Recognising its ambition as a forward-thinking and digitally-minded local authority, Sunderland City Council has been shortlisted for a Connected Britain Award in the ‘Digital Council of the Year’ category.
Continuously improving its digital eco-system to underpin operations across departments at Sunderland City Council, the organisation has empowered team members with smart, digitised departmental operations allowing them to create efficiencies in the workplace and importantly extend reach into communities for the benefit of the city’s residents.
Patrick Melia, Chief Executive at Sunderland City Council, said: “Our ability to embrace and leverage change, particularly when it comes to smart solutions and collaborations to digitally enhance our standing as a local authority and as a city, have played a major role in our smart city gaining attention on a national scale.
“Being shortlisted for Digital Council of the Year makes me extremely proud of the whole team here at the Council and our valued partners who collectively enable the fast-paced change we are implementing across our smart city.”
Sunderland has elevated its position as a digital leader over recent years, representing the region on an international platform with recognition as the UK’s Smartest City 2020 in the Digital Leaders 100 List and acknowledgement of innovative projects such as the SHEILA (Social Health Enabling Independent Living) app, winner of the 2020 Civic Innovation in Technology Award (Europe) from the Technology and Entrepreneurship Center at Harvard.
Patrick added: “Our vision for organisational transformation captures the tangible change across Sunderland City Council and across our city.”
From fully digitised departmental operations, digitally empowered team members and pioneering work in assistive technologies across communities to progress a UK first app transforming adult social care across the city; digital leadership and the ability to embrace and leverage change are underpinning operations at Sunderland City Council.
The winners of the Connected Britain Awards 2021 will be announced on the first day of the key industry event at the Business Design Centre, London, on 21st September.
You can see the full shortlist here for all categories in the Connected Britain Awards 2021.