Gateshead Council awards major digital infrastructure contracts to local company
Gateshead Council, through a competitive process, has awarded two significant IT infrastructure contracts together worth £4.5 million to Aspire Technology Solutions, for the refresh of the Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN) infrastructure, providing a comprehensive Network Modernisation Partnership.
Aspire is one of the UK's leading providers of managed IT, cyber security, and modern workplace solutions, headquartered at Pipewell Quay, Gateshead. The decision to award the contracts to Aspire is set to deliver not only improved digital services across Council sites and schools but also substantial social value for communities throughout the borough.
Following highly competitive further competitions through the Crown Commercial Services frameworks, Aspire scored highest against more than 35 national specialist suppliers for the WAN Contract and over 40 suppliers for the Network Modernisation Partnership (LAN refresh Programme).
Aspire will provide enhanced connectivity and increased bandwidth across Council buildings and client schools, enabling the council to deliver faster, more efficient digital services for staff, students, and service users across Gateshead. The new contract provides better value for the Council while delivering upgrades to critical infrastructure.
Gateshead Council identified the need to modernise its network infrastructure to support growing digital demands and future-proof services. In response, the Council developed a comprehensive Network Strategy to address these priorities. Aspire will play a central role in delivering on these requirements, leading a major refresh of the Council's Local Area Network (LAN) and implementing a full hardware upgrade to enhance security, reliability, and efficiency across all Council sites. This partnership ensures that the strategic goals set out in the Council's Network Strategy will be achieved over the coming months and years, providing robust, secure, and high-performing connectivity for staff, schools, and service users.
A phased rollout beginning with the Civic Centre and Northern Design Centre will be supported by a long-term partnership designed to deliver better value for money, enhanced connectivity and additional social value benefits for the wider community.
Councillor Leigh Kirton, Cabinet Member for Economy and Communications said: "Aspire's proposals [to meet the Council's tender requirements] not only delivered excellent value and technical capability but demonstrated a strong commitment to Gateshead's communities. Making sure our procurement decisions support local people, local businesses and local opportunities is a key priority for the Council. These contracts will improve connectivity, strengthen our infrastructure, and ultimately create a more accessible and efficient digital environment for residents, staff, and students across Gateshead."
Ben Upton, Managing Director at Aspire Technology Solutions, added: "This partnership brings together the Council's strategic vision and Aspire's expertise in secure and high performing infrastructure. We're proud to support our local Council on this programme, which reflects the role we play both here in the North East, and across the wider public sector. Our team is committed to delivering a modern and efficient network that supports essential public services and creates a strong platform for future growth. The social value commitments within this programme reflect our commitment to helping UK public sector organisations deliver positive outcomes for their communities."
Recognising the importance of inclusive digital access, Aspire has committed over £180,000 in Social Value initiatives supporting Gateshead's priorities around digital inclusion, education, skills development and community wellbeing.
Key social value commitments include:
Upgrading IT hardware and full Gigabit fibre connectivity for Community Hubs in Birtley, Wrekenton and Felling.
Infrastructure upgrades at the Gateshead Metrocentre Community Hub, supporting services delivered by Newcastle United Foundation and local community groups, including the Council's HAF programme.
Ultrafast fibre and two Dell laptops donated to the Kingsmeadow Adult Learning Centre to support digital learning.
Upgrades and five years of connectivity for Blaydon Day Centre, improving public access to digital services and WiFi.
Funding for 10 Gateshead schools to take part in the 2026 FIRST LEGO League, a STEM robotics competition, at Gateshead Collage in March 2026.
Establishment of the second UK based Extreme Networks Academy at Gateshead College, giving students hands-on experience with cutting-edge network technologies.
Donation of 20 Dell 3550 laptops to support students at Gateshead Collage in need and improve digital accessibility.
The shift to more energy-efficient technology across the network will reduce emissions by 8.921 tCO₂e over five years, supporting the Council's decarbonisation goals.
Purchase Carbon Credits to the value of 40 tCO₂e per annum via the NECA Carbon Marketplace, specifically to support the work of HACT in decarbon/energy efficiency upgrades to social properties in the NE8 and NE10 areas of Gateshead. Reducing carbon emissions, but also supporting social housing users to reduce costs.
The award of both of these contracts to a Gateshead-based company, means the Council is spending locally, supporting local people in local jobs, building skills, innovation, reducing emissions, and supporting long-term community benefits.
