16 July 2000

PUTTING CUSTOMERS FIRST - FIRST CHARTER MARK WINNERS OF THE 21^ST CENTURY

Cabinet Office Minister Ian McCartney today welcomed the first Charter Mark winners of the Twenty First Century when he visited a school in Wiltshire, to congratulate them on improving public services and putting customers first.

The school, is one of 39 public sector organisations drawn from across the UK, and across different types of organisations who have been awarded the 2000 Charter Mark award for excellence in the first round of year 2000 applications.

Winners are from a broad range of public services including schools, a fire brigade, a prison, hospitals, regional employment services and several local authorities.

Congratulating all new winners at Minety pre-school Ian McCartney said;

"Charter Mark is about improving local and national services to the public. They are awards to organisations that demonstrate excellence in public services. It is a key tool in achieving our Modernising Government objectives of making public services higher quality and more responsive to users.

"What shines through in Charter Mark winners is the dedication and commitment of staff.

"Charter Mark is unique in that it focuses on the service delivery from the public’s perspective. And more often than not applications are led by front-line staff themselves. I believe it will continue to go from strength to strength."

"The winning organisations from the latest phase demonstrate in real and practical ways the true meaning of Modernising Government. Congratulations to you all."

Commenting on the particular achievements for Minety Pre-school Ian McCartney said

"As a school you demonstrate that it is possible to become a focal point for the community and adapt to the needs of your children and wishes of their parents. Well done"

All Charter Mark applicants, whether they succeed or not receive an expert feedback report and an opportunity to discuss the findings. Over 97% of winners and 4 out of 5 non-winners implement this feedback, building up a circle of improvement.

Barnsley College – (Yorkshire and Humberside)

Bedfordshire Magistrates Courts Committee – (Eastern)

Belfast City Hospital Trust, Outpatients Department – (Northern Ireland)

Birmingham City Council, Building Consultancy l– (West Midlands)

Boxford CEVC Primary School – (South East)

Caerphilly County Borough Council, Reception Services – (Wales)

Cambridgeshire County Council, Highways Division - (Eastern)

Conwy and Denbighshire NHS Trust – (Wales)

Court Service, West London County Court – (South East)

Coventry City Council, Environmental Services Pest Control – (West Midlands)

Coventry Healthcare NHS Trust, Information Centre – (West Midlands)

Derbyshire Constabulary – (East Midlands)

Employment Service, Exeter & East Devon District – (South West)

Employment Service, South Humber District – (Yorkshire and Humberside)

Employment Service, Torbay & South Devon District – (South West)

Employment Service, Wiltshire & Swindon District – (South West)

Employment Service, Head of the Valley/ Caerphilly District – (Wales)

Fermanagh District Council, Tourist Information Centre – (Northern Ireland)

Gleniffer High School (Scotland)

HM Prison, Wayland Physical Education Department – (Eastern)

Ian Ramsey Church of England School – (North East)

Jesphson Homes Housing Association Ltd – (West Midlands)

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Cash Office Service, Finance Department – (North West)

Lipson Community College – (South West)

London Borough of Camden, Housing Advice Service (South East)

Mid and West Wales Fire Brigade (Wales)

Minety Pre-school (South West)

Newark and Sherwood District Council, Housing Services (East Midlands)

North Eastern Education & Library Board, Curriculum Advisory and Support Service – (Northern Ireland)

Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Castlereagh District – (Northern Ireland)

Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic & District Hospital NHS Trust, Recovery Unit – (West Midlands)

Scarborough Borough Council, Refuse Collection and Recycling – (Yorkshire & Humberside)

South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust, National Spinal Injuries Unit – (Scotland)

South Ribble Borough Council, Refuse Collection Service – (North West)

St Benedict’s Primary School – (West Midlands)

St Ninians High School – (Scotland)

Staffordshire County Council, Great Wyrley Day Centre/ Community Support Unit – (West Midlands)

Stowmarket Middle School – (Eastern)

Warrington Hospital NHS Trust, Department for Ophthalmic Surgery (North West)

1. In the morning the Cabinet Office Minister visited The Hub in Bristol. They are a 1999 Charter Mark winner providing a multi-agency one-stop shop for single homeless people in Bristol. It is jointly funded by Employment Service, Bristol City Council, Avon Health Joint Finance, and other statutory bodies, and provides an excellent example of multi-agency working at its best.
   
2. Of the 46 applications received, 39 are winners. Over half of the winners are existing holders reapplying, 8 are 3^rd time winners and 19 are 2^nd time winners.
   
3. There are 1669 current holders of Charter Mark, of which 600 are from local authorities.