08 Apr 2024

How to improve public sector productivity and innovation? Bring in the SMEs

Summary

SMEs offer a unique combination of flexibility, innovation, and community-focused values that large corporations can struggle to match. The contributions of the SME sector go beyond service delivery; they represent a transformative force, driving the evolution of the public sector towards more efficient, inclusive, and adaptable services. The partnership between SMEs and the public sector is beneficial and essential to navigate the challenges of the 21st century, ensuring that public services remain at the forefront of innovation and can deliver value to citizens in meaningful and impactful ways.

SMEs can help to do more with less

The Public Sector is constantly being pushed to improve productivity and do more with less. SMEs can offer creative, flexible, and groundbreaking solutions to typical public sector challenges and drive transformation across the sector. This needs a shift from the tendency to navigate towards the safety of well-trodden, slow, and expensive routes; and instead towards the agility and innovation that is found in the SME data and technology sector. There are more benefits of working with SMEs than I can discuss here, but some of the main ones are creativity, productivity, and social value.

Unlock Creativity

The attitude of doing what’s always been done or working only with large organisations can feel like it delivers safe decisions. But it can lead to stale thinking and slow progress. SMEs might not be as proven as some of their larger competitors, but they possess an agility and innovative spirit that allows them to adapt quickly to new technologies and methodologies. They can offer creative solutions to public sector challenges that can bring unique value and accelerate digital transformation. For public sector organisations who want to become more data driven, SMEs can implement innovative solutions faster than their larger counterparts, who have complex bureaucratic processes. By focusing on specialised areas of expertise, SMEs bring knowledge and innovation to public service delivery, often pioneering approaches that are often later adopted on a larger scale.

Approaches that drive productivity

The Chancellor has recently announced the drive for improving productivity in the public sector, and this can’t be achieved by just doing more of the same. A productivity shake-up needs a fresh approach, and looking to the SME sector can produce the solutions needed. Larger organisations will take more traditional approaches, with lengthy discovery projects and overhauling systems and processes that can take years to implement. The SME sector is full of different approaches to delivering solutions, many of which can be achieved at a more rapid pace.

Because of their size, SMEs working with the public sector need to help them to become independent and self-sufficient to avoid the long-term, co-dependency relationships often accompanying service tendering. By championing such collaboration, SMEs help break down the traditional barriers to innovation, speeding up the process in the short term, whilst simultaneously upskilling the public sector. I’d personally love to help build a public sector proficient in digital technology and capable of continuously improving and adapting to meet the changing needs of society.

Inherent Social Value

We might not have big teams dedicated solely to creating social value, but SMEs can bring a genuine value through their close ties with local communities and their commitment to local development. As SMEs are often part of a local economy, they understand and care about the unique needs of their community they serve. Increasing apprenticeships offers a way for SMEs to access and nurture talent from within their local community, promoting social mobility and equal opportunities as they offer jobs and training that reduces economic disparity. SMEs are not just service providers; they actively contribute to building resilient and inclusive communities, highlighting their transformative impact on public services.

Shaping a better future for the public sector

SMEs play a vital role in driving innovation in the public sector. They bring agility, community integration, and open collaboration, which can enhance the quality and delivery of public services. By focusing on social value and inclusivity, SMEs are critical players in shaping a future where public services are more efficient, effective, and aligned with communities' needs. Fostering an environment that supports SMEs in public service delivery is crucial to achieving transformative outcomes and ensuring that public sector offerings remain responsive, equitable, and forward-thinking.

About Modular Data

Modular Data are the Data Product People – an innovative UK SME that is revolutionising the public sector with a fresh approach. Their mission is to empower public sector teams with actionable insights and the capability to create them, applying data product thinking to data transformation to prioritise business goals and deliver immediate and scalable value


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

Read lessmore

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

Read lessmore

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/

Read lessmore

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]

Read lessmore