Kent Connects is BCS IT Industry Awards Finalist Twice Over

Kent Connects has been shortlisted as a finalist in two categories of the British Computer Society IT Industry Awards.  The first award, Public Sector Organisation of the Year, celebrates excellent performance, partnership working and innovation.  The second award celebrates innovative and successful Business to Business projects. 

Kent Connects is the lead technology partnership in Kent and Medway.  With a membership of all the Kent and Medway authorities, Kent Police and Kent Fire & Rescue Service, the partnership is a powerful alliance of public service providers.  Our role is to tackle the barriers to the joining up and sharing of public services.  

Kent Connects’ shortlisting recognises the progress it has made in making Kent & Medway’s public service ICT infrastructure bigger, more secure, more joined up and cheaper to run.  It has made public services more accessible and efficient, and helped the workforce to become more flexible, collaborative and working to high standards of professionalism.  Many of its innovative projects offer blueprints for national roll-out, including the Kent Connects Portal, shortlisted here, which provides an on-line meeting place for colleagues from different organisations and offices to undertake joint working.

The BCS IT Industry Awards, supported by Intellect and NCC, are a leading hallmark of success amongst practitioners today.  The cross industry awards form a central element to the BCS’ professionalism in IT initiative and recognise, promote and acclaim excellence, professionalism, innovation and the outstanding achievements to which individuals and groups contribute. 

David Clarke, BCS Chief Executive says: “In the current economic situation it is rewarding to see that IT is continuing to lead through innovation and deliver real business benefits.  These projects reflect the fact that technology is an integral and expected part of everyday life and is at the heart of literally every business.”

John Higgins, director general at Intellect says: “Intellect is delighted to be involved with the BCS IT Industry awards again. Information communication technology improves organisations’ competitiveness and productivity, and helps them meet the needs of their customers more effectively. These awards recognise those technology suppliers, individuals and organisations which do this best. The quality of entries is once again very high and I do not envy the judges their task of identifying the winners – it’s going to be a difficult job.”

Debbie Wisdom, Kent Connects’ Strategic Director, is thrilled that the organisation has been recognised:  “Our Partners’ ICT Professionals work tremendously hard behind the scenes, transforming the ways in which the general public can access public services. I’m thrilled that these awards shine a spotlight on their dedication, collaborations and achievements.”

The winners will be announced in an Award Ceremony in London on 4 December.