Footprint are happy to announce that Golden Gates Housing Trust (GGHT) and Footprint Solutions took the award for ‘Innovation of the year’ for its Housing Support Pro app at this year’s Warrington Business Awards 2015.

The glamorous ceremony took place at Lymm Rugby Club with over 500 people attending.

The award, which was presented to GGHT Chair, Roy Smith and Footprint Solutions Development Manager Simon Head, recognises organisations in the borough that over the last two years have produced and applied an innovative product, process, service or business method.

Since its launch last year, ‘Housing Support Pro’ has been enabling GGHT’s frontline Neighbourhood Housing staff to collect and act on real-time back-office data direct from an iPad. The app gives officers access to GGHT systems throughout Warrington, regardless of whether a network signal is available, meaning that they do not need to spend valuable time travelling back to the office.

GGHT Chair Roy Smith said: “We are delighted to have won the Warrington Innovation award. It is such a great recognition for all the effort that has gone into developing Housing Support Pro and its successful roll out to our Neighbourhood teams. The system has allowed us to increase the amount of time our staff are able to spend working with residents at a time when it is most needed in the wake of Welfare Reforms.”

Having invested a significant amount of time in going through an EU tender process to commission Footprint to carry out the development work, GGHT decided to tender for a Framework Agreement. The Framework allows all registered social housing providers and local authorities in the UK the opportunity to access the Housing Support System and associated software and services without having to go through a full tender process. More information regarding the framework agreement can be obtained by contacting Sam Saxon, GGHT Procurement Manager on 01925 452452, sam.saxon@gght.org.uk or www.gght.org.uk.