​Data miners win national award for quality of information

Council staff whose backroom work has a huge effect on how services are planned and provided have won a number of national awards.

Bury triumphed at the GeoPlace Exemplar Awards for the quality of its data and information about the borough’s streets, property, land and addresses.

Bury won five awards in total, and was the nation’s best in the Data Quality and Improvement (Address) category, recognising the way it manages its address information database.

Social distancing rules meant that council employees Jon O’Connor and Michelle Halstead accepted the award by video link.

Kerry Pearce, National Address Data Manager, said: “Bury Council has set an example we want to recognise on a national stage. Managing address information data takes skill, and commitment. This award recognises excellence and is an appreciation of effort that’s delivering local and national benefits.”

Councillor Jane Black, Bury’s cabinet member for corporate affairs and HR, said: “It is vital that top quality data is provided by local authorities if services are to be properly planned and provided. The current coronavirus pandemic shows how important this is in order that the most vulnerable in society can be looked after. My congratulations go to our staff for the hard work they have been putting in which has led to these much deserved awards.”

ENDS

Issued: 11 May 2020.

Notes to editors:

About GeoPlace

GeoPlace LLP is a public sector limited liability partnership between the Local Government Association (LGA) and Ordnance Survey.

GeoPlace is a world class expert in address and street information management, working internationally as well as in the UK to help our partners and customers maximise the value of their spatial information for better decision making.

See https://www.geoplace.co.uk