Unlocking the potential of UK government services: Building connected, trusted data infrastructure

Richard Davies

Country Managing Partner, Netcompany

This week, there will inevitably be much discussion about how to build a smarter state. But first we need to define what that phrase actually means. Surely it refers to a state that delivers public services efficiently, while empowering citizens through better use of data. To achieve this, however, the state must be underpinned by robust, cross-government infrastructure.

When GOV.UK first launched, it went some way to fulfilling this remit – a single, central platform that transformed how people accessed government information and services. It brought together disparate departmental websites into one, consistent user experience. Over time, however, delivery has become more decentralised, with individual departments developing systems within broad central guidance. While this has encouraged some innovation, it has also led to fragmentation, duplication, and inconsistency.

UK citizens frequently face the burden of repeating the same updates across multiple agencies – notifying DVLA, HMRC, and local councils separately about a house move, for example – or managing numerous logins and passwords for different departmental portals. In many areas, high‑volume letter mailings still dominate, costing millions and risking delays or lost information. In 2025, this siloed, paper‑heavy approach no longer meets the needs of a society that expects frictionless, secure and responsive digital services.

The opportunity

Too often, departments procure similar solutions in isolation, without the benefits of shared infrastructure, common standards, or coordinated governance.

There’s a clear opportunity in returning to strong, centrally led platforms, standards and governance that ensure consistency and interoperability across government. Not only could such a system make people’s lives easier, but with the right cross‑government digital infrastructure, we can reduce duplication, cut costs, and unlock the true potential of public sector data for the benefit of citizens and the economy.

Making connections

The goal then is to build coordinated infrastructure that results in joined-up services – at speed and scale. Across Europe, there are plenty of examples that prove this approach works. Denmark’s Mit.dk is a single secure, citizen-centric platform that replaces costly letter mailings with digital communications across public and private sectors. The secure EU digital wallet gives users control of their identity and credentials nationally and across state borders. The national child welfare system in Norway breaks down silos between agencies, directly improving safeguarding outcomes. Netcompany has been involved in the delivery of each of these platforms. 

Delivering Value: The Business and Societal Impacts

So, what might a connected, smarter state really look like? Consider the following:

• Faster, more reliable services, removing the need for repetitive data entry

  
  By connecting systems across government and re‑using verified data, citizens only need to provide information once. This reduces delays, could eliminate errors, and helps services run more smoothly.

• Efficiency and consistency through reusable technologies

  
  Using modular, interoperable digital components and central standards across departments minimises duplication, enables faster deployment and ensures that citizens encounter familiar, intuitive services. This makes transformation more cost-effective, while improving user satisfaction.

• Control and resilience via digital sovereignty

  
  Building large-scale IT systems with sovereignty in mind ensures the UK sets its own standards for data management, mitigating risks from dependence on external providers and keeping governance accountable to UK values and regulations.

• Cost savings by reducing duplication and paper-based communications

  
  Shared infrastructure and digital platforms prevent departments from building similar systems in isolation. While enabling the phase-out of expensive letter mailings and switching to digital communication would save millions annually and reduce the impact on the environmental.

• Better service of vulnerable groups through accessible, familiar design

  
  Designing digital services around accessibility principles – including usability for people with disabilities, low digital literacy, or limited connectivity – ensures no one is left behind and vulnerable groups can access support through familiar interfaces.

• Seamless information flow with data orchestration platforms

  
  Centralised data orchestration platforms break down silos and enable secure, real-time information exchange across services, supporting joined-up decision-making and delivering a single source of truth for citizens and practitioners.

The case for strong, cross-departmental infrastructure in the UK public sector has never been more urgent. And there’s no reason that this vision of the smarter state can’t be achieved. As we look to the next wave of government digital procurement, the public and private sector must collaborate to seize this opportunity and replace fragmentation with a platform‑based, standardised and secure model for service delivery.