Learning from NHS digital transformation
05/02/2025 Justin Day, CEO and co-founder of Cloud Gateway, considers what local government devolution can learn from NHS digital transformation. |
Croydon Council selects integrated corporate GIS to improve efficiencies
16/01/2025 Cadcorp cloud GIS replaces legacy system to optimise access to Croydon Council services information. |
Councils’ housebuilding rests on playing to staff strengths
07/01/2025 Eman Al-Hillawi, CEO at business change consultancy Entec Si, looks at how councils could improve housebuilding progress by re-aligning their workforce. |
Three components to a successful tech strategy in 2025
25/11/2024 Stephen Earl, director at Cloudhouse, discusses the three main components to a successful local government-wide tech strategy in 2025. |
Acquisition of Clarity by Polaris
07/11/2024 Polaris Software Limited are pleased to announce the acquisition of Clarity Information Solutions Ltd (Clarity), which was completed on 25th October 2024. |
Utilising self-service capabilities for local government
06/11/2024 Anthony Lamoureux, CEO of Velocity Smart Technology, discusses how council services can shift to a fully self-service model to cut costs. |
Invision360 secures Innovate UK smart grant for VITA EHCP generator
30/10/2024 Introducing VITA: Invision360’s groundbreaking AI platform, designed to drastically improve the SEND system by generating quality-assured EHCPs. |
Councils receive support after cyber attack
29/10/2024 A number of councils have received assistance from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) after being targeted by the pro-Russia hacking group Noname05716. |
Council proposes to save £1.6m with digital transformation
29/10/2024 Bradford Council is aiming to save £1.6m by transforming customer services and contact management with voice and robotic process automation. |
Making digital poverty history
08/10/2024 Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of Digital Poverty Alliance, discusses the role of local government when it comes to tackling digital poverty. |
Councils racking up data storage debt
17/09/2024 Costs incurred by local authorities to store hard copies of documents is potentially costing the taxpayer millions of pounds each year, FOI requests reveal. |
Three councils fall victim to cyber-attack
19/08/2024 Three council housing websites have been taken down after falling victim to a cyber-attack. |
Protecting our health
14/08/2024 Oliver Norman, Regional Vice President for UK & Ireland, Veritas Technologies, looks at why data protection should be a priority for healthcare organisations. |
LGA launches framework for digital transformation
12/07/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has launched a new framework to support councils as they digitalise. |
Could tackling fraud help cash-strapped councils?
03/06/2024 Colin Gray, principal consultant at SAS UK, looks at the role of tackling fraud when it comes to helping local authorities get their finances in order. |
Ending the ostrich approach to data regulation
03/06/2024 Mark Roebuck, founder of ProvePrivacy, explains how councils struggling to keep up with data regulation adherence demands should look to Data Champions. |
Business as Usual: Leicester council’s ‘streetlight’ cyber-attack
17/05/2024 Leicester CC’s response to a recent cyber-attack was an example of an effective business continuity plan, says Billy Ruston, Protection Group International. |
Welsh Government backs digital library platform with £900k
16/05/2024 A new digital platform improving access to library services is set to be rolled out across Wales after receiving a £900,000 boost from the Welsh Government. |
New centre to protect Welsh councils from cyber attacks
13/05/2024 The Welsh Government has established a security operations centre (SOC) dedicated to protecting local authorities from cyber attacks. |
Confidential info published by hackers
05/04/2024 Confidential documents stolen during a cyber attack last month have been published online, a Leicester City Council spokesperson has confirmed. |
Thinking of integrating AI into your council?
03/04/2024 Robin Denton, director of local government, Microsoft UK sets out what you need to know. |
Campaign to raise data and safeguarding awareness launched
01/02/2024 Local authorities and social service providers have been urged to do more to raise awareness about responsible data sharing to protect children from harm. |
Kent councils hit by cyber incidents
19/01/2024 Canterbury City Council and Dover and Thanet district councils have all issued reports of cyber incidents. |
Tackling cyber vulnerabilities
08/01/2024 James Young, CTO at Cantium Business Solutions, discusses how vulnerability management can play an important part in managing cyber security risk. |
Half of workers unsure their council can avoid bankruptcy
08/01/2024 Around 50% of local government workers are ‘unsure’ or ‘unconfident’ that their organisation is financially sustainable, a new study has revealed. |
Tackling fraud in the public sector: how can central government support local authorities?
