
Idox News
As one of the UK’s largest universities, the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) purchased Idox’s GRANTfinder 4 Education funding suite to support staff and academics in their quest for funding.
In the latest Idox case study, Heather Cobain, a member of the Funding, Development and Support Team at UCLan, discusses how the university is fulfilling its mission statement of providing excellent higher education, innovation and research through its subscription to the Idox service. She comments:
“Longevity is definitely a benefit of the GRANTfinder search option. We have received positive feedback from academics on the opportunities that are retrieved by the system, which we believe is down to Idox’s long-standing relationships with its funding partners.”
The case study is part of a series published in celebration of Idox’s 30-year anniversary as a leading provider of funding and policy information. Read the full document University of Central Lancashire – Investing in GRANTfinder 4 Education and a number of other client stories here.
Enquiries
For further information about GRANTfinder and Idox’s wider suite of funding solutions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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iApply is pleased to welcome Westminster City Council, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council. These local authorities have joined the many already opting to integrate with Idox’s recently-launched service that enables planning applications and building control consent to be applied for via a single source. iApply provides a user-friendly mechanism to submit planning and building control forms directly into the local authority back office, saving significant time and cost on all sides.
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iApply is pleased to welcome Stroud District Council, Oxford City Council and Shropshire Council. These local authorities have joined the many already opting to integrate with Idox’s recently-launched service that enables planning applications and building control consent to be applied for via a single source. iApply provides a user-friendly mechanism to submit planning and building control forms directly into the local authority back office, saving significant time and cost on all sides.
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iApply is pleased to welcome Maldon District Council, Newcastle City Council and West Suffolk. These local authorities have joined the many already opting to integrate with Idox’s recently-launched service that enables planning applications and building control consent to be applied for via a single source. iApply provides a user-friendly mechanism to submit planning and building control forms directly into the local authority back office, saving significant time and cost on all sides.
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Providing effective funding solutions to organisations across the UK and wider Europe is the backbone of Idox’s Grants arm. Throughout 2015, the Grants team sought stories from its clients on their own funding successes and the successes of their beneficiaries (who are also often supported by Idox products and services) in order to mark its 30th year as a leading provider of funding and policy information.
What a successful year it’s been! Idox Grants clients have confirmed a combined funding success total of over £10 million. From local authorities and the NHS to universities and charities, the amounts confirmed showcase the ever-active funding landscape and the support available to back various projects, people and plans.
As 2015 draws to a close, the Grants team reflects on another busy and successful year. Just some of the headline figures include:
Just some of the projects already in the pipeline include the 2016 Idox Innovation Awards, a European Funding training event at Stamford Bridge, and the expansion of our RESEARCHconnect service into new European territories.
For more information on any of the 2015 success stories or achievements, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About Idox Grants
The Grants arm of Idox has, since 1985, been recognised as Europe’s leading provider of funding and policy information services. It seeks to support organisations at every stage of the funding process from identification of suitable funding to application and management, and with wider content projects: www.idoxgroup.com/funding-solutions
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Torfaen County Borough Council has become the 3rd new Idox customer from Wales in as many weeks. Torfaen has selected Idox’s planning and building control solutions to improve the efficiency of processing and administering applications and consultations. Additionally Torfaen will implement Idox Public Access for Planning to provide online citizen engagement with the planning process. The Idox solutions will replace systems previously provided by Swift Data Pro.
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RCT Homes – the largest social housing landlord in Wales – has reported over £1.2 million funding secured from its subscription to Idox's leading funding service GRANTfinder.
Commenting on the benefits of a GRANTfinder subscription, Grants Manager Hayley Teague noted:
“GRANTfinder has helped us to support various different projects – anyone and everything from old age groups to children’s playgrounds. We’ve built buildings, put football pitches in, funded dinners, supported presentations for football teams and football kits… there isn’t anything we haven’t funded.”
“We’ve got confirmed match funding of £1.2 million – which is fantastic – but we’ve got an estimated £1.8 – £2 million in total. We’re still collating this information and waiting for further information to come in. At that £2 million point, I’ll be jumping for joy. It’s a massive achievement for such a small team and the use of GRANTfinder.”
