Tech transformation to underpin UK law and order
Supporting the Ministry of Justice IT systems upgrade
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is the foundation of UK law and order.
From our courts and prisons to the probation service, it aims to create a world-class system that works for everyone in society.
As the government’s largest department, the MoJ needs a modern IT network.
With three tech contracts due to expire, a team from Deloitte and the MoJ collaborated on one of the government’s biggest ever digital transformations.
We’re so proud to have supported the MoJ in its work to upgrade the tech infrastructure its people need to do their job.
Completed in May this year (2026), with some implementation ongoing until 2028, the transformation is supporting the working lives of over 100,000 people and looks set to save taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds.
A technology upgrade
The MoJ began planning its digital transformation, named Evolve, in 2020.
Its goal was to make sure every colleague across the MoJ has the technology they need to do their job well, whether they work in a prison, probation site, courtroom, contact centre or from home.
Encompassing a portfolio of nine workplace technology projects, spanning areas including digital tools, services, equipment, connectivity and support, it was a challenging public-sector transformation.
Its main aims included adopting modern tech platforms, upgrading IT capabilities and driving efficiency to cut costs.
Rather than sourcing like-for-like services, one of the MoJ’s main strategic aims was to change the way they were provided, reducing reliance on third-party suppliers and a managed service provider to oversee its tech.
To help deliver an innovative vision for its services and procuring them, alongside making sure a commitment to social value and sustainability was reflected throughout the process, the MoJ engaged a team from Deloitte.
Our team collaborated with the MoJ on service design and developing internal capabilities, supporting the organisation to successfully operate and manage services internally and work effectively with partner organisations.
"The team integrated seamlessly, demonstrating genuine partnership. Deloitte’s thoughtful and high-performing culture has contributed to the professional development of our staff through comprehensive coaching, fostering a sustainable delivery model that will endure beyond the programme."
Marc Bowie, Head of Technology Services Delivery and Evolve SRO, Ministry of Justice
Project management on a grand scale
The Deloitte team worked from design to delivery with MoJ leaders and Justice Digital (the department’s digital, data and technology team) to create a strategic vision for Evolve.
This included scoping the vast project, setting up initial design and programme management structures and building commercial capability.
Through a series of 17 complex business cases – structured, evidence-based documents appraising the MoJ’s options in areas including costs, benefits and value for money – we supported a series of high-value, complex procurements through to the successful in-housing of key technology services.
A ‘one team’ ethos brought together civil servants, contractors and other suppliers in the same environment, with Deloitte focusing support where it was needed most, such as technical IT delivery, business analysis, commercial procurement and project management.
“Typically, we would work with MoJ colleagues to stand up the programme’s workstreams, then transition them to government colleagues, re-engaging at critical moments where additional support was needed,” says Siobhan Nolan, an associate director at Deloitte.
As civil service team members acquired new skills and grew more confident, we handed over responsibilities, providing training and guidance when needed, as well as oversight and assurance.
“In addition, we provided continuous functions, such as business case delivery and project management support,” Siobhan continues.
Across the programme’s lifecycle, both Deloitte and the MoJ considered the impact of the Evolve portfolio and how delivery teams could maximise their contributions and minimise their impact on the planet.
The project was also an early adopter of Deloitte’s sustainable delivery, encouraging and supporting the firm and clients to deliver projects in a more sustainable way. This included putting a KPI in place to measure and monitor the carbon footprint of the engagement, sharing trends and information to help reduce them.
From legacy to lasting impact
Evolve has successfully overhauled the MoJ’s tech estate and provided a modern platform for the future.
Going way beyond a series of tech upgrades, the transformation has replaced outdated legacy contracts and reduced costs while improving flexibility and building modern digital foundations across the department.
Through the transformation of IT services, the MoJ will reduce the cost of services by £100m+ over the course of the contracts. In addition, it will avoid significant costs related to the refresh of hardware, software and management of technical debt.
Made possible by the strategic direction we set in collaboration with MoJ leaders and a ‘one team’ delivery approach, it is unlocking cost savings, balancing efficiency with a resilient infrastructure.
The transformation has ensured critical IT continuity and delivered more resilient infrastructure. New contact centres, systems and hardware have boosted productivity, while better telephony, network and Wi-Fi services have led to faster, more reliable connections.
More than that, the new platform delivered through Evolve is enabling MoJ to make progress towards future priorities, from AI to public-facing digital services.
Together, these improvements have transformed how thousands of MoJ colleagues across the country collaborate, building skills and increasing the resilience of some of the UK’s most critical public environments, benefiting the millions who rely on the justice system.
Get in touch
Siobhan Nolan
Associate Director
Phone: +44 (0)121 695 5969
snolan@deloitte.co.uk
A ‘one team’ ethos brought together civil servants, contractors and other suppliers in the same environment.
