Innovation UK > News > Innovation News > e-Government National Award Finalists Announced

The finalists have been announced in this year?s e-Government National Awards. The highly sought-after awards recognise excellence across eleven categories, highlighting the UK?s top public sector innovators in the use of technology, enabling businesses and citizens to better communicate with councils, central government, NHS and other public sector organisations. UK Government CIO John Suffolk will reveal the winners on 20th January at a Ministerial dinner at the City of London?s Guildhall.

Key themes in this year?s finalists list are services which help build a fairer society, and are based on sustainable or carbon-neutral ?Green IT?. The 11 category winners will receive the UK?s highest level commendation for the best e-Government and technology-driven services, services which, through innovative online delivery or IT, have positively transformed the lives of citizens, local communities, business and stakeholders.

Now in their sixth year, the annual e-Government National Awards are supported by the Cabinet Office; the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) and the Society of IT Management (SOCITM). Platinum sponsor of the Awards is KPMG and also a sponsor is H20 Networks. John Suffolk, the Government?s Chief Information Officer, said: "Every year these Awards continue to get better and better and tougher to select the winners out of many hundreds of top quality entries. The sheer innovation, passion for citizen service and pride with which the teams have executed their projects makes me hugely proud, and humble, to be in IT within the Public Sector."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown joined last year?s Awards via video link and at the January 2009 dinner said: "When times are tough, as they are now, it is more important than ever for government to work as smoothly and efficiently as possible, so it?s good to see technology providing real efficiency gains at the same time as increasing the effectiveness of services. ".
Keith Bannister, UK Head of IT Advisory for Government, KPMG, said: ?KPMG is proud to be lead sponsor of the awards for the fifth year running, for us this is a way of recognising and celebrating all the good work that?s been done.?

?We believe that e-government has helped to transform public services in this country, it has made them more open, more accessible and more efficient. A key theme of this year?s Awards is Government services which help build a fairer, more inclusive society. E-Government gives all citizens and businesses the opportunity to interact directly with services and government which is why we think e-Government is helping to build a fairer society.?

Awards sponsor Graham Dupree, head of sales, Government, H2O Networks said: "The innovation and use of technology demonstrated in the entries this year has been outstanding. These awards acknowledge creative thinking in the public sector which has gone a long way to ensure that citizens and consumers are benefiting from much improved services making a real difference to their lives."

Christopher Histed, founder of the e-Government National Awards says: "In this tough economic climate, the Awards are a yardstick proving the UK?s excellence in innovative technology-driven services. Good public sector IT has a crucial role to play in delivering increasingly efficient & effective public sector services both at a Local and National level."