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Cumberland Council and Westmorland & Furness Council

Supporting local government transformation in Cumbria

Cumerbland Council and Westmoreland and Furness Council Logos

In 2022, Cumbria underwent a significant local government reorganisation that led to the creation of two new unitary authorities: Cumberland Council and Westmorland & Furness Council.

With a tight timeline and complex digital needs, the transformation required expert guidance and dependable technical support.

That’s where Phoenix stepped in.

Key facts

  • Microsoft 365 Tenancy Migration
  • Email Reconfiguration
  • Strategic IT Support

The challenge

The primary objective was to ensure that both new councils could seamlessly operate from day one: 1 April 2023. This involved the formation of two new digital entities, migration of systems, and the critical reconfiguration of email routing to align with the new council domains (e.g., @cumberland.gov.uk and @westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk).

Beyond launch readiness, the broader goal was to migrate users and services to a new Microsoft 365 tenancy, ensuring long-term scalability, governance, and security.

Initial efforts went into the creation of the two new entities and the rewriting of emails and ensuring we were up and running for the inception of the new councils on 1 April 2023. Work was then refocused towards Phoenix supporting us on our tenancy migration journey which is still ongoing.”

Paul Stafford, ICT Programme Manager, Cumberland Council

The solution

Phoenix software collaborated closely with the internal ICT team to support both the technical delivery and strategic planning of the transformation. This included:

  • Email domain design and migration
  • Multi-stage Microsoft 365 tenancy migration
  • Discovery workshops and planning sessions
  • Security and compliance alignment within Microsoft environments
  • Ongoing strategic support post-day one

The Phoenix team brought not only deep technical knowledge but also a pragmatic, people-first approach. Their mix of professionalism, approachability, and clarity ensured complex decisions could be made confidently, and challenges resolved quickly.

Working with Phoenix on our migration project has been an excellent experience.”

Paul Stafford, ICT Programme Manager, Cumberland Council

James, Ellie, and the team have been really helpful throughout – across hours of discovery sessions, planning meetings, technical discussions, and workshops. They bring a professional, knowledgeable yet relaxed and approachable style to the table which makes them easy to work with. Their dedication and expertise have been invaluable.”

Paul Stafford, ICT Programme Manager, Cumberland Council

Transforming local government, together

Successfully navigating local government reorganisation requires more than just technical know-how — it demands a trusted partner who understands the stakes, the systems, and the speed needed for success. Whether you’re preparing for reorganisation or building resilient digital foundations post-merger, Phoenix is here to help.

Contact our local government transformation experts today and find out how we can support your journey.