Environment Agency Adopts New System to Collect and Analyze Biological and Chemical Samples More Efficiently

Changes to Working Practices Form Part of New Environmental Monitoring Service to Improve Efficiencies by 20 Percent in Two Years

London, June 10, 2009 – ABeam Consulting (www.abeam.com) announced today that it will help the Environment Agency to introduce a new field work planning and scheduling system, enabling staff to collect, analyze and store environmental data more efficiently. The project forms part of a new environment monitoring service that is estimated to deliver 20 percent cost savings by 2011. It will be instrumental in helping The Agency to address more effectively any changes to the environmental quality in England and Wales.

More than 200 staff across 50 offices throughout England and Wales will migrate from the current, locally accountable and paper-based system to an automated system with national controls by Clicksoftware, to create a more flexible and sustainable workforce.

As part of the project, ABeam consultants will help the Environment Agency introduce new handheld devices among its 170-strong sampling and collection team. The PDAs will enable the team to gather water and other environmental samples more efficiently and to work seamlessly with the National Laboratory Services and the Analysis and Reporting team, responsible for interpreting the data collected.

Use of the technology and new working practices will allow the Sampling and Collection, and Analysis and Reporting teams to communicate more effectively with the National Planning and Scheduling team, who in turn will be able to manage a greater volume of work and undertake management and performance reporting more easily.

The new field work planning and scheduling system forms part of a major program of change to introduce a new environmental monitoring service that will help The Agency improve the use of data to tackle current and future environmental challenges.

Andrew Wood, Deputy Director of Operations at the Environment Agency, comments: “Our goal is to create a better environment for people and wildlife in England and Wales, and our ability to meet this goal depends on the quality of data that we collect and analyze. The new field work planning and scheduling system will help us to give more objective, reliable and trusted advice to the Government, the public and our partners on the state of the environment.”

Dave Hughes, practice director, ABeam Consulting, says: “The introduction of new working practices will mean radical changes for staff at all levels. In order for the transition to go smoothly, it is essential that everyone appreciates the value that their efforts will bring to the Environment Agency and how collecting, analyzing, storing and interpreting data contributes to safeguarding the environment now and in the future.”

About ABeam Consulting ABeam Consulting provides operational consulting services that create strategic advantage, improve business processes, leverage technology innovation, and enhance organisational performance for leading multinational and domestic companies worldwide. ABeam partners with clients to diagnose and solve their real challenges with solutions that combine industry and operational best practices with technical expertise. Pragmatic approaches ensure that clients gain measurable value more quickly. Headquartered in Tokyo, ABeam’s 3,500 professionals serve clients in 21 countries. For more information, please visit www.abeam.com.