And the Winners are . . .
[Westminster, 23rd October 2017]
Announcing the results of the UK’s 7th annual NextGen Digital Challenge Awards, Iain Stewart MP (Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smart Cities) congratulated the finalists for this 7th year of the NextGen Digital Challenge. In his address at the Awards dinner in Westminster, Ian Stewart summarised the progress being made in Parliament on the policy framework for a range of ‘smart’ initiatives including the advent of driverless vehicles.
Following Iain Stewart’s address, Richard Hooper (Chair, Broadband Stakeholders Group) and Derek Wyatt (Chair, Foundation for Information Society Policy) presented trophies to the winners across seven categories of digital endeavour.
The NextGen Digital Challenge Awards programme celebrates great projects. Every year the awards are adapted to reflect current trends and priorities in digital application.
Whether in Public Service Transformation, development of Digital Skills or new initiatives in Place-Making, these projects illustrate the wealth of creativity and innovation evident throughout the UK economy.
More than a focus on individual leaders, most inspiring developments are the work of collaborative teams who strive to ‘do things differently and do different things’ — innovating to overcome the inertia of established custom and practice.
The Awards Dinner in Westminster also heard former MP Derek Wyatt describe the plans for the 2018 ICF Global Summit in London next June. This 3-day event will bring civic and industry leaders from around the world to celebrate the development of Intelligent Communities.
Digital Challenge Awards Co-Founder, David Brunnen, also thanked the 2017 Judging Panel for their great work in assessing more than 30 shortlisted finalists each with their diverse Challenges, Solutions and Achievements.
2017 WINNERS
Public Service Transformation Award
Winner: NHS Education for Scotland @NHS_Education
2nd Place: Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment @CCEA_info
Digital Skills Award
Winner: Armagh Banbridge Craigavon Borough Council @abcb_council
Joint 2nd Place: Arch Commercial Enterprises Ltd and Young Enterprise East Belfast @YE_NI
Innovative Projects Award
Winner: People Plus with Mendix @peopleplusuk @Mendix
2nd Place: CAST Fuse Digital Accelerator @TechforgoodCAST
Place-Making Award
Winner: Broadband for the Rural North (B4RN) @dig2agig #yorkshiredales
2nd Place: Good Things Foundation @goodthingsfdn
Digital Health Award
Winner: Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) @DVLAgovuk
Joint 2nd Place: AHP Suffolk @AHPSuffolk and NHS Education for Scotland @NHS_Education
Networking Innovations Award
Winner: HATDeX — The Hub of all Things @TheHATDex
2nd Place: JT (Jersey Telecom) @JTsocial
Connected Britain Award
Winner: Diva Telecom @DivaTelecom
2nd Place: Tiree Community Development Trust @HIEScotland
[THIS RELEASE WAS UPDATED 25/10/2017]
___________
Notes for editors:
Further information and photographs available via davidb@nextgenevents.co.uk — +44 (0)7714 325 657
About NextGen
NextGen (NG Events Ltd) has supported digital innovation and sustainability projects for over a decade with a series of conferences, workshops and exhibitions to give voice to innovators, new network designers, applications developers and community builders. http://www.nextgenevents.co.uk/awards
About ICF
The Intelligent Community Forum is a US-based Research Think Tank with an international network of 159 cities and communities. Their research has tracked the evolution of inspired local leadership and the economic and societal impacts that flow from investments in digital infrastructures and their application to community needs. http://www.intelligentcommunity.org
Groupe Intellex 
Well done B4RN and the Yorkshire Dales. Real chuffed to win such a great award here in the North.
Congratulations to all people involved in B4RN rural broadband community projects – “By the community – For the community”.
I was very pleased to attend upon B4RN’s and YDNPA’s behalf to collect the beautiful hand-crafted ornamented glass plaque award. Perhaps I broke with protocol as I was the only one who pretended to be Barry Forde. I brandished a short length of 7 mm orange duct and fibre which I had concealed in my trousers ! I mentioned the parishes in an area similar to that of the inner M25 and pointed out that B4RNland is already a “super-connected rural city” albeit it with a much smaller population which tied in nicely with the speech by Iain Stewart MP (Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smart Cities)
VERY WELL DIONE all the B4RNstormers and the supportive Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. You all deserve as many accolades as can be found !