Planned Downtime
From: 6pm, Wednesday 24 September 2025
To: 8am, Thursday 2 October 2025
(Contingency until 8am, Monday 6 October if needed)
Services Affected
During this time, the following systems will be unavailable:
- Employee Self Service (ESS)
- IBC Portal
- Learning Zone
- Internal Job Opportunities (OCC, OCC Schools and HCC Schools will still be able to view through the OCC intranet or Education Jobs)
But don’t worry — You’ll be paid as normal.
What You Need to Do
Check Your Payslip Early
We know how important it is to be paid accurately and on time — and that won’t change.
Our high-performing payroll team delivers consistently every month, and the upcoming system downtime and move to S/4HANA will not affect your pay. You can rest assured: you will be paid as normal.
If you work for OCC, OFRS, OCC Schools, HCC, or HCC Schools:
- You’ll have a shorter window than usual to check your payslip for September.
- Payslips are expected to be available around 18 September — please check yours as soon as possible.
- If something doesn’t look right, speak to your manager and raise an enquiry straight away. Emergency payments won’t be possible during the downtime, so it’s important to act quickly if anything needs attention.
- If you’re on EHCC or Green Book terms and conditions, this year’s pay award is included in your September pay.
Managers and buyers: Clear Your IBC Inbox
If you use the IBC Portal, make sure to action everything in your ‘My Inbox’ before 24 September. This helps avoid delays in things like supplier payments.
Why This Is Happening
Our current system (SAP ECC) is reaching the end of its life, so we’re upgrading to a newer, more modern platform (SAP S/4HANA). This transition will be a significant step forwards in modernising our systems and enhancing capabilities. S/4HANA will provide future opportunities for us to develop faster, smarter insights, increase real-time data and analytics. As well as offer long term stability and support with a platform that is fit for the future.
What to Expect
You’ll still use the same tools — ESS Lite, the IBC Portal, and Learning Zone — and the way you use them won’t change much. But behind the scenes, we’re making big improvements to support you better and realise the potential of S/4HANA.
Once we begin the upgrade, we’ll publish communications to give you more detail on the small changes you can expect to see. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please get in touch with the nominated contact for your organisation in the first instance and they will be happy to help.
Hampshire County Council – Please contact your Directorate Transformation Lead (DTL)
Hampshire Schools – Please contact Dawn Cook
Hampshire and IOW Constabulary – Please contact your Internal Communications Business Partner Matt Deans - [email protected]
Hampshire and IOW Fire and Rescue - Contact the ICT Service Desk - [email protected]
Oxfordshire County Council – Please contact Shared Services Performance Manager Anne-Marie Taylor - [email protected]
Oxfordshire Schools – Please contact Shared Services Performance Manager Anne-Marie Taylor - [email protected]
Westminster County Council - Please contact a colleague in Westminster Finance or People and Culture
London Borough Hammersmith and Fulham – Please contact Karen Sharkey, Dave Rogers or Mary Lamont
Thanks for your support as we make this important upgrade!