In May the Government published it’s response to the National Data Strategy. The response established a new National Data Strategy Forum, to ensure collaboration with the UK’s data community to take the Strategy forward. Co-chaired by John Whittingdale, Minister of State for Media and Data, and Sue Daley, Director for Technology and Innovation at techUK, the Forum will be a series of stakeholder discussions convened by DCMS to help shape the development of the future vision of the Strategy and ensure continued collaboration with key advocates and influencers from a cross-section of stakeholder groups.

As well as co-chairing the work of the Forum techUK is keen to work with its members to ensure that they are aware and engaged with the important activities and work identified under Mission 3 of the Strategy, “Transforming government’s use of data to drive efficiency and improve public services”, that will now be taken forward by the Cabinet Office. We are keen to gather members views and input on the activities identified in the government’s response to the National Data Strategy.

To help inform techUK work in this important area of the NDS we are convening an internal members-only roundtable discussion to explore in more detail Mission 3 and to gather views on the next steps and action that should be taken to move forward to realise the full opportunities of data within the wider public sector and to overcome the “obstacles” to better use of data going forward outlined in the Strategy. At this roundtable we will explore the current state of play regarding government use of data, the aspirations and activities contained in the strategy, and potential actions and workstreams we as industry would like to see the Government adopt in order to drive progress on this agenda.

Ellie Huckle

Ellie Huckle

Programme Manager, Central Government, techUK

Georgina Maratheftis

Georgina Maratheftis

Associate Director, Local Public Services, techUK

Sue Daley

Sue Daley

Director, Technology and Innovation