Talking 5 with Local Public Services Member Ayup Digital

Each month, techUK's Associate Director for Local Public Services, Georgina Maratheftis, interviews a member active in the local government space about their vision for the future of local public services and where digital can make a real difference to people and society. This month we talk with Steven Taylor, Managing Director at Ayup Digital.

Welcome, Steven! First up, tell us a bit about yourself—your career journey and how you got here.

I’m one of the co-founders of Ayup Digital, a Leeds-based digital consultancy focused on tech for good. My background spans creative digital, user-centred design, and public sector transformation. Before launching Ayup, I co-founded Raw Design Studio in 2007, where I worked on projects for big names like the Premier League, England & Wales Cricket Board, Wolves FC, Liverpool FC, and BBC Philharmonic.

My business partner, Mike Stephens, and I launched Ayup in 2015 where we wanted to focus on something more meaningful - helping organisations use digital to make a real impact. Over the years, we’ve worked with NHS teams, academic institutions, local authorities, and VCSEs of all sizes. We’re particularly experienced in digital signposting and making community service data work better for local government and health systems.

Lately, we’ve been focused on growing Ayup Connect, our platform designed to help councils and health services build interoperable, community-driven directories. It’s already live across multiple local authorities, and with new interactive digital screens for community spaces on the way, we’re scaling things up even further.

I’m passionate about open, collaborative approaches to digital transformation -using tech in a way that genuinely improves lives, strengthens communities, and makes services easier to access.

What’s the biggest opportunity for local government when it comes to digital?

One of the biggest opportunities is creating properly joined-up, user-centred services that make life easier for residents, communities, and frontline professionals. Too often, digital transformation can focus on fixing individual departments and systems rather than looking at the bigger picture - how people actually find and discover services and support.

If councils prioritise interoperability, structured data, and open standards like Open Referral UK, they can unlock the full potential of their local community ecosystems. That means services can work seamlessly together across health, social care, and community support.

Platforms like Ayup Connect show how digital can help bridge the gaps, making it easier for people to find the right support at the right time while reducing pressure on overstretched frontline teams. Investing in inclusive digital solutions, like community-driven directories, self-service tools, and public access points, means councils can drive efficiency, promote early intervention, and support those who struggle with digital access.

But it’s not just about the tech - it’s also about changing culture and ways of working. Open, collaborative digital approaches can break down silos and make services more responsive, cost-effective, and impactful. When local government truly embraces digital with a user-first mindset, it has the power to build stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities.

What’s your vision for the future of local public services and places?

The future of local public services should be connected, personalised, and community-driven. People shouldn’t have to jump through bureaucratic hoops to find support. Services should be designed around their real-world experiences. I see a future where digital and physical spaces work together, ensuring everyone, especially those who are digitally excluded, can access the help they need.

Technology should enhance, not replace, human connections. Ayup Connect already shows how structured, open data can improve service discovery and referrals. Taking this further, through interactive digital screens in public spaces, better integration with health and care systems, and AI-powered personalisation, would make accessing support even easier.

Local government also has the opportunity to move beyond traditional service delivery models and focus on co-designing solutions with communities. By investing in digital inclusion, interoperable systems, and participatory approaches, councils can help create places where people have more control and ownership over their own wellbeing.

Ultimately, the future is about shifting from siloed institutions to truly connected, resilient, and empowered communities. Digital is the enabler, but people and place must always come first.

Local Public Services Programme activities

Our Local Public Services Programme helps techUK members to navigate local government. We champion innovation that can create truly digital local public services helping to create thriving, productive and safer places for all. Visit the programme page here