Innovators '08

Today saw the finals of the Microsoft/ LGC Innovate’08 Competition at Microsoft's offices in Victoria Street. I liked the format, with each team of finalists, having received some mentoring from Microsoft “buddies”, since making the short-list, presenting to the judges and their co-finalists.

The judges were Karen Day - Editor of Local Government Chronicle, John Hayes – Director of Services at the IDeA, Jerry Fishenden - Microsoft’s National Technology Officer for the UK, and me. The winner will be helped, by Microsoft, to develop its project to fruition.

Congratulations to Kent County Council who were winners with their “Pic ‘n’ Mix” project – using Web 2.0 technology, such as mash-ups and social networking, to empower communities through personalised solutions, expanding horizons and enabling better informed engagement and debate.

The runners-up were:

• South Tyneside Council – “Points mean Prizes” – incentivising unemployed people to take-up opportunities to help them into employment through winning “points” invested into local community projects.
• London Borough of Lewisham – Development of Wikis to support the borough’s Local Assemblies.
• Charnwood Borough Council – Using Microsoft Outlook to co-ordinate, not just meetings, but travel to meetings through car sharing, thereby reducing its carbon footprint.

My correspondence is getting out-of-control, again! I ended the day feeling a little stressed-out – which possibly has much to do with what the rest of the week has in-store for me!

PS “Twist & Shout Communications” were not the group who performed at Socitm ’07, as I erroneously reported on Friday, but, I’m told, just as entertaining!