CGI signs Smart City contract with City of Edinburgh Council

CGI  has signed a five-year contract to support the City of Edinburgh Council’s transformation into one of the world’s leading Smart Cities. The agreement includes deployment of the industry-leading CGI SensorInsights360 solution, which harnesses the most up-to-date technological solutions to provide the data insights, processes and tools required to achieve transformational change and deliver high-quality services to citizens of Scotland’s capital.

CGI SensorInsights360, which was originally developed by the company’s experts in Australia, is a real-time data platform that delivers an end-to-end approach to the Internet of Things (IoT), asset data collection and asset management. It is agnostic, flexible, extendable, innovative and value-driven, reducing the complexity of IoT and easily identifying ways to improve operational efficiency whilst proactively monitoring and managing critical services. 

CGI SensorInsights360 will be implemented through a Smart City Operations Centre, bringing Smart City transformations to Edinburgh. It will deliver benefits including more proactive estate management, creating better services and neighbourhoods for citizens, enabling healthier and safer social housing with increased sustainability and regulatory compliance, improving waste management through the utilisation of smart bins, sustainable recycling and route optimisation, and using data to drive more ‘real world’ efficiencies. Procurement of this city management asset is supported via a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grant as part of the ‘Scotland’s 8th City – the Smart City’ programme. The City of Edinburgh Council is delivering three projects budgeted at £6.4M of which £2.5M is part of the ERDF grant.  

CGI, together with the council, has already started its Smart City work by implementing Edinburgh Learns for Life, a unique digital solution to transform learning and teaching in schools, providing equality of attainment in education. This will be achieved by deploying 39,000 iPads to 35,000 pupils and 4,000 teachers in more than 120 schools through a phased rollout of digital devices to every school pupil from P6 to S6 beginning this month, with additional iPads issued to P1 to P5 year groups.

City of Edinburgh Council Deputy Leader Cammy Day said: “Edinburgh has big ambitions in becoming a world-leading Smart City – a digitally inclusive and sustainable city with services that are easily accessible by all of our residents no matter where they are in the city, or what their circumstances are. We’re looking to deliver a more digitally-enabled proactive service to help make everyone’s lives in our Scottish Capital better, and so we can continue our work towards ending poverty, meeting our net zero targets and improving wellbeing for all. 

“This Smart City partnership with CGI, supported by a European Regional Development Fund grant, will help us achieve that ambition – whether it is improved safety on our streets, better waste management or enhancements to other core services and operations. We’re also fully committed to giving our young people the best possible start in life by better equipping them for their educational future. Through CGI, we believe we’ve found a strong partnership that will deliver on that world-leading vision and will change the way we provide our services to all, while providing benefits in our community – assisting businesses, groups and the environment by, for example, sponsoring playing kits for a number of school and sports teams, providing technical expertise and connectivity help for community groups and planting a hundred trees across the city.”

The Council’s Leader Adam McVey said: “Through our partnership with CGI, we’ve already been able to bring real innovation to the Council. We’ve used that expertise to develop and drive improvements for our communities and more effectively use public funds by delivering more high-tech and strategic services proactively across Edinburgh. I’m confident that this partnership will keep on flourishing as we continue our work to create a fully connected, efficient and sustainable Edinburgh.”

Tara McGeehan, UK & Australia President at CGI, said: “Edinburgh is a vibrant and diverse capital city that is home to more than 518,000 citizens and CGI has been the primary provider of transformational ICT services to the City of Edinburgh Council since 2015. CGI has a global track record of Smart City success in cities such as Montreal and Helsinki, where efficient use of modern technology has made the relationship between citizens and their cities simpler and more transparent. We very much look forward to taking Edinburgh’s vision of a Smart City and making it real through our innovative use of technology, analytics and data. Together, we will turn Edinburgh into one of the world’s leading Smart Cities.”

About CGI

Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. With 78,000 consultants and other professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organizations and accelerate results. CGI Fiscal 2020 reported revenue is C$12.16 billion and CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com.

About European Structural Funds (including ERDF)

The Scottish Government is the Managing Authority for the European Structural Funds 2014-20 Programme. For further information visit our webpages https://www.gov.scot/policies/european-structural-funds/

or follow @scotgovESIF.

For more information

Janine Bailey

Vice President, Marketing Communications

Janine.Bailey@cgi.com

07766 420850

Low income families will benefit from a £320 uplift before Christmas as part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling child poverty.

