Dorset Council

This award is open to a single council or where appropriate a partnership of councils, or a council-owned company. Private sector partners can enter on a council’s behalf, with the permission of the council itself. This award will go to the council that can best show how its use of digital technology is significantly improving outcomes for its residents and/or place. It is not primarily for a council that can show it has systematically transformed its approach to technology or has devised as solution for a specific area of its work, but it is for a council that can demonstrate how its digital acumen is transforming its local area, for instance with regards to the effectiveness of key services and how they support residents. Among the attributes you may seek to showcase in your entry are the benefits of data sharing; how your organisation is ensuring it supports people before they fall into crisis; and how ground-breaking collaboration between local partners has had a significant impact on your local population. This award is designed to recognise vision and farsightedness but may also be suitable for councils which have used their existing digital technology approach in a new or innovative way in their pandemic response.

Dorset is becoming a leader in digital innovation, skills, leadership and the use of future emerging technology in a rural place. We have a clear digital vision to become a digital council in a digital place; we use our own, increasing, digital capability to deliver the council priority of economic prosperity. Digital innovation is one of 10 political commitments; promising to pioneer new technologies and work with the private sector to encourage job retention and growth. We use digital and data to support residents' prosperity by improving our services to them and we champion innovation through Digital Dorset events.