WIREDGOV

Ordnance Survey, Britain’s national mapping agency, has launched its own blog to provide a new way to communicate with customers, stakeholders and the public.

The site, blog.ordnancesurvey.co.uk, includes posts on a range of topics, from walking guides and product news to how geographic information (GI) plays a role in people’s lives. Rob Andrews, Ordnance Survey’s Head of Corporate Communications, comments: “We have launched the blog because we want to engage with people in a much more personal and responsive way.”

Ordnance Survey also sees the blog as a chance to help raise awareness of its role in the digital economy and the value of GI. An independent assessment has valued its contribution to the UK economy at around £100 billion, but many people still see the organisation as solely the maker of leisure maps.  Mr Andrews continues: “Our paper maps are a precious and much loved part of our brand, but few people realise that over 90% of our work centres on creating and maintaining the geographic framework that underpins our daily lives. The blog will be a way for us to communicate that relationship more clearly.”

The blog has been created with the help of FreshNetworks, the social media agency also responsible for developing strategies for Virgin Media and Jimmy Choo. Matt Rhodes, Client Services Director, comments: “Since we started working with Ordnance Survey it has become clear that there is a rich seam of expertise, experiences and stories across the organisation that others could benefit from.

“Social media is a great way to get this expertise and these stories out to the people Ordnance Survey wants to engage. A great first step here is blogging. It allows them to begin to engage new and existing audiences online, using social media to help to meet their aim of showing the role GI plays in people’s lives.”

Among the posts already on the site is a story around the launch of Ordnance Survey’s free mapping portal, OS OpenData; a sneak peek at the organisations new head office building; how the Environment Agency is using mapping to raise awareness of flooding; and why Bath makes a great place for a stroll.  

You can also keep up-to-date with the latest news from Ordnance Survey on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ordnancesurvey and www.twitter.com/osleisure.

Note to editors:

1. To view the OXERA (Oxford Ecomomic Research Associates Ltd) Final Report” visit: http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/aboutus/reports/oxera/index.html

2.  Ordnance Survey and the OS Symbol are registered trademarks of Ordnance Survey. Environment Agency is a registered trademark of The Environment Agency. Jimmy Choo is a registered trademark of J.Choo Ltd. Twitter is a registered trademark of Twitter, Inc. Virgin Media is a registered trademark of Virgin Enterprises Ltd.

Head of Corporate Communications - Rob Andrews

Email: rob.andrews@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2265

Senior Communications & PR Officer - Paul Beauchamp

Email: paul.beauchamp@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2568

Press Office fax: (+44) 023 8030 5295