08/11/2023 Colin Gray, principal fraud consultant at SAS UK, explains the current perceived risks from citizens around fraud, and how public sector bodies can deploy technology to counteract it and protect public finances. |
£1.3m smart streetlamp pilot launched
20/09/2023 Six areas across the UK have been awarded funding to test smart streetlamps that can charge electric vehicles (EVs) and boost wireless coverage. |
How citizens hold the key to decarbonising Britain
18/09/2023 Jonathan Bradley, head of Business and Practice at Granicus Experience Group (GXG) UK, argues that citizens hold the key to decarbonising Britain. |
Local authorities and the AI revolution
24/08/2023 Stephen Almond, Information Commissioner’s Office, discusses what councils have to consider when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI). |
Time to connect to customers through connected systems
18/07/2023 Jake Gardiner, Odigo, argues that better inter-organisational collaboration is needed to ensure citizens receive the quality service they deserve. |
Older people struggling to apply for Blue Badges, charity warns
29/06/2023 Councils need to do more to help older people who might not be ‘computer savvy’ apply for Blue Badges and access other digital services, charity says. |
Russian hackers accessed private data, council says
08/06/2023 Gloucester City Council has warned residents that some personal information may have been stolen by Russian hackers. |
NHS volunteer programme expanded into social care
07/06/2023 The NHS Volunteer Responders Programme is set to be expanded to help the struggling social care system, the Government has announced. |
London Borough of Redbridge adopts user-centred online housing repairs service
05/06/2023 The London Borough of Redbridge has adopted a user-centred online housing repairs service, supplied by Made Tech, a leading provider of digital services. |
Why co-production is key to digitally inclusive services
30/05/2023 Georgina Walton, Adult Social Care, Kent County Council discusses the local authority’s EMPOWERCARE project and its mission to overcome digital exclusion. |
Strategy to deliver ‘joined-up digital inclusion’ launched
22/05/2023 A campaign group has launched a ‘unique and revolutionary strategy’ linking government, industry leaders and community organisations to tackle digital poverty. |
Guidance to support social care digitisation published
18/05/2023 The Government has published new guidance to help local authorities and care providers develop digital skills and drive digital transformation. |
Guide to protect ‘smart cities’ from hackers published
16/05/2023 The Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) has published a new guide to help councils keep ‘smart cities’ safe from cyber threats. |
Councils warn of ‘broadband slow lane’
12/05/2023 Poorer households are being left behind in a ‘broadband slow lane’ despite relying more heavily on the internet, local government leaders have warned. |
Majority of senior managers admit outdated cybersecurity
04/05/2023 Almost two thirds of senior managers in councils across the UK admit that their cybersecurity approach is outdated. |
Health & care transformation: What do we need to consider?
25/04/2023 Gavin Bashar, UK & Ireland MD of Tunstall Healthcare, shares his thoughts on the digital transformation of the health and care sectors. |
New North Yorkshire Council bans TikTok
13/04/2023 North Yorkshire Council has banned the use of TikTok on council devices due to digital security concerns. |
The coming digital shift
29/03/2023 Robert Turnbull, PA Consulting, and Alyson Scurfield, TEC Services Association, argue that the telephone network upgrade will be an opportunity for councils. |
'We can beat inflation with outdated spreadsheets,' said no council ever
29/03/2023 Digital transformation isn’t something councils can put off, argues TechnologyOne. It is essential to help them cope with inflation and other challenges. |
Small minority of councils use digital care services, poll reveals
28/03/2023 Only a handful of councils are making full use of digital technology to provide personalised care in people’s homes, according to a group of organisations. |
Opening the doors to digital in Dorset
24/03/2023 Steven March, Housing Standards, Dorset County Council explains how the local authority improved the energy efficiency levels in properties across the county. |
Plan to improve care sector’s cyber resilience unveiled
22/03/2023 The Government has unveiled plans to protect the NHS and the social care sector against cyberattacks. |
Effective monitoring of safeguarding
20/03/2023 John Wild, managing director at CPOMS, explores the role and importance of safeguarding software in aiding multi-agency collaboration. |
Digitisation must not lead to ‘two-tier society’, auditor says
09/03/2023 Spending on internet infrastructure must be balanced with measures to prevent creating a two-tier society when it comes to services, Welsh government says. |
Digital trends in local government
15/02/2023 Alexandra Murphy of Socitm looks at the digital trends in local government today and notes a quiet optimism at the heart of the sector. |
