Business Services
Customer Accounts and Programme Support - CAPS
The Development Programme continued to evolve during the year with CAPS playing a key role in progressing the ‘Contract and Project Support - Planning, Management and Delivery’ initiative. New procedures for project management, a monitoring system for recording disease surveillance and a publication plan to document the production of scientific publications were all introduced to enhance the Unit’s service. Customer liaison was also examined and a new method to improve the information customers receive on the progress of their contracts was established.
Information Technology
A wide range of new systems have been implemented to improve the handling
of data and reporting in the research and control of a variety of diseases
including TSE Integration, Scrapie Flock Schemes, Brucella Eradication and
Parasitology testing.
Another major achievement was the successful upgrade of the Laboratory Information
Management Service (LIMS) IT infrastructure, which necessitated the replacement
of the server hardware, Oracle database and SampleManager software. A LIMS
Vision was also developed to extend the use of LIMS in a coordinated and
strategic manner across the Agency, incorporating electronic reporting of
results to all Regional Laboratories and improved emergency response capabilities
to address a portfolio of diseases.
A variety of upgrades to the VLA office system have taken place, the most
significant being server replacements at Regional Laboratories and major
increases to the Wide Area Network (WAN) communications bandwidth. This has
enabled a significant increase in resilience as well as extra capacity to
service the new Stewart Stockman building.
Site Redevelopment
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| Animal Services Unit building under construction |
A new laboratory, under construction at the Weybridge site since January 2003, has been completed and is named the Stewart Stockman Building. The name of the building recognises the formative influence of Sir Stewart Stockman, appointed Chief Veterinary Officer and Director of Research 100 years ago, who established the Central Veterinary Laboratory at the Weybridge site. The new laboratory will provide ‘state of the art’ facilities for high throughput serological testing and research and diagnostic facilities for our world-class tuberculosis team.
Other projects in the next phase of redevelopment are well underway and include a new boiler house and a new Animal Services Unit building to house veterinary surgeons, farm managers and animal carers. The building is being constructed to comply with the highest sustainable building standards and has received an award under the Building Research Establishment’s criteria. Plans for a major refurbishment of the main building at Weybridge are also in progress.
Personnel
This was a year of major projects for Personnel, two of which were a new ‘Personnel’ database and a new payroll provider.
The new database is used to record employees‘ details and assist with the administration of recruitment and absence management. We are looking forward to expanding this to introduce a ‘self-service’ element for training administration and appraisal.
In November 2004, we changed the payroll provider which involved a review of all the pay procedures and changes to many processes. A significant achievement was the introduction of an ‘interface’ between the database and the new payroll system to streamline procedures and achieve efficiency savings.
Purchase and Supply
During the year, negotiations were completed on a significant framework contract for the supply of laboratory chemicals, the disposal of clinical waste from our Regional Laboratories and the provision of occupational health services. A large procurement exercise was also successfully completed to supply a wide range of equipment for the new Stewart Stockman laboratory.
The Unit offers a procurement service to the whole of the Agency and to improve the speed and efficiency of the service a new e-Procurement software system has been trialled. It is hoped the new system will be introduced next year.
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| Containment level 3 laboratory in the Stewart Stockman Building |
Safety
The aim of the VLA‘s Safety Unit is to support colleagues in all areas so that they may carry out their duties in a safe manner and without compromising the safety of others.
The role of the Safety Unit is reported in the feature article, Safety - the Key at VLA.
Corporate Planning & Communications
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| VLA’s Library at Weybridge |
The key message this year was ‘Access to Information’ as VLA
prepared for the introduction of the Freedom of Information Act and Environmental
Information Regulations in January 2005.
A network of contacts was set up across the Agency to deal with any enquiries.
Access to information also extended to electronic resources and the latest
addition in the VLA Library is ‘Library Online’. This is a new
management system, which provides desktop access to commercial bibliographical
databases, electronic journals, lists of scientific publications and current
awareness services.
An important part of our communication programme is raising awareness of VLA’s work to young people in the local community. VLA took part in ‘Enterprise Week’, a government supported initiative to inspire young people to be enterprising, by organising a Schools’ Open Day at Weybridge. More than 70 students saw ‘hands-on’ demonstrations, met the scientists and discussed career opportunities.
The 10th Annual Meeting of the National Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza Laboratories was held at VLA and over 60 scientists from around the world attended. VLA was also the host for the Government Veterinary Surgeons Conference.
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| VLA Finance Unit |
Finance
The Unit provides financial and management information to managers across the Agency and this year that information has been more detailed and available much quicker than previously. As part of a review of the financial services, a new travel team was set up to rationalise and offer a comprehensive service for travel and accommodation arrangements.
The revaluation of land and buildings (a five yearly exercise) tested the accounting skills within the Unit, but the National Audit Office signed-off the Accounts, which were laid before Parliament on 7th July. This date is the earliest in VLA’s history and well within Defra’s timetable.
A total of 97% of customers’ invoices were paid on or before their due date and the general standard of day-to- day accounting matters ensured that no significant issues arose from the external and internal audit fieldwork.
