Edinburgh Council has outsourced its ICT services in a deal that is expected to save £45m and create more than 200 jobs and 60 apprenticeships.

The £186m contract, which has been awarded to CGI, will enable Edinburgh to make a 'digital channel shift' including faster broadband for schools, said the council.

CGI has pledged to include local SMEs in its supply chain and invest in social enterprises and community groups.

Councillor Alasdair Rankin, convener of the City of Edinburgh Council's finance and resources committee, said: 'The council is delighted to be entering into partnership with CGI. In signing this contract we will transform the way we do business.?

'People are at the heart of our organisation whether they are citizens, staff or working in the city's economy. One of the exciting things CGI will do is to speed up our move to greater online capability giving residents and businesses greater flexibility to engage with the council and carry out their transactions digitally. This will make us a more efficient and effective organisation across our wide range of council services.'