The Tyne and Wear City Region Employment Consortium manages the Hanlon system on behalf of seven local authorities across the North East. The system currently comprises of 85,000 clients across 150 organisations with around 500 individual users.

With a database of this size, the need for a dedicated resource to manage the system is essential, as is the need for a dedicated and responsive team within Hanlon. As the coordinating body for the Hanlon system, developments to the software are regularly requested, with a great deal of accommodation provided by Hanlon to ensure these developments are introduced for the benefit of advisors and clients within the North East.

The flexible nature of the database ensures it is easy to understand and use for new and existing members of staff, with a helpdesk at Hanlon on the end of a phone or email for any issues which may arise. The introduction of the web based system has been welcomed by many users who regularly report that they find it easy to use and access.

Organisations using the system value the data which is inputted and reportable, with this making compelling evidence for funding applications, as well as the obvious benefits this brings to the individual client. The requirement to use the Hanlon system is also being written into contracts as a stipulated condition.

The support offered and provided by Hanlon is invaluable when dealing with a large database containing sensitive personal information. Problems with the system are speedily handled and the opportunity to shape the future development of the system is welcomed.

The system has been operating in several settings in the North East for many years and is now accepted as an embedded Management Information System within the region, therefore meaning that the evidence, analysis and intelligence which can be gleaned from the data can be used to influence policy work and decision making.

The system has traditionally been used in the employability sector within the North East, although through the strength and reputation of the system we are now hosting services such as the voluntary sector, further education, job brokerage, enterprise agencies, volunteer projects, health related provision as well as mainstream services. The ability to track businesses as well as clients is a part of the system which is becoming increasingly important in the region, with teams using Hanlon exclusively to manage and record interactions with local, national and international businesses.

"North Lanarkshire Working has worked with Hanlon to implement a system to track participant progress towards employment and training across NL. North Lanarkshire’s Working Employability Service has over 40 projects and 160 users supporting around 6,000 residents. The Hanlon system is clear and simple to use: projects can use the system as they need to and it is flexible enough to be customised to meet the various requirements of funding organisations, including European funding."

"Support from the Hanlon team has been crucial in the development of the system. The team has helped us extract intelligence, analysis and a level of information that just wasn’t possible before. This analysis will help us shape our employability services in the future."

"I have used System K for six years. The system is user friendly, clear and concise. In addition the support we’ve received over the years from Hanlon has been second to none, their friendly courteous staff are always willing to help with any queries. I would heartily recommend Hanlon and their software."

"Over the last 15 years Tribal has managed regeneration programmes including NDCs, SRBs, ESF and others. Hanlon’s System K programme monitoring software has played a key role in the success of our work. We have found it to be a comprehensive, flexible and user friendly allowing us to record, report on and analyse all the information we need to monitor these programmes. This is complemented by a very responsive and helpful support service welcoming feedback from users in the development of the product over the years as technology has allowed greater functionality."

"A big advantage of the Hanlon system is that it can be adapted to the partners’ needs, helping them to obtain exactly the information they need to decide how worklessness can be tackled more effectively. It also makes monitoring the data so much easier."

“Hanlon have proven to be an attentive, responsive and flexible provider with a valuable understanding of our business (the regeneration sector). They have provided us with a range of products that have helped our organisation establish efficiency gains, while improving our performance and, in turn, our effectiveness in the community”.

"Perhaps the success of the system can be put down to the number of organisations and projects using it, from local authorities to colleges, job brokerage organisations, voluntary sector and social enterprises: the system has expanded across North Lanarkshire because it meets all of our needs."

"Our reputation is based on an unswerving commitment to produce fast, effective, value-for-money results for our customers. In the crucial world of economic regeneration we recognise the importance of collating, reporting
and analysing data – our solutions are designed to produce results
which funding agencies can rely on."

"Hanlon were very open to developing the system and they were interested in what we were doing to help disadvantaged communities. They are not just a computer company but interested in regeneration and the needs of people."