Documenting the organisation’s ongoing funding success, a new online video has been published to Idox’s GRANTfinder website.
This latest release – available to view here – is part of a series set published throughout 2015 in celebration of Idox’s 30 year anniversary as Europe’s leading provider of funding and policy information.
For more information on how Idox can support your organisation in securing external funding streams, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Idox’s latest training event – Funding Steps into Europe – will unravel some of the barriers to funding and showcase a range of case studies and presentations about European opportunities, highlighting the possibilities and pitfalls through key topics such as:
Confirmed keynote speakers include:
- Katie Cavell (European Affairs Adviser) with over ten years’ experience of the Brussels European policy and lobbying arena having worked for the European Commission, the FCO office in Brussels, and a number of UK local authorities.
- Véronique Poutrel (External Funding Manager, East Sussex County Council) with over 21 years’ experience operating in a funding environment and with European partners, helping the facilitation of millions of pounds of support through various sources.
- Dr. Marnix Smit (Senior European Consultant, Idox) with extensive experience of advising organisations on EU funding possibilities and supporting them in writing high-quality applications.
Held at Stamford Bridge, home to Chelsea Football Club, the event will take place on 9 February 2016. It is an ideal initiation for anyone looking to apply for European funding and hoping to receive tips, advice and networking opportunities to support future project working.
Interested parties are encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment.
Find out more on the dedicated Funding Steps into Europe site, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About Idox
Idox is a supplier of specialist information management solutions and services to the public sector and to a wide range of industries around the world in the corporate sector: www.idoxgroup.com
The Idox Grants arm specialises in providing content and funding solutions for clients across local, regional and national government, higher education institutions, public sector agencies, charitable organisations and industry.
The Grants delivery team boasts over 30 years’ experience in delivering large-scale, online content publishing projects and effective funding solutions including market-leader GRANTfinder and RESEARCHconnect.
www.idoxgroup.com/funding-solution
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As a provider of software solutions and consultancy services to public sector organisations across the UK, Idox is delighted to confirm the publication of its G-Cloud 7 service offerings on the Digital Marketplace.
Aimed at reducing the burden of procurement for public sector organisations, the G-Cloud framework is an agreement between the UK government and suppliers who provide cloud-based services. The most recent iteration of the framework came into force at the end of November 2015 and provides an online marketplace where public sector bodies can buy cloud based services without having to run full tender processes.
As a G-Cloud service provider, Idox now offers over 100 software solutions and consultancy services across the group helping to deliver a simpler, clearer and faster way for public sector bodies to buy what they need from the group’s offerings. Such services are listed under Idox Software and Reading Room, a leading digital consultancy and the latest acquisition by Idox plc.
Reports from earlier this year indicated that total sales through G-Cloud had exceeded £430 million. Idox, having been a supplier through G-Cloud since the third iteration of the framework, looks forward to continuing its support of the programme and helping to deliver greater efficiencies into the UK public sector.
For further enquiries on Idox’s involvement in the G7 process or its suite of online products and services, please visit the Digital Marketplace at https://www.gov.uk/digital-marketplace or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About Idox
Idox is a supplier of specialist information management solutions and services to the public sector and to a wide range of industries around the world in the corporate sector: www.idoxgroup.com
Idox features on G-Cloud 7 in two key areas:
- The Grants arm of the Idox Software division has, since 1985, been recognised as Europe’s leading provider of funding and policy information services. It seeks to support organisations at every stage of the funding process from identification of suitable funding to application and management, and with wider content projects: www.idoxgroup.com/funding-solution
- Reading Room, a recent acquisition by Idox plc, is a digital consultancy that identifies opportunities, creates experiences and builds systems and services to help clients benefit from technological change: www.readingroom.com
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Idox is pleased to welcome the City and County of Swansea as its latest new client. Swansea has opted to implement Idox’s planning and integrated local land charges solutions supplemented by the Idox online digital engagement solution: Public Access for Planning. Replacing existing Northgate system, the solutions will automatically feed relevant information to the Idox local land charges solution to support the efficient compilation of property searches, an essential part of the conveyancing process.
