This event was originally scheduled for 25 June, but do to the red heat warning has been postponed to 14 July, 9:30 - 13:00
Booking note
In-person places are limited and the room is curated to ensure a cross-section of the tech sector is represented. Those wishing to attend in person are asked to register interest. A livestream will also be available, including access to presentations, Q&A and online chat.
Overview
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and techUK are convening the third Supplier Summit, bringing together senior government leaders and UK tech suppliers for an afternoon of focused discussion on the digital challenges facing government.
This year's format follows the same approach as previous summits: real challenges presented directly by departments, alongside structured opportunities for industry to respond, probe, and propose. The session is designed to create genuine dialogue between commercial and technical perspectives, a collaborative forum where both sides can engage substantively.
Three departments will present live challenges this year — HMRC, Companies House, and DSIT — each reflecting a genuine operational problem where government is actively seeking ideas from industry. Sonia Patel will also provide an update from the Government Digital Service on progress across the digital government agenda.
Previous summits have tackled challenges including HM Land Registry's work on validating customer application data, the Department for Business and Trade's digital licensing challenge, and DSIT's approach to legacy remediation. This June builds on that foundation.
Key opportunities
- Hear real digital challenges presented by government departments
- Engage with commercial and technical ideas to address these challenges
- Contribute perspectives and responses in a collaborative setting
- Gain insight into current approaches to digital transformation across government
Agenda
| Time | Session | Lead |
| 9:30 - 10:00 | Arrival, teas/coffees, informal networking | — |
| 10:00 - 10:10 | Welcome and introductions | techUK |
| 10:10 - 10:30 | UK digital government update | Sonia Patel, GDS |
| 10:30 - 10:50 | Data update | Aimee Smith |
| 10:50 - 11:10 | GDS Local | Jenny McEneaney |
| 11:10 - 11:25 | Break | — |
| 11:25 - 11:30 | Challenges introduction | techUK |
| 11:30 - 12:45 | Challenges session (see below) | Multiple |
| 12:45 - 13:00 | Q&A, wrap-up and close | Sonia Patel / techUK |
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Post-event networking and light refreshments | — |
The 2026 challenges
Challenge 1: Assured guardrails for agentic AI in government
As government moves from conversational to agentic AI, a recurring risk is that agents misinterpret intent and act beyond authorisation. HMRC is seeking proposals that demonstrate meaningful human control, least-privilege action, tamper-evident audit trails, and evidenced compliance against recognised frameworks such as the AI Cyber Security Code of Practice.
Challenge 2: Forms simplification
Companies House holds over 700 paper forms. Could AI reduce this to fewer than 10 — making changes simpler, cheaper and quicker while improving accuracy for users? Suppliers are invited to propose innovative approaches to streamlining and consolidating forms, within the constraints of the Companies Act.
Challenge 3: AI for users with access needs
46% of public sector digital services still fail to meet accessibility standards. Producing an easy-read version of a policy document currently takes 6–8 weeks and costs around £10,000. DSIT is looking for off-the-shelf AI solutions — such as auto-generated BSL video, AI agents for visually impaired users, or accessibility-native development tools — that can close this gap at scale.
Heather Cover-Kus
Heather Cover-Kus
Heather is Associate Director, Central Government and Education at techUK, working to represent the tech supplier community to Central Government.
She started as Head of Central Government at techUK in April 2022 and was promoted to Associate Director in August 2025 supporting both the Central Government and Education programmes.
Prior to joining techUK in April 2022, Heather worked in the Economic Policy and Small States Section at the Commonwealth Secretariat. She led the organisation’s FinTech programme and worked to create an enabling environment for developing countries to take advantage of the socio-economic benefits of FinTech.
Before moving to the UK, Heather worked at the Office of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas and the Central Bank of The Bahamas.
Heather holds a Graduate Diploma in Law from BPP, a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from LSE, and a BA in Economics and Sociology from Macalester College.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-cover-kus-ba636538
Ellie Huckle
Ellie Huckle
Ellie joined techUK in March 2018 as a Programme Assistant to the Public Sector team and now works as a Programme Manager for the Central Government Programme.
The programme represents the supplier community of technology products and services in Central Government – in summary working to make Government a more informed buyer, increasing supplier visibility in order to improve their chances of supplying to Government Departments, and fostering better engagement between the public sector and industry. To find out more about what we do, how we do this and how you can get involved – make sure to get in touch!
Prior to joining techUK, Ellie completed Sixth Form in June 2015 and went on to work in Waitrose, moved on swiftly to walking dogs and finally, got an office job working for a small local business in North London, where she lives with her family and their two Bengal cats Kai and Nova.
When she isn’t working Ellie likes to spend time with her family and friends, her cats, and enjoys volunteering for diabetes charities. She has a keen interest in writing, escaping with a good book and expanding her knowledge watching far too many quiz shows!
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2015
- Twitter:
- @techUK,@techUK
- Website:
- www.techuk.org,www.techuk.org
- LinkedIn:
- https://bit.ly/3mtQ7Jx,https://bit.ly/3mtQ7Jx
Charles Bauman
Charles Bauman
Charles Bauman is a Junior Programme Manager in the Central Government Programme at techUK.
He supports the programme’s mission to represent the technology supplier community to the UK government and advocate for digital innovation to address public sector challenges. Charles helps facilitate market engagement, foster partnerships, and ensure that tech suppliers and the government work collaboratively to improve outcomes, deliver value for money, and enhance public services for citizens.
Before joining techUK, Charles gained significant experience in research, analysis, and strategic advisory roles. At H/Advisors Cicero, he specialised in public affairs and corporate communications, while at Verdantix, he supported sustainability research and advisory projects, focusing on regulatory and environmental challenges.
Charles holds an MSc in Theory and History of International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and an MA in Medieval History from King’s College London.
Charles enjoys volunteering with a think tank, reading, hiking, and spending time with his dog and family outside of work.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Website:
- www.techuk.org
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-bauman-75712016b/
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