Eligible families with children in school will receive payments of £160 per child in October and December. Two Bridging Payments of £100 have already been made via local councils, taking the total to £520 this year.

The cash is equivalent to the Scottish Child Payment (SCP), a £10-a-week benefit which provides regular, additional financial support for families in receipt of qualifying benefits to assist with the costs of caring for a child aged under six years old.

SCP will be extended to all eligible under-16s by the end of 2022, with quarterly Bridging Payments made in the interim. The Scottish Government also intends to double the SCP to £20 per week as quickly as possible following the expansion.

Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison will highlight the payments today when she opens a parliamentary debate on the commitments in the Programme for Government which aim to create a fairer society.

She said: “We are determined to build a better future for Scotland’s children and we know how important these payments will be to families in need this winter – particularly with rising fuel bills and Christmas just around the corner.

“Together the Scottish Child Payment and Bridging Payments will put an estimated £130 million in the pockets of low income families this year, providing support as we recover from the pandemic.

“Scottish Child Payment is already the most ambitious anti-poverty measure currently being undertaken anywhere in the UK and we have committed to doubling it to £20-a-week per child as soon as possible in this parliamentary term.

“It stands in stark contrast to the indefensible move by the UK Government to withdraw £20-a-week in Universal Credit from those who need it most.”

Councillor Gail Macgregor, COSLA’s Resources spokesperson, said: “Councils are pleased to be able to ensure that eligible low income families have access to an additional £520 this year and next through these Bridging Payments.

“It is important families who have been hardest hit by the pandemic have these vital additional funds as we move forward with the challenging recovery process.

“This demonstrates how local government can reach in and support families in our communities.”

Satwat Rehman, CEO of One Parent Families Scotland, said: “The SCP Bridging Payments have been a welcome support to many single parent families supported by One Parent Families Scotland, many of whom are struggling to make choices between heating their homes and feeding their children and themselves.

“These payments send a message to families that the Scottish Government is aware of their challenges and is actively trying to address them.

“With fuel prices due to rise with by an average 12%, single parent families remain at risk of falling deeper into poverty and debt in Scotland. More than ever, One Parent Families Scotland believes that regular, predictable, adequate income should be at the heart of tackling child poverty and achieving the national mission to end child poverty.”

Former church bell rings for first time in decades

The bell of a former Perth city centre church rang for the first time in more than three decades today (Wed).

St Paul’s Church has undergone a stunning transformation into a unique, outdoor performance space.

Perth & Kinross Council stepped into to rescue the building in 2017 after it had fallen into disrepair and previous schemes to bring it back into public use had fallen by the wayside.

Situated in a prime spot on Perth’s Old High Street, the new performance space retains the 1807 building’s octagonal shape.

The steeple of the church has been retained but its roof has been removed, creating a new public space.

The church’s bell mechanism has been replaced and the original bell restored.

It chimed at noon on Wednesday as the completed building was handed back to Perth & Kinross Council by contractors.

Perth & Kinross Council leader Murray Lyle said: “Hearing the bell sound was quite an emotional moment.

“This building has been out of use for so long it had become forgotten and unloved.

“Now it has a new future and you can hear from the comments people make as they pass by how excited they to see it brought back to life. It offers something completely new for Perth and will give this part of the High Street a real lift.

“It looks absolutely stunning when lit up at night and I am sure there will be many memorable performances here in future.

“This complements the cultural and events spaces in Mill Street and Perth Theatre. Together with our plans for Perth City Hall, we are investing making Perth an even more exciting place to live and work.”

The £2.2 million project has seen the restoration of features such as the crenelated wall head and bartizans – the corner turrets – that had previously been removed because of safety concerns. These now give the building a more castle-like appearance.

St Paul’s Church was built in 1807 and was one of the first churches built in Perth after the reformation.

To transform the church, the roof was removed and work carried out the stabilise the walls and the steeple.

While working on the steeple, rotting oak beams were discovered. These had to be removed and replaced with concrete.

All stonework and rendered panelling infills required the use of lime mortar in accordance with Historic Environment Scotland guidelines.

The open-air venue will be available for public use and can host events during the day and evening, with the space suitable for everything from concerts and performances to markets. St Paul’s can also be lit up dramatically at night for performances and special occasions.

Perthshire based Hadden Group provided the construction services for the project.

Managing Director Steven Brady said: "As a local contractor we’re extremely proud to have worked in partnership with Council, their design team and our skilled construction team to bring this historic Perth landmark back into use to ensure it remains an integral part of our historic city centre.”