The winners of the 2011 Good Communication Awards, which took place on 14th July at the Emirates Stadium, have been announced.
The event, presented by former newspaper editor and TV presenter Eve Pollard, recognised the good work of communications departments across local and central government.
Derbyshire County Council won Local Authority of the Year. Shortlisted in four categories, the council strives to provide residents with high quality contact points and accurate timely information on its services, and it's PR campaigns have been used as best practice examples in the wider public sector. Derbyshire also won the Contact Centre of the YearAward, and the Council Publication of the Yearaward for its b_line youth magazine.
The Department for Work and Pensions won both the Internal Communications Campaign and the Strategic Communications award for its campaign to raise awareness about personal data security among its workforce. This featured a series of 90-second films which played out real-life scenarios. Volunteers were selected through an x-factor style competition. Staff inclusion ensured the films remained credible, and significantly reduced costs.
In the IT category, Government Website of the Year was awarded to Lincolnshire County Council, which has cost effectively refreshed the look and design its site and included map based tools to make finding local services easier. Website Accessibility went to Wycombe District Council. Its site was designed to maximise the opportunity for members of the public to 'self-serve' their differing needs through an accessible channel. Along with its site developers, the Council has ensured the website has been tested by people with a wide range of disabilities.
Government Communicator of the Year, which recognises an individual who has demonstrated outstanding communications skills. went to Tina Chawner, Head of Change and IT Communications at HM Revenue and Customs. Having been thrown in at the deep to deal with a controversial and sensitive campaigns, Chawmer has encouraged senior leaders to accept their responsibilities as communicators and move to a more open culture. According to Phil Pavitt, HMRC Chief Information Officer: "Tina exemplifies the qualities that any organisation would look for in delivering communications that have demonstrably changed the prevailing culture."
2011 - Winners
GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR sponsored by Best Companies Winner: Tina Chawner - HMRC Commended:Helena Bryan - Aylesbury Vale District Council Ian Ratcliffe - Stockport Council Rod Cook - Derbyshire County Council
LOCAL AUTHORITY OF THE YEAR sponsored by 2e2 Winner: Derbyshire County Council Commended: Essex County Council Stockport Council Wokingham Borough Council Stoke-on-Trent City Council
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN sponsored by Callcredit Information Group Winner: Department for Work and Pensions - Personal Data Campaign Commended: Lambeth Council - Know the Difference Essex County Council - Website Access project Lincolnshire County Council - Flood Awareness East Renfrewshire Council - Kerbside Recycling
COUNCIL PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR sponsored by Big Green Book Winner: Derbyshire County Council - b-line Youth Magazine Commended: Stoke-on-Trent Council - Our City Ealing Council - Around Ealing St. Helens Council - First Westminster City Council - Westminster Plus
COUNCIL PUBLICATION JOURNALISM sponsored by Argent Media Winner: East Riding of Yorkshire Council - Your East Riding Commended: Southend-on-Sea Borough Council - Outlook Stoke-on-Trent Council - Our City Ealing Council - Around Ealing St. Helens Council - First
COUNCIL PUBLICATION DESIGN sponsored by Argent Media Winner: Ealing Council - Around Ealing Commended: Lambeth Council - A-Z of Services Westminster City Council - Children First Wokingham Borough Council - Wokingham Borough News East Riding of Yorkshire Council - Your East Riding
PRINT INNOVATION AWARD sponsored by Argent Media Winner: Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) - staying legal materials Commended: Lambeth Council - online print system South Ayrshire Council - Cycle Map Derbyshire County Council - sexual health z card
LOCAL AUTHORITY PR TEAM OF THE YEAR sponsored by Amaryllis Winner: Stockport Council Commended: Stoke on Trent City Council London Borough of Hillingdon Norfolk County Council Warrington Borough Council
MIXED MEDIA CAMPAIGN AWARD sponsored by Daryl Willcox Publishing Winner: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust - Treatment Centre Campaign Commended: NHS Bury - Care About the Cost Campaign Essex County Council - Drive Essex Stoke-on-Trent City Council - Let's Talk Doncaster Council - St. Ledger Festival Campaign
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AWARD Winner: Department for Work and Pensions - Personal data campaign Commended: Hertsmere Borough Council - Hertshere magazine Ministry of Defence - Soldier Magazine Portsmouth City Council - - Marketplace National Offender Management Service - Changing Lives Brand
GOVERNMENT TO CITIZEN COMMUNICATION AWARD sponsored by ProtoCall One Winner: Durham County Council - Safeguarding Adults Campaign Commended: Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority - Love Food Hate Waste London Borough of Hillingdon - Anti Social Behaviour Awareness Campaign Westminster City Council - Housing Renewal Campaign Avon and Somerset Police - Senior Citizen Liaison Team
MOBILE TECHNOLOGY AWARD sponsored by Box Technologies Winner: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council - SARAH Mobile working initiative Commended: Kent County Council - explore Kent app DirectGov - Travel News app Aylesbury Vale District Council - information by sms North Yorkshire Police - NYP Mobile app
CONTACT CENTRE TRAINING AWARD Winner: Surrey County Council Commended: Wokingham Borough Council Derbyshire County Council
CONTACT CENTRE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Genesys Winner: Derbyshire County Council Commended: Surrey County Council Norfolk County Council Wokingham Borough Council Hull City Council
TELECOMS INNOVATION AWARD sponsored by MLL Telecom Winner: Kent County Council - Audio Conferencing Commened: City of Edinburgh Council - Building Services Mobile working DirectGov - Travel News mobile app
IT PARTNERSHIP AWARD sponsored by EfficientIP Winner: Department for Education - Employee Authentication Service Commended: e@SY Connects Partnership PSBA Network - Public Sector Broadband project
WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY AWARD sponsored by DSPG Winner: Wycombe District Council Commended: London Borough of Hillingdon London Borough of Hounslow North Devon Council Northampton Borough Council
GOVERNMENT WEBSITE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Eduserv Winner: Lincolnshire County Council Commended: Stockport Council Tandridge District Council Wokingham Borough Council Brighton & Hove City Council
IT PROJECT INNOVATION AWARD sponsored by Info Exchange Winner: London Borough of Redbridge - You Choose Commended: Department for Education - IWP Platform HM Revenue & Customs - Get IT Help Lincolnshire County Council - Lincs to the past Nottingham City Council - Portfolio ad copy sharing system National Police Improvement Agency - Police National Database
