Programme actions for local government

Our work in Local Government is part of the wider public sector programme at techUK, with the aim to deliver better public services through tech. 

The Local Government programme is focused on delivering value to techUK members through helping them develop their networks, markets and reduce business cost and risk:

Develop Networks

• techUK is the platform that connects tech companies of all sizes with each other and with Local Government.

  Issue: The local Government market is increasingly complex and fragmented; and with no formalised interworking between the tech industry it is often a difficult market to enter and navigate. Effective engagement between industry and councils is critical in overcoming the barriers to access and collaboration; and techUK is well placed to connect our members of all sizes to collaborate and drive innovation in the local Government market.

  Required Outcome: We are committed to opening up the local Government market to a more diverse and vibrant supplier based and bringing innovation by delivering increased engagement with SMEs across the regions. To achieve this we will hold regional networking and briefing events, such as our Snacks & Sips speed networking event. We will also hold at least four Local Public Service Committee meetings regionally, where we will invite regional stakeholders to attend to brief industry, to be informed and inform as well as invite the wider membership to connect our members large and small with local Government, and each other.

  Timescales: Throughout 2017, with a regional event taking place each quarter.

Develop Markets 

• techUK will work with Councils across the UK to open up the Local Government tech market to a more diverse and vibrant supply base.

  Issue: Early and meaningful pre-procurement market engagement with industry is essential for councils in understanding the art of the possible and the enabling role tech can play in transforming services that are accessible to all citizens. There is huge opportunity for local Government to harness innovative technology that will disrupt services for the better. Tech is and will disrupt local public services and it is important no council is left behind.

  Required Outcomes: 

  techUK will be the platform for councils to test new ideas, experiment with innovation and connect with the wide breadth of industry to horizon scan what council and local services should look like in the future and also pro-actively undertake early and active pre-procurement market engagement.

  • techUK members have a new collaborative relationship with local Government based on new approached and capabilities to deliver transformation.
  • techUK will work with local Governments to help them horizon scan through our ‘art of the possible’ market engagement sessions whilst also enabling them to be market read for all the disruptive tech opportunities
  • Through opinion and thought leadership pieces techUK will showcase best practice and key recommendations on councils of the future and the steps they must take to achieve the end to end transformation that is needed
  • techUK will work with local Government and the relevant entities Socitm, Solace and Local Government Association to shape the debate and showcase positive transformative potential of tech
  • techUK’s industry briefings and networking events will be well attended by councils allowing them to connect and have insight into relevant procurement opportunities
  • Working alongside SmarterUK, techUK will deliver a series of ‘smarter devolution’ events and opinion pieces to showcase the opportunities devolution brings in powering public services reform and creating smarter places.

  Timescales: Throughout 2017 as key function of techUK as the platform connecting local Government and industry.

Reduce Business Cost and Risk

• techUK will campaign for smarter procurement from Local Government and champion the use of centralised procurement vehicles.

  Issue: The complicated local Government procurement landscape can often lead to unnecessary duplication and is not conducive to the strategic priority of value for money. Furthermore, where effective centralised procurement frameworks do exist such as G-Cloud the market is not making optimum use of them. Data from the Government Digital Service (GDS) shows that two-thirds (64%) of councils have still never used it and only 6% of sales ae from councils.

  Required Outcomes: 

  Local authorities are more aware of G-Cloud, understand what it is for and what they can purchase as a result of engagement with techUK market engagement sessions.

  • techUK to produce though leadership to demystify what the perceived and real challenges to using G-Cloud in local Government are
  • techUK to work with GDS and Crown Commercial Service on the next phase of G-Cloud
  • techUK to deliver a series of G-Cloud market engagement sessions with local Government and Government Digital Service
  • techUK to work with local Government to make them more informed and intelligent customers. Cyber security can often be an impediment to successful digital transformation and as such the Local Government programme will work closely with the Cyber Security programme to deliver a series of activities around building local cyber resilience.

  Timescales: Throughout 2017.

• techUK to work with local Government to unlock the benefits of data in service design and work with them to demystify the perceived challenges to data sharing.

  Issue: Effective data sharing enables smarter decision making; allows for resources to be better targeted and design of a predictive local public service. However, there is an aversion to data sharing at the local level. Absence of clear local data standards to drive adoption and compliance of secure data sharing internally and between public sector partners can also stifle innovation.

  Required Outcome: 

  • techUK will make the case for better data sharing and integration of services through roundtables with cross sector public sector partners and deliver a ‘demystifying data clinic’ regional road show bringing together councils and the tech industry to share best practice
  • techUK to work closely with the Big Data and Health Social Care programmes to develop a narrative
  • Actively promote the transformative role data can play in unlocking efficiencies and driving better local public services through opinion pieces and though leadership.

  Timescales: Throughout 2017.

For more information please contact

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  Georgina Maratheftis

  PROGRAMME MANAGER | LOCAL GOVERNMENT
  T 020 7331 2029
  E georgina.maratheftis@techuk.org