Facebook is an online phenomenon. It is the site of choice for the UK's social networkers (whether adults or teens) and is easily the most popular website in terms of time spent and comes in the top five sites visited by all age groups. In April 2011 alone Facebook was visited by 24.8 million UK internet users, around 40% of the population.

Looking Local is pleased to announce that a wide range of public sector services can now be accessed by the millions of UK social networkers, via a new app designed and delivered in Facebook. Whether you want to find a job, make a GP appointment, report a pothole or housing repair, Looking Local allows people to access public sector services within the Facebook portal.

Working with over 130 local authorities, housing associations, PCTs as well as Jobcentre Plus, Transport Direct and NHS Choices, Britain's Facebook members no longer need to go to destination websites, as they can access and request services within Facebook with ease. The service can be seen here.

Guy Giles, Looking Local's Operations Manager said:

"Public sector cannot afford to ignore the popularity of social networks when trying to widen access to information and services. When considering how to make digital efficiencies and how best to deliver services to different customer groups, social networks play an important role."

Possibly more important than Facebook members being able to access services via Looking Local's page, is that this app allows our partners to embed services into their own Facebook presence. Whether that is the complete set services they make available or just a few key services e.g.: job searching or 'report it', it is easily achievable.

Bracknell Forest has worked with us to show how it is done. You can see the whole of their Looking Local service embedded in their existing Facebook page here.

This app is a great addition to our work on TV, mobile, smartphones and games consoles, and takes Looking Local into web and social media territories, adding a whole new dimension - one of real reach and significance - to our service. This is 'step one' of our development in terms of Facebook and was delivered as part of our ongoing product improvement

The recent OFCOM Communications Report confirms Facebook's popularity:

"Not only does Facebook have the greatest reach, but on average its users spend much longer on the site than users of other social networking sites. Over time, Facebook has evolved from being a social network to become a more general portal."