Global Knowledge awarded a place on the G-Cloud 11 framework

Global Knowledge, the worldwide leader in IT training and learning services, is pleased to announce its successful supplier status on the Government's G-Cloud 11 framework.

The G-Cloud framework is an initiative which the Government began in 2012 to provide UK public sector organisations with a centralised procurement framework for the provision of cloud products and services. The framework is co-ordinated by the Crown Commercial Service (CCS), an executive agency focused on providing commercial services to the public sector and saving money for the taxpayer. The current G-Cloud 11 framework is a pre-approved list of suppliers that offer cloud and other digital services via the Government's Digital Marketplace. With the Digital Marketplace, UK public sector organisations can access Government-approved products and services without the need for a lengthy tender process.

Global Knowledge provides training solutions for Cloud, IT Best Practice, DevOps, Application Development and Cybersecurity. Global Knowledge's cloud training covers areas such as planning, design, implementation, migration and management of cloud services, whether organisations are solely using one cloud provider or a combination of multiple cloud vendors. As well as instructor-led classroom training, Global Knowledge also provides digital learning via virtual classroom training, community learning portals and the latest digital platform, GK Digital Learning. GK Digital Learning includes high quality video content, hands on exercises and labs and 24-7 mentoring and support, providing flexible learning to best suit the evolving needs of learners.

"We are delighted to have been awarded supplier status on the G-Cloud 11 framework", says Kevin Gallagher, Public Sector lead, Global Knowledge UK. "We have been providing cloud training for a number of years, and with an increasing demand for online training, our digital learning solutions combined with our vendor partnerships with AWS, Microsoft and subject matter experts means that we are perfectly placed to meet the evolving cloud training requirements of Public sector organisations. We are looking forward to providing more cost effective procurement and supporting organisations on their cloud learning/digital transformation journey as part of the G-Cloud 11 framework".

The UK Government G-Cloud is an initiative targeted at easing procurement by public-sector bodies in departments of the United Kingdom Government of commodity information technology services that use cloud computing. The G-Cloud consists of:

• A series of framework agreements with suppliers, from which public sector organisations can buy services without needing to run a full tender or competition procurement process
• An online store – the "Digital Marketplace" (previously "CloudStore") that allows public sector bodies to search for services that are covered by the G-Cloud frameworks

The service began in 2012, and had several calls for contracts. By May 2013 there were over 700 suppliers—over 80% of which were small and medium enterprises. £18.2 million (US$27.7 million) of sales were made by April 2013. With the adoption of Cloud First policy in UK in late February 2014  the sales have continued to grow, reportedly hitting over £50M in February 2014. These are based on procurement of some 1,200 providers and 13,000 services, including both cloud services and (professional) specialist services as of November 2013.

Full description: G Cloud 11 is a commercial agreement that allows UK public sector bodies to choose and purchase cloud computing services covering infrastructure, platform, software and specialist cloud services. The framework is for commodity-based, pay-as-you go cloud services across three lots.

The agreement runs for 12 months. However the duration may be extended for any period up to a maximum of 12 months from expiry of the initial term. Any call off contract placed will have a maximum initial duration of 24 months, with two extensions allowed, each of up to 12 months. Certain restrictions apply to central government contract extensions.

Benefits

• Access to nearly 25,000 services and 3,500 suppliers
• Scalable services which can be expanded or shrunk as demand requires
• Rapid deployment
• Much reduced costs and total cost of ownership compared to running your own data centre
• Call-off contracts are GDPR compliant
• Access to innovation
• Agility - easy on- and off-boarding

Products and services (lots)

G-cloud 10 comprises 3 lots:

1. Lot 1 Cloud hosting - cloud hosting (infrastructure and platform as a service - IaaS and PaaS) services that can help you do at least one of: deploy, manage and run software; and provision and use processing, storage or network resources
2. Lot 2 Cloud software - cloud software (software as a service - SaaS) applications, typically accessed over the internet or private network and hosted in the cloud
3. Lot 3 Cloud support - cloud support to help you set up and maintain your cloud software or hosting services.

Global Knowledge provide G Cloud 11 services in the Cloud Support category. For more information please get in touch on info@globalknowledge.co.uk