09 Apr 2024
by Martin McFadyen

How public-private partnerships can help you redefine your legacy

72% of UK decision makers believe legacy technology is impacting their ability to operate efficiently, according to Virgin Media O2 Business’ Tech Untapped report.

The same is true for the police (75%) and healthcare organisations (52%), showing the breadth and depth of the issue of outdated technology.

More broadly, 96% of public sector organisations are facing some element of inefficient technology across their workforce.

The solution seems simple. Replace that tech by upgrading to newer and more efficient tools. But with new technology becoming ever-more complex and budgets get even tighter, things aren’t always as simple as they seem.

The key is enabling partnerships that reach beyond the public sector itself, allowing the government to maximise their efforts through the knowledge and expertise of industry network providers.

Together, the public and private sectors can work to address the specific concerns facing organisations, from a lack of integration support to frustrated employees, and plot the best path forward to make the most of new innovations.

So how do we build these partnerships in the most effective way?

Diagnosing the problem

The first step is to understand the risks of legacy tech. 66% of organisations were hit by ransomware attacks last year, with the mean cost to each organisation being over £1.8 million, according to Sophos.

Of these attacks, the majority (62%) were the result of an exploited vulnerability in their infrastructure, meaning that weaknesses in legacy tech are leaving organisations exposed.

The good news is that the public and private sector are already working together to address these issues. For example, the government-backed Cyber Essentials scheme, which provides training for organisations looking to shore up their defences.

But legacy doesn’t just expose vulnerabilities. It can also cause efficiency blockades, frustrating employees.

37% of UK organisations believe that upgrading or replacing their current legacy tech would lead to better collaboration and communication among employees, according to our Tech Untapped report.

In the face of continued budget pressure, identifying the tech which meets key needs and drives maximum return on investment for their organisation is crucial.

Leveraging the expertise of the tech sector can help leaders to navigate the myriad of possible solutions to identify those that meet specific organisational challenges, and to deliver efficient tech roll-outs to enable quick staff uptake of new technologies.

The integration issue

The majority of UK decision makers believe upgrading their legacy tech can improve their organisation. However, with the Government increasingly under pressure to maintain smooth operations across sectors, the public sector must act to integrate new technology and build a broader digital culture.

Rather than seeking smaller improvements in data management, collaboration and automation, organisations should be assessing the path to substantial changes which improve delivery and efficiency for employees.

To support this, the Government is laying out a big picture digital transformation roadmap. This is where providers can play a role, by advising organisations on the most effective implementation of new technology.

One example of the power of this managed support is in Falkirk Council. Together, we implemented a cloud-managed infrastructure and deployed wide area network (WAN) across the Council’s 60-plus schools, ensuring Wi-Fi provision could be monitored and shaped to confidently support more than 25,000 devices for pupils and the public alike.

Through the careful implementation of software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN), we could also give the Council a significant spend reduction on their technology, allowing the schools to engage and inspire on a more manageable budget.

Private sector expertise can help ensure the full spectrum of digital transformation, from single devices to national connectivity infrastructure, are considered to ensure we’re overcoming our legacy tech together.

Talent for the future

At the heart of every successful partnership are the people. And when it comes to moving on from legacy tech, ensuring that employees and decision makers are on the same page is crucial.

Talented employees are increasingly prioritising up-to-date and new technology. 81% agree that technology plays an important role in keeping them engaged at work, and over half (55%) would be happier if their employer invested more in new digital tools, according to our Battle for Talent report.

The rise in the complexity and availability of new tools, from AI to augmented reality, means that upskilling has never been more crucial. Consistent, regular, and specific training is essential to ensure that you can move on from your legacy tech and get the most out of your new investments.

New technology is offering exciting opportunities across the board, from virtual wards delivering remote healthcare to immersive virtual reality training environments optimising employee performance.

What this means is that technology isn’t just a challenge. It’s also a golden opportunity.

Overcoming your legacy tech means unlocking new capabilities and efficiencies. Together, we can equip the UK with new innovation that makes meaningful impact, helping organisations and communities alike.


Heather Cover-Kus

Heather Cover-Kus

Head of Central Government Programme, techUK

Heather is Head of Central Government Programme at techUK, working to represent the supplier community of tech products and services to Central Government.

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

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Ellie Huckle

Ellie Huckle

Programme Manager, Central Government, techUK

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

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Annie Collings

Annie Collings

Programme Manager, Cyber Security and Central Government, techUK

Annie joined techUK as the Programme Manager for Cyber Security and Central Government in September 2023. In this role, she supports the Cyber Security SME Forum, engaging regularly with key government and industry stakeholders to advance the growth and development of SMEs in the cyber sector.

Before joining techUK, Annie was an Account Manager at a specialist healthcare agency, where she provided public affairs support to a wide range of medical technology clients. She also gained experience as an intern in both an MP’s constituency office and with the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed. Annie holds a degree in International Relations from Nottingham Trent University.

Email:
[email protected]
Twitter:
anniecollings24
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-collings-270150158/

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Austin Earl

Austin Earl

Programme Manager, Central Government, techUK

Austin joined techUK’s Central Government team in March 2024 to launch a workstream within Education and EdTech.

With a career spanning technology, policy, media, events and comms, Austin has worked with technology communities, as well as policy leaders and practitioners in Education, Central and Local Government and the NHS.

Cutting his teeth working for Skills Matter, London’s developer community hub, Austin then moved to GovNet Communications where he launched Blockchain Live and the Cyber Security and Data Protection Summit. For the last 3 years he has worked with leaders in Education across the state and independent schools sectors, from primary up to higher education, with a strong research interest in technology and education management.

Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
07891 743 932
Website:
www.techuk.org,www.techuk.org
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spencer-earl/,https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spencer-earl/

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Ella Gago-Brookes

Ella Gago-Brookes

Team Assistant, Markets, techUK

Ella joined techUK in November 2023 as a Markets Team Assistant, supporting the Justice and Emergency Services, Central Government and Financial Services Programmes.  

Before joining the team, she was working at the Magistrates' Courts in legal administration and graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2022.  Ella attained an undergraduate degree in History and Politics, and a master's degree in International Relations and Security Studies, with a particular interest in studying asylum rights and gendered violence.  

In her spare time she enjoys going to the gym, watching true crime documentaries, travelling, and making her best attempts to become a better cook.  

Email:
[email protected]

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Authors

Martin McFadyen

Martin McFadyen

Director, Public Sector, Virgin Media O2 Business