Atos Origin, an international IT services company, has announced that with effect from 1 April 2011, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) the Scottish Government’s economic and community development agency, will have its IT services - including service desk, application management, desktop and IT infrastructure - delivered by Atos Origin.

This deal is a third in a series for Atos Origin in the North of Scotland having won contracts with Aberdeen City Council and FirstGroup last year.

HIE is the latest non departmental public body to join the successful Skills Development Scotland Information Systems (IS) Shared Services agreement, which now includes other NDPBs such as Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International, and the Scottish Criminal Case Review Commission in order to transform IT to achieve efficiencies and service improvements.

Steve Langmead, Senior Vice President – Scotland, Atos Origin, said: “This is a significant expansion of the provision of shared services across the Scottish public sector, and gives Atos Origin the opportunity to increase its footprint across Scotland.”

Atos Origin’s service provision will support HIE in its role, providing a shared service through which all the partner organisations can develop a common platform and pursue greater efficiencies.

Alex Paterson, Chief Executive, Highlands and Islands Enterprise said: “Efficient and effective IT systems are critical to support our performance and we are delighted to be part of the provision of shared services by Atos Origin. We believe it is important that organisations like ours collaborate wherever possible and expect the new arrangement will generate greater efficiencies for all the partners in the longer term.”