The Guardian Public Services Awards 2009
London, 27 May 2009
Eagle-eyed Guardian readers may have seen Matrix Knowledge Group’s name up in lights as a sponsor of the 2009 The Guardian Public Services Awards, focussing on innovation and service transformation. Now in their sixth year, the Awards, in partnership with Hays Specialist recruitment, have become established as the leading celebration of excellence among organisations commissioning or providing services.
David Brindle, the Guardian’s Public Services Editor, said: “These awards honour those working in the public services who have made a positive impact on their community in all kinds of ways. Last year’s winning projects included provision of help for people in financial difficulties, support for young people in care to stay in education or training and an innovative catering skills course for prisoners.”
The public can get involved with the awards by encouraging friends and family working in the public services to enter the team categories. They can also nominate and vote for a special award, the Public Servant of the Year on our website, http://www.guardian.co.uk/publicservicesawards”
The awards fall into three main categories. Service Delivery comprises: Children and young people, Complex needs, Carers, families and communities, Care of older people, Housing and regeneration, and Transport and mobility. Innovation and Progress includes: Sustainability, Transformation, Customer service, Partnership working, Diversity and equality, and Frontline engagement. The Special Awards are: the Citizenship and volunteering, award, the Guardian Public Servant of the Year award and the overall winner.
Last year’s overall winner was Glasgow City Council’s Development and Regeneration Services, who also won the Customer Service category for Scotcash, an independent social business which offers Glasgow citizens alternatives to high cost doorstep credit lenders.
Speaking about how the award has helped their enterprise to progress since last November, Sharon MacPherson, debt strategy officer from Glasgow City Council, said: “It was a great privilege to win the Guardian Public Services Awards for customer service and overall winner. This was recognition on a national scale of the work we are doing to promote financial inclusion and has allowed us to build on existing partnerships and develop a national profile.
“This accolade has added value to work that normally takes place outside of the public spotlight and has been a fantastic boost for the project team, who undertake very challenging work with enthusiasm and commitment. I would encourage all public services to nominate worthwhile projects in the future.”
Press Contacts:
Maxine Rossbotham
Matrix Knowledge Group
Epworth House
25 City Road
London EC1Y 1AA
United Kingdom
+44 (0)20 7684 5777
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