IN ONE of the biggest potential business deals ever seen for an unquoted York company, Agilisys has been appointed preferred bidder for a £187.5 million deal to bring computerised government to Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council.

It will mean the technology and business process service provider will recruit at least 50 staff to cover the north of England at its head office in Toft Green, York.

Agilisys has teamed up with professional support services group Mouchel Parkman, of Surrey, to carry out the 15 year contract. Agylisys' revenues from the project are estimated at £120 million.

If Rochdale Council approves the recommendation on July 27, negotiations will follow before the contract is signed and work could begin on April 1, next year.

As an increasing number of authorities are responding to the Government's insistence on e-government for local authorities, Agilisys has plans to extend staff.

It comes hot on the heels of a new £60 million e-government contract Agilisys signed in March to provide Cumbria with integrated e-government services over seven years.

The firm is already hard at work on a £7.4 million ICT partnership with North Yorkshire County Council and Hambleton District Council, providing 500,000 residents with e-government.

Agilisys' partnership scheme for Rochdale was preferred after months of scrutiny over rival bids from Capita and BT.

Leader of Rochdale Council, Coun Allen Brett said: "Mouchel Parkman and Agilisys have put together an excellent bid which will help to transform Rochdale town centre and generate many new jobs for the borough."

Charles Mindenhall, pictured, the firm's chief executive, said: "This partnership is an exciting opportunity for us. It is not just about delivering services to the council and its citizens, it is also about investing in and committing to Rochdale borough for the long-term.

"This is fantastic news for us as a business.

"Over the coming months, we will be looking to recruit a significant number of people in a variety of roles as we continue to grow our business in the North of England. We will want business analysts, project managers as well as technical staff in places like York but also Barrow-in-Furness, Rochdale and Carlisle."

Mr Mindenhall said the extra recruitment would swell Agilysis employees, which number about 1,000 - that is 250 in York, 200 in London, 100 in Carlisle - and the remainder at contact centres in Banbury, Fareham and Shannon plus 100 in an office in Mumbai, India.

Updated: 11:36 Thursday, July 14, 2005