Postcode validation
SDA/GIDE have program code which validates postcodes to rules defined in the UK Government Data Standards Catalogue (part of BS7666) as defined at http://www.govtalk.gov.uk/gdsc/html/frames/PostCode-2-1-Release.htm
A single postcode can be validated in real-time from a data entry form. If required, lists of postcodes could also be validated in real-time.
We can provide a real-time postcode to address lookup facility. This includes an interface to enable postcode checking for validity and also to display a list of applicable addresses for a postcode.
SDA/GIDE use the Royal Mail Postcode Address File (PAF) to create postcode databases for both DfES and DWP.
For the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) performance tables, we provide a web-based interface which lists schools within various distances of a particular postcode 
. This involved designing and creating a database to enable users to enter a postcode and a distance in miles and to receive a list of schools located within this area. The database contains 2,300,000 records and data on postcodes and grid reference coordinates.
We also provide a postcode distance facility for the In Your Area website with postcode data being held in a DBM database.
For the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) we provide a Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) system for the Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilot (JRRP). This includes an interface to enable postcode checking for validity and also to display a list of applicable addresses for a postcode,
Government Office Districts
The Postcode Address File (PAF) groups each postcode to a Government Office District code. We can match postcodes against PAF to merge government region codes into address data. Information would be matched for each PAF update to ensure that this information was up-to-date.
Mailsort codes
The Postcode Address File (PAF) groups each postcode sector by a mailsort code. We can match postcodes against PAF so that mailsort codes can be used to sort address data.
