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GeoPlace is delighted to announce that the GeoPlace Authority Contacts Group has won the award for ‘Engagement Excellence: Most Engaged Group’ on the Knowledge Hub platform. This recognition celebrates the group's outstanding community engagement, collaborative spirit, and real-world impact in supporting professionals responsible for local authority address and street data across England and Wales.
The Knowledge Hub, the UK's largest platform for public service collaboration, presents these awards to honour groups that go beyond simple online interaction to create thriving ecosystems. As the citation states: "Engagement isn’t just about likes, it’s about impact. When a major industry process change threatened to create a backlog for officers, the community stepped up. One single discussion thread generated over 12,500 views and 500 comments as members supported each other through the transition. They proved that a community is at its strongest when it helps members overcome shared obstacles."
The awards further highlight that category winners "haven't just built online spaces, they have built thriving ecosystems that solve real-world problems, save resources and empower thousands of professionals."
Facilitated by GeoPlace, the Authority Contacts Group serves as a vital forum for mutual support, sharing information, and disseminating best practice on the creation and maintenance of local authority address and street data. Group members—including address custodians, street naming and numbering officers, and other geospatial professionals—regularly exchange expertise, guidance, and solutions to improve data quality, efficiency, and public service delivery.
Matthew Van Schaick the Engagement Coordinator, principal facilitator of the group at GeoPlace, commented: "This award is a tremendous testament to the dedication and professionalism of our community members. In a time of significant change within the sector, the willingness of officers to share knowledge, offer advice, and support one another has made a genuine difference. We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved together and grateful to the Knowledge Hub for this recognition."
GeoPlace, a partnership between the Local Government Association (LGA) and Ordnance Survey, champions authoritative location data in Great Britain through management of the National Address Gazetteer and National Street Gazetteer. The GeoPlace Authority Contacts Group exemplifies how collaborative online spaces can drive tangible benefits for local authorities and the wider public sector.
For more information about the Knowledge Hub, visit khub.net.