Councils still vulnerable to online attacks, MPs told
06/02/2023 Councils must get together with insurers to work out how to protect themselves against the risk of cyber attacks, a leading security expert has warned. |
Why councils should worry about digital exclusion
27/01/2023 Abigail Wood, CEO of Age UK London, urges local authorities to address the profound challenges of digital exclusion for older people. |
Austerity 2.0: digital public services in tough times
19/01/2023 Ainga Pillai, CEO of Zaizi, looks at how councils can improve digital public services when money is tight. |
Three metrics councils should be measuring to improve website reliability
12/12/2022 Gav Winter, CEO of RapidSpike, believes everyone has the right to a reliable online experience, and outlines how councils can provide a great user experience. |
Virtru data protection solutions approved for G-Cloud 13 Framework
26/09/2022 UK public sector organisations can now procure Virtru’s proven Zero Trust data encryption solutions for secure communications and increased productivity. |
Equality regulator to monitor racist AI
01/09/2022 Equality regulator is set to start monitoring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by councils to ensure technologies are not discriminating against people. |
Partners come together to make sure nobody is left behind in the digital world
20/07/2022 Cllr Glynis Phillips explains how councils and partners in Oxfordshire have been supporting significant parts of the population who’ve been left behind in the digital revolution. |
New framework to support local government digitalisation launched
06/07/2022 Council leaders have partnered with technology experts to launch a joint new framework for improving and supporting local government digitalisation programmes. |
Javid announces £25m for social care digitisation
13/06/2022 The social care sector is to benefit from a £25m investment aimed at increasing the rate that social care records are digitised. |
New reporting system for housing repairs launched for council tenants
19/05/2022 City of Lincoln Council has launched a new digital service to make it more convenient for tenants to report their housing repair needs. |
First Welsh council joins digital Local Land Charges register
19/05/2022 Swansea has become the first Welsh local authority to move its local land charges to a digital register. |
The benefits of syncing with One Login
26/04/2022 Could syncing with One Login be the key to delivering digital success for local government? Sascha Giese reports. |
Javid tells care providers digital records ‘basic responsibility’
24/03/2022 Digital records are a ‘basic responsibility’, health secretary Sajid Javid says as he announces 80% of care providers will have digital care records by 2024. |
It’s time to digitally transform planning in the UK
22/03/2022 Glen Ocskó explains why digitising the planning system would increase accessibility and transparency. |
A further 28 projects share funding to modernise planning system
22/03/2022 Over 30 councils have received funding to use digital technology to make the planning system more open and accessible. |
Westminster council launches multiservice digital card
17/03/2022 Residents in the London Borough of Westminster are to be offered a digital card to help them access a range of local authority services, the city council has announced. |
'The citizen experience hub'
15/03/2022 Gary Bennett explores how personalisation can change local government contact centres. |
Getting to grips with HBAAI
22/02/2022 Steven Rybaruk explains how intelligent case selection can lighten the load for councils. |
Citizen expectations for local authority reporting services revealed
21/02/2022 More transparency and fewer apps top requirements from citizens for local authority reporting services, new research from citizen-centred digital services provider SocietyWorks reveals. |
Citizen expectations for local authority reporting services revealed
18/02/2022 More transparency and fewer apps top requirements from citizens for local authority reporting services, new research from citizen-centred digital services provider SocietyWorks reveals. |
Building a better user experience in local government starts with authentication
04/02/2022 Harry Scott-Trimble explains how councils can improve, and in some cases remove, authentication processes to create a better user experience for all. |
Majority of councils not taking ‘open approach’ to digital services
02/02/2022 Over three-quarters of local authorities across the UK do not use standard Government technology components when designing their digital services, FOI finds. |
What you want versus what you need: a guide to service design for councils
16/08/2021 Coca Rivas, director of design at dxw, provides a guide to service design for councils. |
Three councils to test simplified planning apps
01/07/2021 Three councils have designed and are now testing two apps designed to speed up planning applications for housing extensions. |
Public services to public communication
11/06/2021 Paul Johnston and Leyla Delcorde explain why the pandemic has led to a new era of engaging citizens. |