Gateshead Council, through a competitive process, has awarded two significant IT infrastructure contracts together worth £4.5 million to Aspire Technology Solutions, for the refresh of the Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN) infrastructure, providing a comprehensive Network Modernisation Partnership.
Aspire is one of the UK's leading providers of managed IT, cyber security, and modern workplace solutions, headquartered at Pipewell Quay, Gateshead. The decision to award the contracts to Aspire is set to deliver not only improved digital services across Council sites and schools but also substantial social value for communities throughout the borough.
Following highly competitive further competitions through the Crown Commercial Services frameworks, Aspire scored highest against more than 35 national specialist suppliers for the WAN Contract and over 40 suppliers for the Network Modernisation Partnership (LAN refresh Programme).
Aspire will provide enhanced connectivity and increased bandwidth across Council buildings and client schools, enabling the council to deliver faster, more efficient digital services for staff, students, and service users across Gateshead. The new contract provides better value for the Council while delivering upgrades to critical infrastructure.
Gateshead Council identified the need to modernise its network infrastructure to support growing digital demands and future-proof services. In response, the Council developed a comprehensive Network Strategy to address these priorities. Aspire will play a central role in delivering on these requirements, leading a major refresh of the Council's Local Area Network (LAN) and implementing a full hardware upgrade to enhance security, reliability, and efficiency across all Council sites. This partnership ensures that the strategic goals set out in the Council's Network Strategy will be achieved over the coming months and years, providing robust, secure, and high-performing connectivity for staff, schools, and service users.
A phased rollout beginning with the Civic Centre and Northern Design Centre will be supported by a long-term partnership designed to deliver better value for money, enhanced connectivity and additional social value benefits for the wider community.
Councillor Leigh Kirton, Cabinet Member for Economy and Communications said: "Aspire's proposals [to meet the Council's tender requirements] not only delivered excellent value and technical capability but demonstrated a strong commitment to Gateshead's communities. Making sure our procurement decisions support local people, local businesses and local opportunities is a key priority for the Council. These contracts will improve connectivity, strengthen our infrastructure, and ultimately create a more accessible and efficient digital environment for residents, staff, and students across Gateshead."
Ben Upton, Managing Director at Aspire Technology Solutions, added: "This partnership brings together the Council's strategic vision and Aspire's expertise in secure and high performing infrastructure. We're proud to support our local Council on this programme, which reflects the role we play both here in the North East, and across the wider public sector. Our team is committed to delivering a modern and efficient network that supports essential public services and creates a strong platform for future growth. The social value commitments within this programme reflect our commitment to helping UK public sector organisations deliver positive outcomes for their communities."
Recognising the importance of inclusive digital access, Aspire has committed over £180,000 in Social Value initiatives supporting Gateshead's priorities around digital inclusion, education, skills development and community wellbeing.
Key social value commitments include:
Upgrading IT hardware and full Gigabit fibre connectivity for Community Hubs in Birtley, Wrekenton and Felling.
Infrastructure upgrades at the Gateshead Metrocentre Community Hub, supporting services delivered by Newcastle United Foundation and local community groups, including the Council's HAF programme.
Ultrafast fibre and two Dell laptops donated to the Kingsmeadow Adult Learning Centre to support digital learning.
Upgrades and five years of connectivity for Blaydon Day Centre, improving public access to digital services and WiFi.
Funding for 10 Gateshead schools to take part in the 2026 FIRST LEGO League, a STEM robotics competition, at Gateshead Collage in March 2026.
Establishment of the second UK based Extreme Networks Academy at Gateshead College, giving students hands-on experience with cutting-edge network technologies.
Donation of 20 Dell 3550 laptops to support students at Gateshead Collage in need and improve digital accessibility.
The shift to more energy-efficient technology across the network will reduce emissions by 8.921 tCO₂e over five years, supporting the Council's decarbonisation goals.
Purchase Carbon Credits to the value of 40 tCO₂e per annum via the NECA Carbon Marketplace, specifically to support the work of HACT in decarbon/energy efficiency upgrades to social properties in the NE8 and NE10 areas of Gateshead. Reducing carbon emissions, but also supporting social housing users to reduce costs.
The award of both of these contracts to a Gateshead-based company, means the Council is spending locally, supporting local people in local jobs, building skills, innovation, reducing emissions, and supporting long-term community benefits.