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Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council (Neath) has selected Idox to provide solutions for planning application administration and online publication of planning applications to its citizens. Replacing an existing Civica system, Idox will also provide its Enterprise solution to facilitate workflow automation, workload management and reporting.
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Idox is a growing and ever-changing company. In this blog post, James Carson reports from our recent company meeting where he picked up some new information about the depth and diversity of Idox products and services.
Full article: Idox: enabling transformation, collaboration and improvement
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In response to the Government opening up the market for online planning services, Idox was the first to respond with the launch of iApply. The UK’s first joint online planning and building control application service. Since iApply’s launch on 1 December, over 100 local authorities have committed to this new service.
Idox has worked with a number of local authorities to develop and deliver a national platform for people and organisations to interact with local government by providing a single location for transactions common to all local authorities.
This new service will provide local authorities with the ability to receive and manage submissions for both planning and building control applications through a single online source enabling data to be shared across the authority.
Reduction of workload and costs
iApply enables bulk document upload with larger file attachments removing the necessity for applicants to submit duplicate applications or send multiple emails with attachments. Other benefits include automated progress notifications to applicants and a reduction in invalid applications as they cannot be submitted without payment, all saving the councils’ valuable time and reducing workload.
Aaron Grundy, iApply Product Manager commented: "We recognised that the disjointed, existing process for planning permissions and building control consent wasn't viable in the long-term and we wanted to introduce a package that offered increased flexibility and functionality. iApply meets these challenges, to deliver a single-source online submission suite."
For further information on iApply, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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A new datasheet on the importance of data is now available from CAFM Explorer. Your data is the most important part of your CAFM solution – it is what every other part of your system relies on, so getting your setup correct from day one is extremely important.
Our top ten tips include:
- Know what reports you want first.
- Data is your biggest asset - invest some time in it!
- Own your data!
Download our Top Ten Tips for setting up CAFM correctly.
If you would like to learn more about CAFM Explorer and how this comprehensive, all-in-one CAFM solution could benefit you, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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2015 marked Idox’s 30th year as Europe’s leading provider of funding and policy information. As part of this milestone year’s celebrations, the Idox Training team published a monthly series of funding tips aimed at supporting individuals and organisations across the UK involved in identifying, applying for and managing funding.
These useful tips have now been compiled as a free, downloadable guide. Featuring handy hints on topics including identifying the right funder, budgeting, and stakeholders and beneficiaries, the guide can be accessed here.
The guide is backed by Idox’s experience as a provider of CPD-accredited training courses. Such courses are designed for both new and more experienced practitioners who are looking to improve their understanding of all aspects of applying for funding.
Whether you are seeking training on how to identify the most relevant funds for your project; submit winning grant applications; or become more familiar with funding offered by the EC, Idox’s team of knowledgeable trainers and consultants can run a course that meets the specific needs of your organisation.
Visit www.idoxgrantfinder.co.uk for more information and the latest training course dates. All enquiries can be directed to the Training team at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
About Idox – Grants
The Grants arm of Idox is recognised as Europe’s leading provider of funding and policy information. Established in 1985, it is committed to the provision of funding information and support and seeks to help organisations at every stage of the funding process, from identification of suitable funding to application and grants and bid management.
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In response to the Government opening up the market for planning services, Idox announces the launch of iApply for planning and building control today (1 December 2015).
Commented Andrew Riley, Idox’s Chief Operating Officer: “Idox is proud to be introducing iApply, a service on which our teams have worked extensively to develop. It’s different to anything else on the market and offers a step-change in the planning sector, by providing unrestricted file size, improved validation and transparency, access to submission details and enhanced application tracking and notification. We haven’t just simplified the planning process, but changed the way applicants and local authorities interact.”
The launch follows extensive pilot trials of iApply in the industry. The local authorities and the submitters who have trialled it have been impressed with the results, particularly with the time-saving offered and the fluidity of the process. This is especially apparent for the large submitters, which can have a number of submissions going through the system at any one time.
