The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency ( DVLA ) is an executive agency , sponsored by the UK ’ s Department for Transport . Located in Swansea for over 50 years , the agency is now in the middle of an exciting IT transformation programme
Over the years the DVLA has embraced modern technology , moving many of its services online . For example , driving licences can be applied for or details amended online , rather than using a paper form . Such digital transformation continues to this day through the DVLA Strategic Plan 2017 to 2020 , which lists both moving to more agile and cloud based services , alongside online processes for notifying a medical condition , in its priorities .
“ DVLA spends over £ 300mn a year on goods and services . It spends a lot more on goods and services than it does on staff , which is unusual in the public sector ,” advises Andrew Falvey , Commercial Director . “ My team manages around 300 contracts – about 250 of which are IT contracts , along with 2,500 data sharing contracts and 250 agreements with other government bodies . The biggest category we have in terms of spend is IT .
“ We ’ ve got 15 fully MCIPS qualified staff and another 20 staff being trained to this level at the moment . Overall we have about 68 staff in commercial roles in my Directorate .”
MISSION CRITICAL With 45mn driver records stored in its systems , IT is fundamental to the DVLA . “ They are mission critical ,” Falvey comments . “ If our systems
92 February 2018