The Improvement Service is delighted to announce Ben Forrester of Highland Council as the recipient of this year’s national Gazetteer Innovation Award.
Ben’s efforts over the past year exemplify the innovation, enthusiasm, and dedication that the award was created to recognise.
Using the coding language, python, Ben created a script to update records in the Corporate Address Gazetteer. This critical information is supplied daily to the One Scotland Gazetteer from where it is used to underpin countless public sector systems – including those within Scottish Government, National Records of Scotland, NHS and the emergency services.
Ben was awarded the Gazetteer Innovation Award at the community’s end of year event, that comprised industry professionals from all over Scotland.
Ron Wilkinson, Spatial Information Services Programme Manager at the Improvement Service said, “This award recognises efforts of local government staff who have displayed excellence in data improvement, innovation and set an example that other local authorities can replicate. It is never easy selecting a winner; however, I believe that colleagues across the gazetteer community were united in the admiration for Ben’s innovation”.