Hundreds of IT contractors let go and projects put on reason as DWP denies rumours of overspend

Computer Weekly understands that IT contractors operative during DWP locations around a UK were sensitive final week they were being let go to cut costs.

In briefings led by DWP arch digital and information officer Mayank Prakash, and Mohammed Din, emissary IT executive for digital workplace, contractors were told that as many as 500 of DWP’s 530 digital and IT projects were being reviewed.

Projects influenced embody a pierce to migrate applications divided from existent HPE datacentres to a Crown Hosting Service set adult by a Cabinet Office, and relocating bequest systems off ageing Fujitsu VME mainframes. Several IT suppliers to DWP are also believed to be affected.

Sources also suggested that several thousand Microsoft Surface Pro laptops are “sitting in cupboards” watchful to be deployed as partial of a vital desktop overhaul.

Over a past dual years, DWP’s use of outmost contractors has mushroomed. In Sep 2014, a dialect employed 192 non-payroll consultants – mostly though not exclusively IT experts – during a cost of £3.3m per month. By Aug 2016, that series had grown to 667, paid £8.3m per month, according to figures published on Gov.uk.

DWP has increasing a use of proxy IT staff to support a many digital projects it has underway, including a argumentative Universal Credit gratification remodel programme.