A big supporter of the new service is Dame Wendy Hall, Professor of Computer Science and Executive Director of the Web Science Institute at the University of Southampton: “Historically applying for planning permission or building control consent has been a labour-intensive process. However, using recent technological innovations and connectivity, iApply has been developed and is now at the forefront of the new way in which we will be building for the future. iApply enables planning applications and building control consent to be applied for via a single source, eradicating the need to send applications in triplicate, or numerous emails with attachments.”
For further information on iApply, please contact:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Providing Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, an opportunity to update MPs on the state of national finances and the Government’s plans for the economy, the Spending Review and Autumn Statement offered food for thought on funding topics that have been much in the news in recent months.
In this blog, Idox’s Policy team outlines the Chancellor’s key announcements across the VCSE, education, public and private sectors, together with reactions from stakeholders.
Full article: Facing choices: Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015
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On 24th November Idox’s leading facilities management software, CAFM Explorer, exhibited at the Future of Facilities Management and Property Services in the Public Sector Conference in Manchester. Organised by University of Salford’s OneCPD department the event was a great opportunity to showcase our work with the university (see our case study here) and meet with existing clients and new contacts within council and university facilities departments.
Here we look at some of the key issues in facilities management highlighted during the event:
Facilities management can be summarised as creating the optimal environment for an organisation’s primary functions, taking an integrated view of the business infrastructure, and using this to deliver customer satisfaction and best value through support for and enhancement of the organisation.
Efficiency savings are a key element to facilities management. However, this approach to cutting costs is unlikely to produce the required savings and may harm the organisation’s ability to deliver the most appropriate services. For facilities management to offer maximum support to core activities, the organisation must recognise that cost and quality are inextricably linked and should not be considered separately.
Factors such as environmental taxation and increasing utilities costs have placed energy management and carbon reduction as an area of real focus for facilities managers.
Technology is increasingly at the forefront of facilities management, this is a sector which the British Institute for Facilities Management estimates is worth between £40bn and £95bn per annum. Therefore, integrating technology in this sector is highly beneficial for those working in facilities. Handheld mobile technology has also revolutionised the work of the maintenance manager, saving time and improving efficiency and access to information.
While buildings designed recently still build in the entire infrastructure required to manage large fixed cable computer networks, the arrival of high capacity wireless networks, combined with the explosion in the use of mobile devices is rapidly reshaping the technical requirements of many organisations - this includes cloud computing technology, which is being adopted rapidly.
Cloud computing is now becoming prevalent for both businesses and consumers, particularly collaborative working and document management. This allows organisations to benefit from reduced costs, increased productivity and speed to market.
Facilities Management software companies are encouraging their customers to embrace this technology, because the cloud is changing the software delivery model to the benefit of the end user. IT facilities managers can now reduce the amount of physical data centre resources that are directly in use.
Implementing such innovations in technology in the public sector could pay large dividends, as could more focus on strategy. The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) estimates local government could make £1bn per annum in efficiency savings. RICS suggests that a reluctance to invest in, and embed a dedicated facilities management programme within an organisation – an approach it calls ‘Strategic FM’ (SFM) means that many public sector organisations could be missing out on huge cost saving opportunities. Salisbury Group, a Facilities Management organisation, estimates that those in the public sector using facilities management in a strategic capacity could be saving themselves as much as £120,000 each per annum on average.
Good facilities management structures have the potential to make organisations significant amounts of savings.
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Idox and Exacom have been selected by Hammersmith & Fulham Bridge Partnership (HFBP) to provide Exacom’s Obligation Suite. The Obligation Suite of software has been designed to manage the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), S106 monitoring, Project collection and spend and will significantly simplify the complex management of these processes.
In addition, the Suite will be integrated with Idox’s hosted land and property solution already in use by HFBP to provide an efficient data exchange between the systems.
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In recent years there has been a surge in the number of people who travel more than 90 minutes to work each day. These ‘supercommuters’ rely on reliable and efficient infrastructure. Idox is a leading supplier of integrated transport solutions, especially traffic management for the road network, through its Cloud Amber solutions.
In this article, Idox’s Rebecca Jackson looks at the pros and cons of supercommuting.
Full article: Supercommuting: is it worth it?
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