"Partnering with public and non-profit communities to build inclusive, secure, and scalable digital solutions—enabling meaningful transformation that serves people, strengthens organisations, and uplifts society."
"Echo-9 exists to serve and support the public and non-profit sectors with inclusive, adaptable technologies that reflect the needs of the communities they serve. We champion transparency, sustainability, and collaboration—empowering our partners to thrive through open-source innovation and trusted digital infrastructure."
Shared Services refer to collaborative arrangements where public sector bodies—such as local authorities, NHS trusts, or educational institutions—join forces to deliver common services, typically in areas like Finance, HR, IT, or Procurement. These partnerships aim to improve efficiency, reduce duplication, and achieve cost savings by pooling resources, standardising processes, and leveraging collective expertise.
Under the Procurement Act 2023, certain shared service arrangements qualify as exempted contracts, meaning they are not subject to the full scope of public procurement rules. These exemptions are outlined in Schedule 2 of the Act and are designed to give public bodies the flexibility to collaborate where formal procurement would be inappropriate or inefficient. The relevant exemption applicable to Echo-9 is for "horizontal cooperation", where two or more public authorities collaborate to deliver services jointly, provided the arrangement is governed solely by public interest considerations and does not distort competition. This legal provision ensures that public and non-profit organisations can pursue shared service models that are both legally compliant and strategically beneficial, supporting Echo-9’s mission to enable secure, scalable, and cost-effective digital transformation.
Echo-9 is governed by its members—public and non-profit contracting authorities—through a collaborative, transparent, and democratic structure. As a member-owned shared services organisation, each participating body plays an active role in shaping strategic direction, service priorities, and operational oversight. Governance is exercised through a representative board of elected member delegates, ensuring that decisions reflect the collective interests and values of the community. This model not only fosters accountability and trust but also ensures that Echo-9 remains aligned with the evolving needs of its members, delivering maximum value without profit-driven motives.