RM selected as sole supplier

RNS Number : 2819J

RM PLC

29 March 2010

 



29 March 2010

RM selected as sole supplier of broadband services to the South West Grid for Learning

RM has been appointed by the South West Grid for Learning Trust (SWGfL) as preferred bidder for a contract to provide broadband and Internet services to schools and other education establishments in the South West of England. The eight-year contract is expected to be worth in excess of £10m per year to RM.

RM will provide a comprehensive managed broadband service, bringing together best-of-breed functionality from a range of partners including Logicalis, SecureWorks, Cisco and Microsoft. A robust core connectivity service, comprising infrastructure, essential e-safety & security, and day-to-day management and security, will be provided to the majority of SWGfL education establishments. In addition, customers will also be offered a choice of optional services, including a range of email systems, content filtering technologies, web hosting environments, and media streaming platforms, as well as mobile connectivity and video conferencing.

Terry Sweeney, Chief Executive of RM plc, said:

"With our new broadband proposition for SWGfL, the aim was to provide a robust core connectivity service, and add a wide range of choice for schools. I'm delighted that SWGfL has chosen to continue working with us, and we look forward to working with our partners, and with SWGfL, to provide broadband and Internet services that help teachers to teach and learners to learn."

Paul Hancock, Contract Manager of SWGfL, said:

"Internet and connectivity are essential to 21^st Century Schools. At SWGfL, we pride ourselves on providing the very highest levels of service and value. We also recognise that the education establishments we serve expect to be able to choose from a range of high quality options.

"Choosing the right partner to help provide a robust and flexible service is a critical decision for us. Through a full EU procurement process we looked at a range of potential broadband providers; RM, along with its partners, offered an excellent combination of innovation, robust delivery, choice and cost-effectiveness."

For further information, please contact:

Mike Greig/Phil Hemmings, RM plc Paul Hancock, SWGfL	08450 700300 07899 905968
Chris Blundell/Franziska Boehnke, Brunswick	020 7404 5959

Notes:

1.   The RM Group is a leading provider of educational solutions that help teachers to teach and learners to learn. RM works closely with educationalists to create new products, processes and technology which improve education. RM is listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange under the symbol RM.L, ISIN GB0002870417. Further details are available at ww.rm.com/investors and through the Group's investor blog at rminvestors.wordpress.com

2.   The South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL) is a not-for-profit charitable trust company, funded by 15 local authorities in the South West of England. It is one of ten regional broadband consortia (RBC), established by the Department for Education and Skills (now the Department of Children, Schools and Families) in 2000 to provide broadband and Internet services to schools in England. SWGfL provides services for over 2,400 schools, other education establishments and libraries.

3.   RM has been sole supplier of broadband services to SWGfL since its foundation in 2000. The Group was initially appointed for a five-year contract in November 2000, and re-appointed for a further five years in August 2005. Additionally, RM was awarded the five-year Merlin contract to provide learning platform services to SWGfL in 2008. This new appointment was made following an extensive competitive procurement exercise.

 

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