January 2011 - The winners have been announced in the e-Government National Awards 2010, the UK’s most closely watched public sector technology awards event.

Congratulated via video link by the Prime Minister David Cameron, the country’s top public sector technology experts, leading civil servants and government ministers gathered in the London Guildhall on the evening of Wednesday 26 January as the winners in eleven Awards categories were announced.

These awards are totally independent, and recognise innovation and excellence among the UK’s most effective services to improve citizen and business transaction with councils, central government departments and other public sector organisations.

Addressing the guests, Prime Minister David Cameron said: “We want government to be more agile, more transparent, more open and accountable. That's the kind of transformation this government is about. And we're looking to you to help us achieve it.

“Tonight’s awards show clearly why you have put Britain at the forefront of e-government delivery in the world. We have the technology and skills, we have the innovation and crucially we have the people.”

Presenting the Awards personally on the night, Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude said:

“Tonight’s winners show why this country is at the very forefront of e-government delivery and as we push forward with our important modernising public services programme, digital technology will continue to play a crucial role in driving better services, while lowering costs.

“The work we have already started with our Digital Champion, Martha Lane-Fox, has shown, for instance, that shifting services to digital channels can transform the relationship between Government and individuals – improving service delivery and making them more convenient to use. It is that rare example of a win-win situation.

“I would like to congratulate everyone who has taken part for their hard work, skill and imagination. Tonight clearly demonstrates enormous progress and it’s this kind of progress we are committed to maintaining so we can continue to develop the services that this country needs and deserves.”

Awards judge and head of Government IT Advisory at KPMG Keith Bannister said:

“We are delighted to offer our continuing support to these Awards which have an important role to play in highlighting the innovative use of technology within the public sector, particularly at a time when it is under increased pressure to perform. From the development of a sustainable green IT project, as demonstrated by Queen Margaret University to the building of a fairer society at Ealing Mencap, there are many examples of how technology can support the UK’s progress in these important areas.”

e-Government National Awards 2010 results: Winners and Highly Commended
1. Building a fairer society with e-Government services
(Using ICT & e-government services to improve social inclusion or improve lives and communities)
• Winner: Ealing Help - Ealing Mencap& ESCAN

2. Central e-Government excellence: Take-up & usage growth
(Delivering high & growing take-up of an e-enabled service through effective service delivery & marketing)
• Winner: Response to Economic Downturn - Department for Work and Pensions

3. Central e-Government excellence: Team
(Proven team-working or partnership activity which has delivered more than the sum of the parts)
• Winner: N3 technology team - collaborative working, connecting healthcare - NHS Connecting for Health
• Highly Commended: Prison Health IT programme - Department of Health

4. e-Government excellence: Learning & Skills
(Public sector online or electronic services which transform education and/or learning & skills outcomes)
• Winner: e-Learning for Healthcare: e-SRH (Sexual and Reproductive Health) - Department of Health

5. e-Government excellence: Sustainable, ‘green IT’ or ‘carbon-efficient’ services
(ICT & e-government services which are helping the environment)
• Winner: Beyond thin-client: green IT at QMU - Queen Margaret University
• Highly Commended: Southend Borough Council’s ICT Strategy 2010-13 - Southend Borough Council

6. e-Government excellence: Innovation in strategy at a local level
(Delivering innovative strategies which have delivered above-average results in improved services, transformed processes & results, and increased effectiveness)
• Winner: Customer First Transformation Programme - Birmingham City Council
• Highly Commended: West Yorkshire Police iPortal - West Yorkshire Police

7. e-Government excellence: Innovation in strategy on a national level
(Delivering innovative strategies which have demonstrated above-average results in improved services, processes and effectiveness within the transformational government agenda)
• Winner: Online Health and Symptom Checkers - NHS Direct

8. e-Government excellence: Leadership & Professionalism
(Leading e-Government strategies and professional development which contribute to achieving positive transformation)
• Winner: Information Workplace Platform - Department for Education

9. e-Government excellence: Shared Services
(Proven shared services which have delivered effective services and efficiency gains)
• Winner: The PSBA Network: The UK’s First Public Multi-Sector Network - Welsh Assembly Government

10. Local e-Government excellence: Take-up & usage growth
(Ensuring high & growing take-up of an e-enabled service through effective service delivery & marketing)
• Winner: Looking Local - Kirklees Council

11. Local e-Government excellence: Team
(Proven team-working or partnership activity which has delivered more than the sum of the parts)
• Winner: Connect Digitally - Department for Education

Notes to editors
The e-Government National Awards are run by Sift Media
Sift Media is a leading business-to-business publisher specialising in online professional communities and face-to-face business events.
With a range of services including websites, email publications, industry awards and exhibitions, Sift Media delivers original, branded content to over half a million professionals every month, across finance, accounting, HR and training, IT, marketing, customer management and knowledge management.

Related web links:
e-Government National Awards: www.e-governmentawards.org.uk
Cabinet Office: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
SOCITM: www.socitm.gov.uk
SOLACE: www.solace.org.uk
KPMG: www.kpmg.co.uk
Vodafone: www.vodafone.co.uk
Sift Media: www.siftmedia.co.uk
PublicTechnology.net: www.publictechnology.net

For press information:
Matt Henkes, commercial editor, Sift Media
0117 915 8654
mob 07967 396 858
Matt.Henkes[at]SiftMedia[dot]co.uk

For awards enquiries:
Rita Andrews, Head of Events, Sift Media
0117 915 8654
rita.andrews[at]siftmedia[dot]co.uk

Distributed on behalf of Sift Media by NeonDrum news distribution service (http://www.neondrum.com)