The Cambridge Assessment Group is Europe’s largest assessment agency. It plays a leading role in researching, developing and delivering assessment to eight million candidates in 150 countries every year.

The decision to use Océ Business Services in the U.K. as the managed service provider in a multi-million pound deal was taken by the Cambridge Assessment Group, which has been looking to consolidate printing operations on its own warehouse premises near Cambridge.

By moving printing onto its own premises, Cambridge Assessment will ensure that the connection between printing and distribution is as seamless as possible. This move will be phased over time to make sure that quality and continuity of service are maintained.

Océ (UK) Limited has been chosen as its new service partner for printing and distribution operations following a tendering process. The new contract, valued at £40 million (approximately EUR 50 million) over a 5 year term, starting Autumn 2008, will include print facility management at Cambridge Assessment’s warehousing facilities – due to go live early next year.

Mark Lovell, Group Director, Cambridge Assessment, said: “We are delighted to welcome Océ as our new service partner and look forward to developing a good and productive working relationship. This move is an important step towards delivering flexible, high quality, modern services to our customers worldwide. It will be phased over time and arrangements are in place to make sure that quality and continuity of service are maintained.”

Simon Wheeler, Director of Océ UK Ltd’s Business Services Division, said: “We have worked closely with Cambridge Assessment, taking considerable time and care to evaluate their exact requirements. We are very pleased about the opportunity to work with them to achieve their strategic goals at an exciting time in their business.”

Notes to Editors

About Océ
Océ is one of the world's leading providers of document management and printing for professionals. The broad Océ offering includes office printing and copying systems, high speed digital production printers and wide format printing systems for both technical documentation and colour display graphics. Océ is also a foremost supplier of document management outsourcing. Many of the world’s Fortune 500 companies and leading commercial printers are Océ customers. The company was founded in 1877. With headquarters in Venlo, the Netherlands, Océ is active in over 90 countries and employs some 24,000 people worldwide. Total revenues in 2007 amounted to € 3.1 billion. Océ is listed on Euronext in Amsterdam. For more information on Océ, visit www.oce.com.

 

About The Cambridge Assessment Group
The Cambridge Assessment Group was set up as the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate in 1858 and celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2008.

The Group is a department of the University of Cambridge and a not-for-profit organisation. Its three exam boards offer qualifications that are valued and recognised by universities, employers, governments, immigration authorities, professional bodies and education providers around the world:

• OCR is one of the UK’s leading providers of qualifications. It designs, produces and assesses qualifications including GCSEs, A Levels and a wide range of vocational qualifications, to learners of all ages through 13,000 schools, colleges and other institutions.
• University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) is the world's largest provider of international 14-19 qualifications. They include the International GCSE, International A and AS Level and Cambridge Pre-U, a new alternative to A Level and IB that prepares students for success at university and offers a free choice of subjects. CIE advises and works with a number of governments on education issues.
• University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (English for Speakers of Other Languages) offers the world's leading range of exams for learners of English. Its exams are the world’s leading certificates for English language learners.

The Group has the largest research capability of its kind in Europe, with more than 50 researchers who pioneer the latest techniques and evaluate current assessments. It explores new developments in assessment solutions such as in Higher Education admissions – through the development and running of university entrance tests. For further information, please visit www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk