Event round-up: Local Public Services Innovation Summit
This also marked a year since we published our Local Public Services Innovation report, which outlined how local public services can grasp the innovation opportunity and maximise the benefits they derive from digital technologies and their suppliers.
We were delighted to kickstart the day with a keynote speech from Lee Rowley, MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Local Government and Building Safety.
Hopefully this is what the future holds: more resilience, efficient and agile councils, drawing on the tremendous expertise and talent of the tech sector, both in this room and beyond, to meet the challenges of today and the challenges of tomorrow.
The first panel session discussed what does a good tech ecosystem looks like and how it can drive innovation where we were joined by Rachael Beer from Capita, Wajid Shafiq from Xantura, Marion Ingleby from Durham County Council, Tom Somers from Skenariolabs, and Suraj Kika from Jadu. The conversation addressed procurement challenges, the need for collaboration between private and public sector, approaches to innovation and engagement with suppliers.
The second panel discussion looked at future councils and the new operating models needed to harness innovation and we were joined by Eddie Copeland from LOTI, Angela Dixon from SocietyWorks, Ben Unsworth from Essex County Council, Helena Zaum from Microsoft and Dr Jonathan Carr-West from LGiU. They discussed the need to put people at the heart of decision-making, the importance of the language we use as digital and innovation professionals, the need to provide a safe space for innovators within councils to create solutions and collaborate.
The final panel focused on how we can create a culture of innovation and we were joined by Abi Brown from Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Peter Fleming from Sevenoaks District Council, Jonathan Flowers from dxw, Cassandra Gardiner from London Borough of Redbridge, Gary Todd from Centrakin and Andy Theedom from PwC. The conversation looked at effectively communicating with residents, the need to change how ideas are promoted into local government by promoting intent and opportunity and prioritising projects.
The day ended with a ‘speed dating’ style session where attendees had the chance to network and find potential new business partners and you can also watch the closing remarks below.
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Ileana Lupsa
Ileana Lupsa is the Programme Manager for Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, at techUK.
Georgina Maratheftis
Georgina is techUK’s Associate Director for Local Public Services
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