The Wigan Council team accept their award - Photo credit: Digital Leaders Twitter

The Digital Leaders awards recognise successes in digital transformation and the use of new technologies to improve services.

Digital Leaders said Wigan was awarded the prize for its ambitious plans and work to develop a true digital borough that ensures all its citizens can access digital tools.

Croydon, Leeds City, Birmingham City and Bristol were the next four shortlisted entrants to the category.  

The Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Agency was awarded the overall prize and the award for digital public service innovation of the year for its share driving licence service. This allows drivers to view their driving licence information online and share it easily with those who need it, while ensuring the driver retains control of who sees the data. 

Runners-up in the category for public service innovation included Surrey County Council's emergency response information sharing service for vulnerable residents, and a collaborative project that aims to tackle the stigma around mental health, involving Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust.

Meanwhile, Caron Alexander, director of both digital and technology shared services in the Northern Ireland civil service, won the digital leader of the year award and Kainos and the Drivers and Vehicles Standards Agency won the award for cross-sector digital collaboration for their modernisation of the MOT system.