Navigating local government reorganisation - smoothing service integration
09/06/2021 Steve White looks at how councils can best navigate the complex issues around local government reorganisation and IT. |
Datagraphic: "Document automation the key to hybrid working"
23/04/2021 According to leading UK provider of secure end-to-end document automation solutions, Datagraphic, payroll was one of operations that needed to adapt most quickly during the pandemic. |
Falkirk first Scottish council to safeguard digital telecare
23/04/2021 Falkirk Council has become the first local authority in Scotland to launch an end-to-end digital telecare service. |
Commission calls on councils to improve digital services for social care
23/03/2021 Not enough local authorities or care providers are using the available technology within social care to keep people safe at home, a new study finds. |
Why councils should embrace electronic ID verification
17/11/2020 Barley Laing argues that electronic ID verification is crucial as the pandemic drives digitalisation. |
Research shows just over a tenth of councils have fully digitalised all citizen records
16/11/2020 Only 11% of local authorities have fully digitalised all of their citizen records, new research has revealed. |
Digital secretary announces £2.6m data sharing project
09/09/2020 The Government today launched a National Data Strategy, which includes a new multi-million pound project to address barriers to data sharing. |
Ministers urge councils to help ‘boost’ digital connectivity
27/08/2020 Government ministers have today written to local authorities setting out how they can help boost gigabit broadband rollout and 5G mobile coverage. |
Unlocking the opportunity to transform children and young people services
19/08/2020 Hannah Saunders and Fiona Gold say now is the time to act and transform children and young people services. |
Lesson learned: Digitalization efforts help prepare for the unexpected
06/07/2020 Lindsay Pica-Alfano calls on local government to move forward with digitalization efforts. |
Designing digital services for future citizens
03/07/2020 Dave Mann argues that trust, transparency and usability will be key to creating good digital public services in a new world. |
Council secures funding to tackle digital exclusion
11/03/2020 Stockport Council has been awarded £50,000 to extend digital inclusion support to local residents. |
Councils adopt AI solutions to save £195m
09/03/2020 A national survey has revealed that local authorities expect to save over £195m in 2020 by introducing artificial intelligence (AI) technology techniques. |
Councils to receive share of £4.5m to roll out digital social care projects
11/02/2020 Sixteen organisations that provide adult social care services are to receive a share of £4.5m to enable them to roll out digital projects on a wider scale. |
Scottish residents ‘excited’ about digitisation
03/12/2019 Eight in 10 Scottish citizens believe their local councils should embrace a wider range of digital technologies, a poll has revealed. |
Council-led digital projects get £500,000 boost
31/10/2019 Seven council-led digital technology projects are set to receive grants of up to £100,000, according to the Government. |
Hull aims to be ‘one of smartest cities in the world’ with new partnership
14/10/2019 A new partnership between Hull CC and smart city operator Connexin is set to put Hull among ‘the world leaders in smart city technology’, council says. |
Direct messaging service to save taxpayers £175m
26/09/2019 The Government says its messaging service is set to save taxpayers an average of £35m a year over the next five years. |
Councils ‘best placed’ to understand digital needs of local areas
18/09/2019 The Local Government Association says councils have a central role to play in making sure people in rural areas have access to the fastest broadband services. |
How to comply with the UK’s new public sector web accessibility laws
17/09/2019 Ross Linnett, founder and CEO of Recite Me, looks at the UK’s new public sector web accessibility laws. |
Greater Manchester to invest over £14m in ‘digital transformation'
29/08/2019 Greater Manchester is set to see £14.3m invested into digital transformation which aims to allow the safe and secure sharing of health-related information. |
Digital public services that deliver
23/08/2019 Nick Pike explores the challenges facing chief digital officer in driving forward Local Digital Declarations. |
Councils urged to apply for £7.5m digital innovation fund
19/08/2019 The Government has invited local authorities to apply for funding to help explore how digital technology can boost frontline services. |
Digital leadership and social value ecosystems
02/08/2019 Philip Baulch explores the role of the digital leader in driving culture change. |
A platform-first approach
09/07/2019 Craig White, business development director at Arcus Global, looks at digital transformation across the local government sector. |
Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.
Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.
Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.