Welcome to Unlocking Digital Excellence
It’s no secret that local government is under pressure.
Across the country, councils are striving to balance increasing demands and complex needs with tightening budgets.
At times like these, it’s easy for digital transformation to get pushed to the bottom of leaders’ lists. But research has shown that investing in building digital and data cultures is actually one way to help cut backlogs, improve service outcomes and increase accessibility whilst also reducing crucial costs.1
The power of digital transformation
Few events have highlighted the critical role of digital transformation as clearly as the Covid-19 pandemic.
At a time of national crisis, councils leveraged and expanded their digital capabilities to meet their community’s needs — from rapidly scaling up digital services to creating new communication channels for vulnerable residents.
Whilst this effort was seen across the UK, councils that already had the foundations of strong digital infrastructure and agility were able to respond more quickly.2 For example, thanks to its established data-sharing practices, Sutton Council’s triage team was able to swiftly contact 600 residents on the government’s shielding list and connect them with relevant support services.3
Similarly, in Greater Manchester, the council was able to use its digital expertise to create a Covid-breakout early-warning system for its care homes in the space of a week.4
These transformations may have come about in unprecedented times, but they emphasise the impact councils can have by investing in their digital tools and cultures.
Coming out of the pandemic, local authorities that continue to build their digital and data foundations have the opportunity to improve their internal processes and their ability to understand and address the evolving needs of residents.
As just one example, Barking and Dagenham Council has built on its data-sharing practices to create a tool that allows officers to identify areas of the ward that are suffering from specific issues like domestic violence or fuel poverty.5
Alison McKenzie-Folan, Chief Executive Officer of Wigan Council, echoed the importance of these transformations in a recent interview with Apolitical.
"I think the transformation and reform of public services are so important, given the national challenges we face … and digital, data and AI offer such a massive opportunity.
From a data perspective, we sit on so much intelligence — intelligence that can help us reduce spending in some of our most high-demand areas. Digital and AI can equally help us meet our financial and resource challenges and achieve our ambitions for our areas."
If leaders ever question the need for digital and data innovation in local government, McKenzie-Folan urges them to consider the impact it can have on residents’ lives.
“You could extend elderly residents’ independence by installing motion sensors in their homes, or connect digitally-excluded community members by offering them free digital training,” she explains. “Just think what happens when you translate all that potential into impact”.
Your role in digital change
We’ve established that digital transformation has the potential to radically change the way local government works, making it more responsive, tailored and agile. But this potential relies on more than just technology.
Local Officers need to feel confident and empowered to break down silos and innovate — and that comes down to strong leadership.
There’s often a misconception that ‘digital’ is just the responsibility of IT teams, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. As a local leader, you’re not expected to be a technical expert. But you do need to be a role model, championing a team culture that embraces learning, encourages reasoned decision-making and inspires innovation.
In a leadership position, you also need to be able to identify opportunities for improvement and weigh up different approaches. It’s important to note that the digital option won’t always be the best solution. In fact, rushing to apply a technical bandaid can sometimes cause more problems than it solves. But it’s only by understanding the possibilities of digital that you’ll be able to make an informed choice.
The good news is, you don’t have to do this alone. This Unlocking Digital Excellence Programme is designed to help local leaders like you develop the skills you need to guide your teams through this shift.
You’ll complete two short online learning experiences about building digital-centred and data-centred cultures before selecting a third elective module. Find out more about these courses below:
Building a Digital Culture in Government (core course)
Understand how digital technologies can improve government outcomes. You'll cover topics like overcoming the digital delivery gap and applying agile methodologies.
Building a Data Culture in Government (core course)
Understand the benefits of data-driven decision-making and data-sharing opportunities. You’ll cover topics like data ethics, data-sharing and how to foster data-curious mindsets in your teams.
Building a User-Centred Culture in Government (elective course)
Understand how user-centred design and research can create more impactful services. You’ll learn how to take a user-centred approach to problem-solving and increase accessibility to improve resident experiences.
Building AI Confidence in Government (elective course)
Identify ways generative AI can be used responsibly for social good. You’ll cover topics like how to identify the risks and benefits of AI, and how to use generative AI tools responsibly.
Now that you’re prepared, all that’s left is to kick off the programme. We look forward to welcoming you to the Building a Digital Culture in Government course on December 10th and joining you on the first leg of your learning journey.