Falkirk Council’s East Advice Hub has been shortlisted for a prestigious award at this year’s Scottish Public Sector Awards.

Established to make it easier for customers to access the support and advice they need from a number of key Council services under one roof, the Hub is one of three finalists in the Campbell Christie Public Sector Reform category.

Opened in December 2016, the Grangemouth-based Hub brings together teams including finance, housing, customer services, welfare benefits and debt advice as well as partner agencies in one building.

Customers are greeted on arrival to establish the purpose for their visit and where necessary are directed to a multi-skilled adviser trained to delivery a range of services. In the past, customers had to choose an individual service before queuing to speak to an adviser trained in that specific area.

Sally Buchanan, Fairer Falkirk Manager, and Project Manager for the Council of the Future Advice Hub project, said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted for this award, particularly because it is named in honour of Campbell Christie, who has such strong ties to the town, and because it highlights how good collaboration across services can bring tangible benefits to the communities we serve.

“The East Advice Hub has made it easier for customers to access the information they need quickly and efficiently, avoiding the need to queue multiple times when support is needed across a range of services. Its success is down to the hard work of Hub Manager Gail Risk and her team who go above and beyond to help customers.”

Organised by Holyrood magazine, the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament, The Scottish Public Service Awards is now in its fifth year and offers an annual opportunity to showcase the most innovative and thought-provoking work being undertaken across Scotland’s public sector.

The East Advice Hub faces competition in its award category from the Distress Brief Intervention Programme, hosted by Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire Health & Social Care Partnership, and Dundee and Angus College’s - From Good to Great project.

The winning entry will be announced at a ceremony held in the Scottish Parliament on December 5th.

For more information on the awards visit: https://scottishpublicserviceawards.holyrood.com.