As well as our monthly round-up of internet era ways of working and technology news, Public Digital newsletter #101 explores examples of change and innovation in local government. Read it on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/pulse/public...

This Thursday we're hosting a PD Sessions event on Finding Opportunities for Radical Transformation in Local Public Services. Book your place to attend in person or online ⬇️ public.digital/events/pd-se...

We're sponsoring the devolution and reorganisation zone at #LGPE2025 next week. Join PD Director Philippa Newis for her session: 'From blocker to enabler: the role that procurement must play in innovation and transformation of local public services'. localgovexpo.co.uk/devolution-r...

Wonderful interview with @kwastell.bsky.social in @designweek.co.uk which nicely captures the pragmatism, messiness and sheer human graft required to create the organisational, conditions for customer centricity. www.designweek.co.uk/there-is-no-...

Definitely fictional

UK local government is at a pivotal moment. As PD Director Gavin Beckett writes, it’s time to start building dynamic service organisations to respond to the challenges of today. Our event on 27 November will explore how we can build a movement across the sector. public.digital/pd-insights/...

At @publicdigital.bsky.social my colleague @robmiller31.bsky.social has a saying: “you can’t be safe, only safer” Being safer, and more resilient, means changing how leadership approaches technology delivery. Whether that’s for cyber security. Or tech failure. More here: public.digital/cyber

Excellent #pddatabites this evening. Loved the breadth of the AI focus - application at scale, ethics & people, rapid prototyping and amplifying auditors. Definitely recommend if you're into lively and varied chats from smart people doing interesting things with data. public.digital/data-bites-s...

Join us for our next PD Sessions event on Find Opportunities for Radical Transformation in Local Public Services - taking place in person or online on 27 November. public.digital/events/pd-se...

This is a profoundly useful resource, and almost all of it's applicable to *any* org, not just councils Assume your cyber controls *won't* work, and make sure to check this out so you can be confident that you'll know what to do (And bravo to the LGA for making this open - it makes things better)

This is very good stuff, bravo @janethughes.bsky.social 👏

Come join my team @publicdigital.bsky.social! We’re looking for technologists from all kinds of backgrounds to join us and use your hands-on experience to help leading institutions around the world adapt for the digital age. apply.workable.com/public-digit...

We went to UKGovCamp 2025 and have a lot to share 🏢

The UK Government has launched a new centre to drive digital transformation in public services. As our CEO @benterrett.bsky.social explains, this initiative reflects a commitment from the top levels of government to harness technology for improving lives across the country.

"New tech + old state = same disappointment" > totally this - great post from @daivaughan.uk with lots of sensible and pragmatic advice on getting the most from AI (and any technology tbh). public.digital/pd-insights/...

The quiet radicalism of 'test and learn' sounds a lot less exciting than Big Projects Doing Massive Things With Mega Budgets. But if you want to make a real and enduring impact it has a lot going for it. A great explainer here from @daverog.bsky.social: public.digital/pd-insights/....

My colleague @robmiller31.bsky.social has written this blog post about how organisations should be thinking about cyber security. There's no such thing as 'safe', only 'safer'. public.digital/pd-insights/...

🚲 One of my fave city innovations I must ramp is how Transport for London & GoogleMaps are working together to make #cycling safer. Because of this, today you can choose a safer, low-traffic route across the city. Here's how this amazing #collaboration happened... 🧵 1/6 tfl.gov.uk/info-for/med...

The human stories from @auschwitzmemorial.bsky.social are a stark reminder of why we must never forget. But the banal bureaucracy of this horror is chilling. 'Just another form to sign off', but what it actually meant was 394 lives... Profoundly uncomfortable reading & profoundly necessary reading.

This article about Thames Water’s IT is obviously worrying and a disaster waiting to happen. But it’s also not surprising - so many of our public services are drowning in toxic legacy technology. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Totally this. And also true of other areas of the public sector (local gov being a case in point). Far too much dependency and supplier capture to be healthy and green shoots remain sadly scarce.

Totally agree - permacrisis has led to too many orgs trying to grab simple ‘solutions’ to complex problems. Really looking forward to working together and helping orgs do the hard work to make things simple @gavinbeckett.bsky.social! 😊

A timely reminder that no amount of technology magic is going to be a miracle anything. And getting overexcited about the latest thing is very likely to compound problems, not avoid the hard graft that's actually needed to deliver better services.

Am proud that despite my total (and predictable) failure to resolve J's networking conundrum this afternoon, I have not yet resorted to swearing.

Ooh, just got home to find this on the doormat. Earlier than I'd expected! Looking forward to diving in @richardpope.org. 😊

Very much agree - good to see a local authority leader highlighting the need to stop accepting the status quo. And so spot on re: the risks that are ignored if don't try to shift the dial. Bravo! 👏