Government and Public Sector
istop kiosks are a modern day solution to a pressing 21st century problem – the drive towards improving public service delivery through increased use of the internet.
This transition to online services risks excluding large numbers of UK citizens, leaving them without the same access to information and support enjoyed by people who have regular use of the internet or a PC. 40% of the population still does not have access to the Internet at home.
Such people are often already marginalised, coming from digitally or socially excluded groups or living in areas of urban or rural deprivation.
Most recently as a result, soon after the Government published its report on Digital Britain, Martha Lane Fox was appointed with the specific brief of helping and encouraging the digitally excluded to be included.
istop self-service information kiosks are an ideal way to reach them as each kiosk is sited in the heart of the community and is easy to use in the course of everyday life.
By working with Jobcentre Plus we also transform each local shop into a jobcentre.
The success of istop’s partnerships with Jobcentre Plus and several local authorities demonstrates how effective istop kiosk can be in communicating important information.
We believe that kiosk technology is necessary to provide fair and equal access to information from all levels of Government.
“Northumbria district encompasses city areas such as Newcastle and Gateshead, large towns such as Blyth and Ashington and outlying areas across the north and west of Northumberland. I believe these kiosks are a great way for those individuals who may live further from one of our offices, to find out about the jobs available for them.” Jackie Derrick, Operational manager for Jobcentre Plus, Northumberland
“In April 2009 the new Central Bedfordshire Council will begin providing public services as an all-purpose unitary authority. We will be delivering all the existing services of both Mid and South Bedfordshire District Councils as well as those currently run by Bedfordshire County Council in these areas. Central Bedfordshire will be one of the largest unitary councils in the country. It will have an estimated population of 257,400, with 105,819 properties and cover an area of 712 square kilometres.
As a new authority, Central Bedfordshire aspires to show how local government can be better, closer to the people it serves, and can deliver better local services. We are positive that istop kiosks have huge potential in reaching out to, informing and supporting citizens. They could be especially valuable for those people who are most vulnerable, who often do not have access to the internet. The double attraction is that, at the same time, we can support local retailers through the value that hosting kiosks can add to their business. We therefore have engaged in a program of installing istop kiosks in retail outlets and other community facilities throughout the district.” Hannah Richards — Head of Customer Services, Central Bedfordshire Council
