Transforming Social Care Services: Aberdeen City Council’s Partnership with Hitachi Solutions

Lifetime Services

Building on this foundation, ACC and Hitachi Solutions agreed on a Lifetime Services development agreement to support the solution’s ongoing evolution. Recognising the opportunity to strengthen internal capabilities and drive better technology outcomes, Aberdeen also sought to leverage Hitachi Solutions’ strategic partnerships.

Technical Training  

Ultimately, ACC aimed to achieve greater self-sufficiency in their team to reduce reliance on external suppliers and boost team morale. To address these goals, Hitachi Solutions designed and delivered a customised, modular technical training programme.

This initiative included a strengths and weaknesses analysis to identify key areas for improvement and tailor a programme based on best practices and recommendations, leveraging their expertise and knowledge.

The training focused on both developer and functional consultant skills to enhance confidence and self-sufficiency. Regular contact with the Hitachi Solutions consultants ensured the training was consumable without disrupting daily operations.

Employee Training

Investing in employee training is becoming a key differentiator for tech employers. With a growing focus on digital skills and emerging technologies, companies are prioritising development in high-demand areas like software engineering and cybersecurity to tackle ongoing skills shortages.

In the UK, more than 40% of tech professionals engage in formal training each year, many through online learning platforms. Organisations that invest in continuous learning often see stronger retention rates, as career development remains a top priority for tech talent.

The training schedule was thoughtfully designed to maximise engagement and learning. The week kicked off with a summary of the module. On Day 2, participants were introduced to a compelling case study directly related to the council, followed by the assignment of practical tasks that brought theory to life. Days 3 and 4 were dynamic and interactive, dedicated to addressing any issues, concerns, and questions that arose, ensuring everyone stayed on track. Finally, Day 5 wrapped up the week with a celebratory session highlighting achievements, using a learning mentor framework to reinforce key takeaways and foster a sense of accomplishment.

The training labs were effective, as noted by an ACC team member: “I considered the labs to strike the perfect balance of being challenging yet within our reach (same for the assessment lab).”

The Impact

As a result of the training, the ACC team became more adept at handling changes and bugs internally, resulting in cost savings due to the decrease in reliance on external resources. Team morale saw a significant boost, visible in improved collaboration and input during meetings. The increased confidence and improved collaboration with Hitachi as a key partner were notable outcomes.

Trevor Gillespie, Team Manager, said in the recent Customer Satisfaction Survey “Our relationship with Hitachi Solutions is very positive and both Hitachi Solutions and Aberdeen City Council have developed a very close working relationship.”

The Future Partnership

Aberdeen City Council’s partnership with Hitachi Solutions has proven transformative, not only in modernising its Social Care services but also in creating a culture of self-sufficiency and continuous improvement.

The tailored training programme has empowered the internal team, improving their technical capabilities and boosting morale. This collaboration has resulted in cost savings and strengthened the relationship between Aberdeen City Council and Hitachi Solutions, setting a solid foundation for future growth and innovation.

Hitachi Solutions continue to engage with ACC by working together on agile sprints, an upgrade of their education psychology solution and adopting new functionality from the Dynamics 365 release waves.