Platform Housing Group has chosen Totalmobile to introduce a single operational platform for repairs, compliance and asset management across 50,000 homes. The project covers property services for the housing group, which supports more than 120,000 customers.

The programme will replace disconnected property systems with a single view for frontline teams. Platform plans to use Totalmobile’s Field First platform to bring together job management, mobile working, asset lifecycle management and field service intelligence in one system.

The rollout will take place in phases, with the sequence shaped by operational priorities and data readiness. Platform expects the system to improve visibility over property activity and give teams more consistent information across repairs, building safety and asset operations.

The agreement forms part of a broader effort to strengthen operational assurance and reduce reliance on manual processes. That work is intended to create a more joined-up approach across property functions as the organisation manages a large housing portfolio.

Single system

Housing associations face growing pressure to demonstrate tighter control over repairs performance, compliance checks and long-term asset planning. Against that backdrop, the move to a single operational system reflects a wider sector push to connect data that has often sat in separate teams and software tools.

For frontline staff, one of the main changes will be access to a unified view of property and service information, rather than having to work across multiple systems. That can affect how repairs are scheduled, how safety-related tasks are tracked and how managers assess the condition and history of homes.

The aim is to support more consistent day-to-day service delivery. Better visibility across property records can also help organisations identify information gaps and reduce duplicated administrative work.

Lee Vernalls, project sponsor at Platform Housing Group, said: “This partnership is about putting the right foundations in place for our property services. By bringing information together into a single platform, we’re helping colleagues work more consistently and make better-informed decisions. This will support us to deliver safe, reliable services for customers, both now and in the future.”

Housing focus

Totalmobile supplies workforce and field service software and works with housing organisations that manage large, complex property estates. The Platform contract is another example of a landlord seeking to combine operational data from repairs, safety and asset teams in one environment.

Such projects have become more prominent as landlords review ageing systems and try to improve oversight of compliance work. A common issue has been fragmented information spread across teams responsible for responsive maintenance, planned works and statutory checks.

David Webb, managing director for housing at Totalmobile, said Platform’s decision reflected a drive for better oversight. “Platform Housing Group’s decision to bring these services together onto one platform reflects a clear focus on improving visibility across repairs, safety and asset performance. We’re excited to be working with them as the project develops and to support the delivery of a more connected approach for the future.”

Platform’s property operations span more than 50,000 homes and a substantial customer base, meaning implementation will depend not only on software deployment but also on how existing data is organised and transferred. The phased approach suggests the group is seeking to limit disruption while introducing the new system across several functions.

The changes are intended to support safe, well-managed homes while improving the flow of information available to teams making operational decisions. Given the scale of the estate, even incremental improvements in planning, coordination and record-keeping could have wide effects across repairs and compliance activity.

For Totalmobile, the work forms part of its continued activity in the UK housing sector, where landlords are looking for more connected systems to manage property services. For Platform, the programme is intended to strengthen the foundations of its property services and give colleagues a clearer basis for everyday decisions.

The findings come from a survey of 1,000 businesses by conciliation service Acas, which also revealed that larger employers are more likely to lay off staff than smaller firms.

Kevin Rowan, director of dispute resolution at Acas, told PA: “The results of our poll reveal that a third of businesses are considering redundancies by the start of next year.

“Organisations should look at all possible alternatives to redundancies first, but if employers conclude they have no choice, then they have legal requirements they must follow.

“This means they must consult with staff early to seek their views, or risk being subject to a costly legal process.”

What is redundancy?

Redundancy is when you dismiss an employee because you no longer need anyone to do their job. This might be because your business is:

• changing what it does
• doing things in a different way, for example using new machinery
• changing location or closing down

Strike action has begun at Glasgow Caledonian University, as staff walk out in a dispute over job cuts and possible compulsory redundancies 👇

𝘝𝘐𝘋𝘌𝘖: 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘴 pic.twitter.com/PrDaPmAnZl

— The Herald (@heraldscotland) June 3, 2026

For a redundancy to be genuine, you must demonstrate that the employee’s job will no longer exist.

Redundancies can be compulsory or non-compulsory.

What are my rights as an employer?

Employees have certain rights and may be entitled to redundancy pay if they’re made redundant.

All employees under notice of redundancy have the right to:

• reasonable time off to look for a new job or arrange training
• not be unfairly selected for redundancy

Employers must try to find suitable alternative employment within the organisation for employees they’ve made redundant.

Employees can try out an alternative role for 4 weeks (or more if agreed in writing) without giving up their right to redundancy pay.

You must be fairly selected for redundancy, for example, because of your level of experience or capability to do the job.

You cannot be selected because of age, gender, or if you’re disabled or pregnant. If you are, this could be classed as an unfair dismissal.

Are you worried about keeping your job? Let us know in the comments

Cato Networks has opened its first dedicated AI hub in London, expanding the cybersecurity company’s research and development presence in the UK.

The Holborn office will focus on artificial intelligence, small and medium-sized business growth, and security. It adds an R&D base to Cato’s existing London presence, where it already employs nearly 100 people across sales, support, marketing and customer success.

The move gives Cato a dedicated engineering operation in the capital as it looks to broaden its product development footprint beyond its existing teams. The London hub is part of a multi-year growth plan and will launch with a team of data scientists, software engineers and product managers.

Avidan Avraham, Director of Engineering at Cato, will lead the new site. Cato plans to grow the London hub to nearly 50 staff over the next three years.

R&D focus

The London team will concentrate on two areas: the company’s AI efforts and product journeys aimed at smaller businesses; and a security-focused product engineering team for longer-term development work.

The expansion comes as technology companies continue to build engineering and research teams in London, attracted by the city’s deep pool of software, data and cybersecurity specialists. Cato positioned the investment as part of that wider UK trend.

Shlomo Kramer, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Cato Networks, described the opening as an important step in the company’s growth plans.

“Cato’s new London R&D site marks a defining moment and a meaningful acceleration into our next phase of growth,” said Shlomo Kramer, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Cato Networks.

He said the company sees London as a major source of AI and cybersecurity talent as customers increasingly focus on using AI securely.

“This strategic expansion elevates our global R&D footprint, anchoring us closer to one of the world’s leading AI and cybersecurity talent hubs, and helping us build the technologies customers need to securely adopt AI at scale,” Kramer said.

Hiring plans

Avraham said the new office would draw on London’s established technology labour market and experience base. The initial team will include specialists across data science, engineering and product roles.

“I’m incredibly excited to build a world-class AI innovation hub right here in London,” said Avidan Avraham, Director of Engineering, Cato Networks.

He said the choice of location reflects the concentration of international technology groups already operating in the city.

“The opportunity here is vast, and building alongside other global tech giants that have chosen to set up in the city gives us access to a rich pool of experience and talent that we can tap into and develop. We look forward to working with exceptional professionals on projects that are central to accelerating Cato’s strong growth trajectory, and with engineers ready to tackle challenges across AI, data intelligence, next-generation cybersecurity, and cloud networking,” Avraham said.

Cato is best known for network and security software delivered through a cloud-based platform. The London expansion signals a push to deepen engineering resources in AI and security as demand rises from businesses seeking to manage cyber risks linked to new tools and services.

The company did not disclose the size of its investment in the site. It said the London hub would support core growth initiatives and extend its engineering reach in one of Europe’s largest technology labour markets.