Blockchain platform provider, Credits has revealed it is now supplying its Blockchain-as-a-Service to the UK Government public sector through the Government Digital Services Digital Marketplace. The Crown Commercial Service awarded Credits a place on the G-Cloud 8 framework agreement for the supply of distributed ledger technology. Credits’ blockchain platform-as-a-service will be used by a variety of organisations in the UK public sector including central and local government, the devolved administrations, health, education, emergency services, defence, and not-for-profits such as housing associations and charities.
Implementing blockchain technology has the potential to save time and costs which would result in savings for the taxpayer and improve commercial and procurement activity. The Digital Marketplace is the official platform for UK public sector organisations wanting to procure cloud and digital specialist services.
Nick Williamson, CEO & Co-Founder of Credits, commented: “Credits is pleased to have been awarded a place on the G-Cloud 8 platform. We are excited by the huge potential of Distributed Ledger Technology for many different government and public sector applications, and are looking forward to working with UK public sector organisations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their services for UK taxpayers”
Distributed ledgers will allow the government to create and run identity management tools, preserve data security, reduce fraud and costs for the public sector. Government departments and agencies such as the National Health Service, DVLA, HM Passport Office, the Land Registry, Department for Work and Pensions, and HM Revenue and Customs, amongst others, stand to gain a lot from this as they can improve digital services and increase taxpayer value.
Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Mark Walport recently compiled a blockchain report which highlighted the numerous areas of benefit the technology could bring, which included: tracking aid spending; protecting critical infrastructure; registering assets such as intellectual property, wills, NHS health data and pensions; and reducing benefit fraud. Previously, there have also been reports that the UK government is looking into exploring the potential of blockchain in various sectors.
Credits’ G-Cloud blockchain-as-a-Service runs on secure cloud infrastructure powered by, formerly Skyscape, partner UKCloud. The G-Cloud agreement follows Credits’ 2015 success in supplying its blockchain framework to the Isle of Man Government, and the launch in April 2016 of Credits’ public blockchain PaaS.
