News
London Borough of Newham launch Corporate Events and Information Directory from Business Web Software
The London Borough of Newham has adopted and pioneered the development of a new solution from Business Web Software to provide a central information directory for a joined-up approach to information services.
The London Borough of Newham is home to over 254,000 residents, has the youngest and most diverse population in the UK and is the host borough for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Each year, Newham advertises several thousand local events on their website with the summer months seeing in excess of 5000 different events. This service promotes a wide variety of events ranging from football tournaments to member meetings, which are advertised by different service areas across the Council.
To drive more joined-up working and deliver a better community service, the council has introduced an organisation-wide solution from Business Web Software that will bring together information from across the different departments and deliver a one-stop-shop information directory to the public.
The Corporate Events and Information Directory provides a single, central directory on Newham’s website that can be used by every service area in the council to maintain information and events details. It is intended that this will replace the use of multiple, disparate departmental calendars.
The solution will provide citizens and event organisers with a single information resource that is easier to update and presents information in more relevant ways for the citizen.
Event organisers, for the first time, have an online channel for submitting their events to the council to be reviewed and added to the directory. This system makes it easier for organisers and quicker for internal administrators to review submissions and update the directory. Regular event organisers have the opportunity to build up trust with the council to make this process even quicker.
For citizens using the directory, finding information is much easier and more engaging. Users can search for information based on date, keyword, category or event venues. Information is then generated from an SQL database in an extended RSS format, with results filtered by date range, category and audience. Event information is displayed in a variety of formats such as calendar views, as co-ordinates on a map, or through event listings that match certain dates or category search items. Users are able to subscribe to the directory for automatic updates on the latest events or information.
It is intended that the solution will reduce the management overhead and increase the efficiency of providing and maintaining this information as well as allow targeted improvement to services. The Council plan is using the solution internally to help them streamline the delivery of their services and avoid duplication of events by using the solution’s GIS integration to provide a visualisation of the spread of services across the area.
The directory should reduce the amount printed materials produced such as promotional flyers and will strengthen relations between the London Borough of Newham Council and the Third Sector.
If you are interested in learning more about this solution please contact your Account Manager.
“This solution is exciting for us because it provides a public-facing directory that is accessible 24 hours a day. Internally, we will have a single solution used and maintained by every department in the council, starting with Culture. The solution is initially being used just for events but we hope to extend it to other services over time.”
Jim Kenworth
Events Directory Officer, Adults, Community and Customer Services
London Borough of Newham