16-05-06 Operator Self Service Scoops Latest Award
The winners of the Government Computing/BT Awards for Innovation were announced on 27th of April at a gala dinner at London’s Madame Tussauds. And for the second year running, VOSA had much to celebrate as the second phase of the much lauded Operator Self Service was announced as the runner-up in the Best Project: Government to Business category.
The system, which went live on time and under budget last October, now allows customers to access a whole range of services easily and efficiently online. These include updating and paying for Goods and Public Service Vehicle Operator licences, paying fees, amending licence details and accessing a secure mailbox for receipt of licence related correspondence and documents.
The system has enjoyed much previous success, notably at last year’s e-Government Awards where it scooped no less than three gongs: Greatest Contribution to the e-Government Agenda, Excellence in Usership/User Growth, and the project team took the e-Government Excellence Team Award.
VOSA’s Phil Jowitt, Senior Business Owner for the On Line Applications Project, said: “Thanks should go to the departments within VOSA who were involved in the project and also the VOSA Board for having the faith to give it the go ahead. Also, Computacenter and Logica/CMG teams put in a tremendous effort to deliver the project on time, even though both of these external contractors knew their contract was coming to an end less than six months after delivery.”
Phase 3, the final part of the project, which will allow new customers to apply for a Goods or a PSV licence online, is currently under consideration. Phase 2 has also been nominated in the Creative Solutions Awards for Better Regulation in Public Services Awards 2006, the results of which will be announced on 17th May 2006.
- ENDS -
NOTES TO EDITOR:
The online Operator Self-Service system provides vehicle operators direct access to their Operator licence data at any time of the day or night, without the need to complete an application form and without input by VOSA staff.
Joining this new service is simple - log on to www.transportoffice.gov.uk, click on the online services link at the right of the screen, then on the Operator Self Service link. If you are not already registered to use the service, have your licence number ready and click on the register button. Then all you have to do is fill in a few simple questions and wait for your passwords to be sent to you (one by e-mail and one by post - within a couple of working days - to your licence correspondence address). Once you have these two pieces of information you are ready to go.
Operators can check their own licence and bus registration details held on VOSA’s operator licence computer system; transfer vehicles between licences they hold in different areas; add or remove vehicles; track the progress of licence applications and set up access for other members of their staff, allowing greater access to records and transactions for larger companies.
VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) is responsible for:
• Processing applications for licences to operate lorries and buses and registering bus services
• Operating and administering testing schemes for all vehicles, including the supervision of the MOT testing scheme
• Enforcing the law on vehicles to ensure that they comply with legal standards and regulations
• Enforcing drivers' hours and licensing requirements
• Supporting Traffic Commissioners to help them make informed decisions on operator licensing, vocational drivers and bus registration requirements
• Providing training and advice for commercial operators
• Investigating vehicle accidents, defects and recalls
For media enquiries about VOSA, please contact: Zita Galambosi on 0117 954 2561/ zita.galambosi@vosa.gov.uk, or Henry Norman on 0117 954 3208/ henry.norman@vosa.gov.uk
Page last updated: 25/09/2006