Data centre provider, Ark Continuity, has been highlighted in a House of Commons discussion into proposed information technology savings.

During Parliamentary Questions, the Cabinet Office Minister with responsibility for ICT, efficiency and reform, the Rt Hon Francis Maude MP, was asked about his plans to achieve greater value for money for the taxpayer from the Government’s management of information technology.

Mr Maude highlighted a visit to Ark Continuity as an example of a company that could contribute to the savings programme.

Mr. Maude visited Ark’s Spring Park in Corsham, Wiltshire during 2012. During the fact-finding visit, Maude, Chippenham MP Duncan Hames, representatives from the MOD and staff discussed how SMEs, like Ark, can deliver cost-saving, secure solutions for the Government as part of their efficiency programme (£316 million in ICT savings were made by the Government last year alone).

In his Commons answers, Mr Maude thanked Mr Hames for facilitating his visit to Ark and commented: “It was very illuminating. There is a huge amount we can do. Data centre capacity across Government is massively underused.”

He added: “We are getting to grips with it, however. We need to do more, and we will do so; there is much more money we can save.”
Huw Owen, CEO of Ark said, “ICT savings are now firmly on the Government’s agenda, which can save the taxpayer hundreds of millions of pounds a year. We are pleased to share our expertise by offering an insight into sustainability, efficiency and reform around Government computing.”

Ark is able to save organisations up to 40% of their costs through lower energy and running costs, whilst maintaining optimum levels of security, given its secure location adjacent to MOD Corsham.