pledged to provide a workplace that is free from the stigmas about mental health - our team are actively encouraged to discuss mental health topics at regular Tea and Talk sessions, we discuss it as part of both our monthly 121s and bi-annual Performance Reviews and we openly advocate that ",[729,730,731],"em",{},"it’s OK not to be OK",". We lead from the top and openly discuss our own personal experiences and positive coping strategies to show our team that not only are they not alone but that things can, and will, get better.",[69,734,735],{},"As part of our Wellbeing Programme we help our team to de-stress and build resilience through daily mindfulness sessions, office massages and regular Tea and Talk get togethers. Alongside our Mental Health First Aiders, we also have three Wellbeing Ambassadors plus three very engaged and supportive Directors working together to deliver this programme.",[69,737,738],{},"Now more so than ever, with the heightened pressure on everyone’s mental health due to the imposed lockdown, feelings of isolation and loneliness are widespread. The current situation is leading to increased anxiety and low moods, so we need to ensure we are talking about how we are feeling, recognising when these become overwhelming and provide support to our team to help them to regain and retain good mental health. The first step in the process for us, is to act with genuine care and compassion, so I was very appreciative that the theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness week is #_kindness. S_o as this week draws to a close, remember, if you can be anything in this world, be kind (and not just this week, but all year round)",[69,740,741],{},"Take care, stay safe and good mental health to you and yours.",{"title":105,"searchDepth":106,"depth":106,"links":743},[],"2020-05-22T00:00:00.000Z","Breaking down the stigma around mental health is so important to us, so we’re proud to champion all efforts being made more widely to effect this.","assets/news/time-to-change.jpg","Fivium's directors holding a signed copy of the Time to Change pledge to end mental health discrimination",{},{"title":716,"description":745},"news/kindness-matters-all-year-round","Qs9Toek_qb-89ywPVqkiuBTxPPwodV9khtMeYhYCDi4",{"id":753,"title":754,"authors":118,"body":755,"date":768,"description":769,"extension":114,"hideHeroImage":120,"image":770,"imageAlt":771,"lede":118,"meta":772,"navigation":120,"path":21,"seo":773,"stem":774,"__hash__":775},"news/news/fivium-digital-asf.md","Fivium Digital deliver improved online application process for the Adoption Support Fund",{"type":66,"value":756,"toc":766},[757,760,763],[69,758,759],{},"The recent project completed by the Fivium Digital team for the Department for Education is a perfect example of delivering software that matters. Within this department sits the Adoption Support Fund (ASF), a critical resource which provides funding to Local Authorities and Regional Adoption Agencies to support the needs of children who have left care through adoption or a special guardianship order. Since its launch in May 2015, it has processed 36,000 applications releasing £126m to support nearly 46,000 families. In order for the ASF to deliver funding to the people that need it most, the ASF team require a case management system that supports their decision making procedures and streamlines their processes so they can spend more time on their important work and less time on administrative burden.",[69,761,762],{},"The original system was becoming increasingly complex and time-consuming to use, rendering it no longer fully fit for purpose. Reporting of data for strategic decision-making purposes had also become heavily reliant on manual processes. Teams from across the Department for Education, Mott MacDonald and Fivium Digital delivered a multiphase project to redesign the whole online application process, focusing on user engagement to create a new system with users’ needs at its heart.",[69,764,765],{},"Chris Wood, a Senior Developer at Fivium and part of the team responsible for this project said: “This project provided an opportunity to create a solution that would benefit a wide range of stakeholders. Knowing that you're part of a team working on a project that will improve a business process involving hundreds of users and ultimately make a significant difference to the lives of those involved with adoption is a powerful motivator and I’m proud to have been part of that team. Testament to the success of this project was the results of the ASF 2019 annual satisfaction survey. One year after implementation the respondents who were either satisfied or very satisfied with the service significantly increased from 26% to 78%.”",{"title":105,"searchDepth":106,"depth":106,"links":767},[],"2020-03-11T00:00:00.000Z","The Adoption Support Fund is a critical resource which provides funding to Local Authorities and Regional Adoption Agencies to support the needs of children who have left care through adoption or a special guardianship order.","assets/news/asf-hero.png","A family holding hands on a beach",{},{"title":754,"description":769},"news/fivium-digital-asf","vx7IVKw0WSQcAeZ8x7l2T2WpCsJdmyTJgeDQBOw1qcM",{"id":777,"title":778,"authors":118,"body":779,"date":836,"description":837,"extension":114,"hideHeroImage":115,"image":746,"imageAlt":838,"lede":118,"meta":839,"navigation":120,"path":25,"seo":840,"stem":841,"__hash__":842},"news/news/fivium-joins-pledge-end-mental-health-discrimination.md","Fivium joins pledge to end mental health discrimination",{"type":66,"value":780,"toc":834},[781,802,805,808,831],[69,782,783,784,789,790,795,796,801],{},"We are proud to have joined the ",[133,785,788],{"href":786,"rel":787},"https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/",[137],"Time to Change"," campaign, led by ",[133,791,794],{"href":792,"rel":793},"https://www.mind.org.uk/",[137],"Mind"," and ",[133,797,800],{"href":798,"rel":799},"https://rethink.org/",[137],"Rethink Mental Illness",", to continue to build a working environment that is supportive to all and nurtures balanced, successful and happy individuals.",[69,803,804],{},"Staying true to the founding principles of the business, the most important of which is building a company that we would want to work in, this initiative is driven and supported by the founding directors and welcomes every single member of the team.",[69,806,807],{},"Working with Time to Change, we have developed an action plan, bespoke to the business, which includes proactive and practical activities such as:",[274,809,810,813,816,819,822,825,828],{},[277,811,812],{},"Training two team members as certified Mental Health First Aiders",[277,814,815],{},"Pledging to train two Wellness Ambassadors and a Wellness Director",[277,817,818],{},"Incorporating well-being into monthly 1:1 meetings with line managers and direct reports",[277,820,821],{},"Mindfulness meditation",[277,823,824],{},"Office massages",[277,826,827],{},"Tea and Talk sessions",[277,829,830],{},"Ask Me Anything sessions",[69,832,833],{},"Commenting on the pledge, Louisa Wells, HR & Finance Manager and trained Mental Health First Aider said, \"Being part of this campaign to better mental health is a natural extension of the work we were already doing at Fivium as mental health and well-being is part of the bedrock of our company. I’m really proud to be part of this wider initiative which is guiding us with practical exercises we can implement within the workspace. We’re already seeing great results with more people approaching us for advice, with any concerns or simply in need of a chat. It’s a very positive experience.\"",{"title":105,"searchDepth":106,"depth":106,"links":835},[],"2019-09-10T00:00:00.000Z","We are proud to have joined the Time to Change campaign, led by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, to continue to build a working environment that is supportive to all and nurtures balanced, successful and happy individuals.","Matt Fletcher and Anthony Ashton, Fivium directors, holding a signed Time to Change pledge",{},{"title":778,"description":837},"news/fivium-joins-pledge-end-mental-health-discrimination","bE-GLJMwesKFm3_EgeLJXiNeDfAm9C2jzsuZCZ4-n-Q",1780319976197]