Ref: PR1976
Date: 23/10/08

An innovative scheme to improve Council services has won a prestigious national award.

Wakefield Council has won the Local Government IT Excellence Award 2008 in the Mobile and Flexible Working category for its Worksmart project.

The Council's e-Services department was one of the first to implement Worksmart, which allows council workers to be more mobile and flexible, and helps deliver better services to citizens in the district. In turn it also improves productivity and provides modern, fit-for-purpose workspaces.

A flexible technology infrastructure enables staff to deliver high quality services to citizens in the most appropriate way from office, home or mobile.

The team implemented the scheme in their own area and is now supporting other services, such as Housing Benefits, to do the same.

Cabinet Member for Corporate Services Cllr Graham Stokes said: "These are the premier awards for public sector ICT and we're proud that our innovative Worksmart programme has been recognised nationally. We are already seeing district-wide benefits now we have worked with some of our services and employees to allow them to become more flexible. Congratulations to all the staff involved on this well-deserved award."

The awards are run by Socitm (the Society of IT Managers), SOLACE (Society of Local Authority Chief Executives) and Intellect (an organisation that represents the UK technology industry).