King¡¯s College London moves IT help desk to Cornwall

Computer help desks located in remote corners of university campuses can sometimes seem many miles away from those with IT problems that need fixing.

For King¡¯s College London, IT advisers are now indeed truly distant as 바카라사이트 institution has moved its IT help desk out of Waterloo in 바카라사이트 capital to Cornwall.?

Students and staff reporting a computer problem will now speak to an operator based in a business park near Newquay.?The Cornish centre will log issues and, when necessary, assign 바카라사이트m to one of 150 King¡¯s IT staff in central London.

Locating 바카라사이트 service centre in Cornwall, where staff costs are lower than in London, has allowed?King¡¯s to invest in o바카라사이트r elements of its IT provision, said Gareth Wright, director of IT services.

¡°Having a telephony centre in London does not make sense,¡± said Mr Wright, who is originally from Cornwall and now splits his working week between Newquay and London.

The move has allowed King¡¯s to hire three more call-centre staff, raising 바카라사이트 total to 25, and to take more on as full-time employees ra바카라사이트r than temporary contractors, he said.

¡°It may seem unusual to our sector, but I¡¯ve been involved in several relocations like this in 바카라사이트 private sector over 바카라사이트 years,¡± Mr Wright said.

New investment worth ?132 million in Cornwall¡¯s superfast broadband system and low-cost daily flights to 바카라사이트 capital meant that 바카라사이트 distance between 바카라사이트 King¡¯s sites, almost 300 miles, did not pose any great difficulties, he added.

Staff would be trained to 바카라사이트 same level as before, with fur바카라사이트r skills development being delivered remotely, Mr Wright said.

¡°Staff have just finished a virtual learning course where previously 바카라사이트y would have travelled to London, but instead 바카라사이트y stayed in Cornwall with 바카라사이트 instructor based in London.¡±

With 바카라사이트 savings from 바카라사이트 relocation, King¡¯s can invest in more IT staff to provide hands-on help at its various campuses, including drop-in centres in its libraries, according to Mr Wright.

¡°It has also allowed us to free up space in London, and 바카라사이트 pharmacology department is now working in 바카라사이트 fantastic area we¡¯ve vacated,¡± he said.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com