Core Telecom Supporting UK Councils Through Free 03 Number Services

Helping local authorities reduce costs, improve accessibility and protect vital public funds.

At Core Telecom, we believe that local authorities should not have to pay unnecessary charges simply to make their services accessible to residents.

With councils across the UK facing increasing financial pressures and growing demand for essential public services, finding ways to reduce operating costs without compromising service delivery has never been more important.

That is why Core Telecom is working with local authorities across the country to remove the cost of operating 03 telephone numbers entirely.

Through our 03 Number Donation Initiative, we provide councils with 03 number hosting completely free of charge, removing all number rental fees and incoming call charges. This means councils can continue providing accessible telephone services to their residents without the ongoing costs traditionally associated with these numbers.

Supporting West Northamptonshire Council

One example of our commitment to the public sector is our partnership with West Northamptonshire Council.

The Council transferred its existing 03 telephone numbers to the Core Telecom network, allowing it to benefit from our free hosting initiative. By making this straightforward change, West Northamptonshire Council has been able to eliminate its 03 number hosting and incoming call charges, delivering substantial ongoing financial savings.

Importantly, the migration was designed to work alongside the Council’s existing telephony infrastructure, allowing it to retain its established contact numbers and customer service arrangements. This demonstrates how local authorities can achieve meaningful savings without needing to invest in replacement telephone systems or make disruptive changes to the way residents contact them.

Helping Dundee City Council Introduce a New 03 Service

Our work with Dundee City Council demonstrates another way Core Telecom can support local authorities.

Rather than simply transferring existing 03 numbers, we worked with Dundee City Council to help introduce a brand-new 03 telephone service. This gives the Council an additional way to make its services accessible to residents while benefiting from free 03 number hosting and no incoming call charges.

For residents, 03 numbers provide a familiar, nationally recognised contact number that costs no more to call than a standard 01 or 02 landline number. Crucially, calls to 03 numbers are included within the inclusive minutes offered by most UK mobile and landline providers, meaning the majority of residents can contact their council without incurring an additional call charge.

For councils considering modernising their contact arrangements, introducing 03 numbers can provide a practical and cost-effective way to improve accessibility while keeping expenditure under control.

Why Are More Councils Choosing 03 Numbers?

03 telephone numbers offer several important benefits for both local authorities and the communities they serve.

For councils:

• 100% free 03 number hosting through Core Telecom’s donation initiative.
• No number rental charges or incoming call charges.
• Potential savings of thousands, or even tens of thousands, of pounds annually, depending on existing call volumes and provider charges.
• The ability to retain existing telephone systems and contact centre infrastructure.
• Free provision of new 03 numbers for departments, services and public information campaigns.
• Flexible call routing, including welcome messages, departmental menus and out-of-hours arrangements.
• A straightforward migration process designed to avoid interruption to services.

For residents:

• Calls to 03 numbers are included within inclusive minutes on most mobile and landline packages.
• A consistent, nationally recognised telephone number for contacting council services.
• Improved accessibility to essential departments and public services.

No Changes to Existing Telephone Infrastructure

One of the biggest advantages of Core Telecom’s initiative is its simplicity. Councils do not need to replace their existing telephone systems, change their contact centre provider or invest in new infrastructure. We simply host their 03 numbers on our network and route incoming calls to their existing telephone arrangements.

For councils already operating 03 numbers, we can manage the transfer of those numbers to our network, with the migration carefully planned to minimise disruption.

For councils not currently using 03 numbers, we can provide brand-new numbers completely free of charge.

These numbers can be introduced alongside existing local telephone numbers, giving residents an additional way to contact council services.

A Genuine Donation With No Hidden Costs

Our 03 Number Donation Initiative is exactly that — a genuine donation.

There are no number rental charges, no incoming call charges and no requirement to purchase any other Core Telecom services.

We already support over 650 charities and not-for-profit organisations through our initiative, helping organisations redirect funds away from unnecessary telecommunications charges and towards the services that matter most.

We are now extending that same commitment to local authorities, helping councils make better use of their budgets while maintaining accessible, reliable communications with their communities.

Could Your Council Be Saving Thousands of Pounds Every Year?

Whether your council already uses 03 numbers or is considering introducing them for the first time, Core Telecom can help.

Our experience working with councils like West Northamptonshire Council and Dundee City Council demonstrates how both existing and new 03 services can be delivered without the ongoing cost of number hosting or incoming calls.

If your council is currently paying for its 03 numbers, you could be paying for something Core Telecom is willing to provide completely free of charge.

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss how our initiative could support your local authority.

Contact Core Telecom today to discover how we can remove your council’s 03 number costs and help make public services more accessible to residents.