MYRIAD multi-application smartcard solution for staff and students

(05/01/2007)

G2 Integrated Solutions has secured new contracts to supply academies including Grace Academy in Solihull, David Young Community Academy in Leeds and North Liverpool Academy, Liverpool with their MYRIAD solution.

The MYRIAD solution is used for cashless catering and student ID production. It can also be integrated with academy library systems and as a first for the industry it can be used to manage door access at schools, with students using the MYRIAD card to swipe in and out of various areas.

The government is building a number of new schools through the Public Private Finance Initiative (PFI schools) and the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. The three academies are housed in brand new buildings, offering places to 7-18 year olds. The G2IS solution, including cash free tills, cashless vending machines and onsite card top-up points has been installed as part of the new infrastructure, ensuring the ‘schools of the future’ are equipped with the latest technology.

At the heart of MYRIAD is a mifare smartcard, at the academies this is similar in size and shape to a credit card. It is used by pupils and staff to pay for items without having to use cash at till points and vending machines. G2IS also offers the flexibility to integrate the solution with other systems employed by the schools such as student MIS systems or library systems.

New build schools Grace Academy and David Young Community Academy both rely on G2IS to provide a new card identity system for staff and students, a cashless payment solution as well as a secure access solution.

For the schools initiative G2IS worked alongside contract caterers Avenance to secure the Grace Academy contract and at David Young partnered with Softlink and Plescom to implement the library management system.

Meanwhile North Liverpool Academy, which replaces Anfield and Breckfield schools, are using MYRIAD smartcards as part of the cashless catering solution and for ID purposes. They won the contract – which will see MYRIAD used by 1,750 pupils and teachers – with partners Viglen.

Jonathan Coyles, project manager at Grace Academy, said: “Grace Academy is a brand new multi-million pound academy, incorporating state-of-the-art facilities including a lecture theatre, ICT suites, internet café and four court sports hall.

“An integrated card solution, which provided one card for a variety of uses including security, ID and cashless catering was essential for the effective management of the academy on a day to day basis. G2IS was recommended to us by our catering partner, Avenance and we are delighted to award them the contract for delivering our multi-function smartcard.

“G2IS has been extremely supportive of our plans and is a very professional company to deal with. We are now looking forward to seeing the new system installed and up and running when the academy opens its doors for the first time in September.”

Sylvia Campbell, sales and marketing director at G2IS, said: “We are increasingly finding that academies like Grace, David Young and North Liverpool are realising the benefits of installing a multi-application smartcard system.

“The use of one card for a number of different applications helps cut down on purchasing, maintenance and administration costs, and speeds up processes such as paying for goods and services, creating all-round efficiencies for educational facilities.”

Related topics:  Access Control   Security industry   Security market sectors 

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