Released on = May 18, 2006, 3:33 pm

Press Release Author = Acutest

Industry = Software

Press Release Summary = The Royal Mail Group have selected Acutest, a software
testing and assurance consultancy, to provide specialist client side skills and
services.

Press Release Body = Acutest, an independent software testing consultancy, announced
today that it has been awarded a framework contract to provide testing and assurance
services to the companies of the Royal Mail Group.

Royal Mail Chief Information Officer David Burden explained, \"We\'ve created a panel
that contains a number of suppliers to provide Royal Mail with flexible access to
specialist client-side skills and services that it needs to help progress it\'s IS
plans. Acutest\'s track record in software testing and assurance services proved an
attractive proposition for inclusion on the panel.\"

"We're particularly pleased to have been awarded this contract as the sole
specialist testing consultancy on the key skills panel," explained Acutest Managing
Director Barry Varley. "It allows us to build on the client-side assurance services
we've provided to the Post Office since 2003 and extend them to the rest of the
Royal Mail Group. For example, we've demonstrated the benefits of bringing testing
forward into the early stages of complex projects with multiple suppliers and we
look forward to helping all of the Royal Mail Group achieve these benefits, as
well."

The agreement covers testing services throughout the software development lifecycle,
from testing the functional requirements are fit for purpose through to
non-functional, operational and user acceptance testing.

"Acutest has already shown that it can evolve its services to meet changing demands
via its work with Post Office Limited," said Steve Lucas, Head of Service
Development Management in Royal Mail. "Over the lifetime of this framework, we will
be going through further significant change, and we look to Acutest to continue to
develop flexible approaches that provide us with assurance that our IT systems and
process changes are implemented effectively and efficiently."

- Ends -


About Acutest

Acutest is an independent consultancy focused solely on testing software, business
processes, and IT. Our goal is to help our customers achieve the benefits of their
technology-enabled change faster.
Our approach is to:
. Reduce the cost of change
This covers both the overall cost of the full development lifecycle and the cost of
all the testing activities, such as performance testing or user acceptance testing
. Increase the speed of change
This covers reducing the elapsed time spent testing and the time spent on remedial
work and operational maintenance
. Improve the governance of change
This is achieved through better business alignment of testing and better management
information from the testing activities throughout the projects and programmes.


Web Site = http://www.acutest.co.uk

Contact Details = For further information please contact:
Acutest,
Blackwell House,
Guildhall Yard,
London, EC2V 5AE.
Tel: 0207 917 2838
http://www.acutest.co.uk