23 April 2009

New Business Strategy for Ordnance Survey announced

A series of reforms aimed at creating simpler and easier access to geographic data have been announced by Ordnance Survey Minister, Iain Wright.

The Government has published a new strategy for Ordnance Survey which will improve ease of access to geographic data and services for both commercial and non-commercial use. 

The strategy will balance the need to maintain the highest quality standards with the need to stimulate innovation in the geographic information market and make data more widely available.

Ordnance Survey will continue to be self-funded and earn revenue by licensing its data, but it will make sure it is easier for customers and other businesses to access its data and services.

Iain Wright said: "Good maps and location intelligence play an important role in all our lives from plotting pot holes in the road to how we act in a national emergency.

"We are committed to innovation in the geographic information market, increasing competition and to making geographic data and services more widely available.

"This new strategy will help Ordnance Survey thrive in the wider geographic information market that is being transformed by advances in technology and act as a catalyst for innovative business growth and prosperity in the 21^st century economy."

Sir Rob Margetts, Ordnance Survey Non-Executive Chair, commented: "I am delighted to be leading Ordnance Survey as we implement this new strategy which has as its core the aim of growing the scale and scope of use of geographic information for business, social and individual use."

Vanessa Lawrence CB, Ordnance Survey Director General and Chief Executive, added: "This new strategy represents the next exciting chapter in Ordnance Survey’s long history.  It will ensure that high-quality geographic information remains at the heart of public thinking and decision-making and increases opportunities for innovative new consumer and business ideas."

The strategy focuses on five key areas:

Promoting innovation –  with an enhanced free OS OpenSpace service to allow experimentation with digital information and a clear path from this service to greater commercialisation;

Reforming Ordnance Survey’s licensing framework – so that it is much simpler to use Ordnance Survey data and services in other applications;

Reducing costs over time – to ensure that Ordnance Survey continues to offer value-for-money;

Supporting the sharing of information across the public sector –  to enable better public policy and services;

Creating an innovative trading entity – to explore commercial opportunities around providing a better platform for consumers to access Ordnance Survey products.

The enhanced OS OpenSpace service, the digital mapping portal that enables innovators to experiment and develop their ideas for free, will be launched on the 12 May.

The Government has set key milestones for delivery over the next year and the Shareholder Executive and the Office of Public Sector Information, in consultation with the Office of Fair Trading, will be regularly reviewing progress. 

Full details of the strategy can be found at: http://strategy.ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Notes for editors

This announcement follows the Trading Funds Assessment, a review looking at how a number of Government businesses which charge for information could make information available at no or limited cost. 

It was announced in the budget that further work on the future business plans and models for specific trading funds, as well as consideration of the effectiveness of the Trading Fund model – will now be incorporated into the Operational Efficiency Programme.

The review concluded that the data produced by the Ordnance Survey was more likely to be maintained at high-quality levels under a commercial, revenue-funded model rather than through direct funding from taxation. Ordnance Survey customers told the review team that the quality of the data was important to them, but they wanted Ordnance Survey to provide easier access to it so they can use it more widely in their own business or in new products for consumers. 

Further details on the findings of the review are available from the Shareholder Executive Website www.shareholderexecutive.gov.uk

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Head of Corporate Communications - Rob Andrews

Email: rob.andrews@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8005 5563

Senior Communications & PR Officer - Paul Beauchamp

Email: paul.beauchamp@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8005 5564

Press Office fax: (+44) 023 8005 6156