(Towards a) West Midlands Digital Strategy

Public Services as a catalyst for change

The major area of opportunity that can be a driver of change for digital technologies is the transformation in public services. The government are keen to see public services delivered more efficiently online (http://www.hmg.gov.uk/workingtogether.aspx). They recently published the Power of Information Taskforce report identified ways in which government structures could react to the challenge of operating online. Innovating around new digital services is at the heart of this agenda:

“We will promote innovation in online public services to respond to changing expectations. The Government will seek to build on the early success of innovate.direct.gov.uk by building such innovation into the culture of public services and public sector websites.” (from http://powerofinformation.wordpress.com/)

Freeing up data sources is one area in which innovation can be promoted in public services. Data exists at the local as well as the national level and pilot programmes in this area have already produced innovations such as the Show us a Better Way website (www.showusabetterway.com/).

The recently formed ‘Power of Birmingham’ group is an attempt to bring together public servants and civic-minded social media activists to react to this agenda. The group is attempting to identify funds to develop initiatives that show best practice. A pilot project with funding from Communities and Local Government department is to start in April/May with the intention of setting up a space for technologists to work with third sector organisations to create new content and services with local data.

The creation of such ‘hack spaces’ has been seen to work effectively in other regions. Higher education can play a key role here in offering space and incubating ideas and companies. Upgrading the region’s digital infrastructure and the creation of ‘digital districts’ could also contribute to the success of such spaces.

The shift in public services is happening at a significant level within Birmingham City council with the Business Transformation programme. This hopes to make savings of more than a £1billion over 10 years through innovations in service delivery underpinned by digital technologies. Areas such as agile working are a key focus and there is much space here for connections to be made between those managing Transformation, the knowledge base and innovating SMEs in the region. Given the length of the full Transformation programme Science City could play a key role in developing demonstrator projects ICT that bring these partners together.

Also, given the important role that procurement can play in the current economic climate, both in supporting the small to medium business sector, and to act as a catalyst for innovation, there is a real opportunity for Birmingham City Council to innovate in this area. Digital technologies can play a role in facilitating communication between procurement and the wider business sector, which will, in turn, encourage the take-up of digital technologies by businesses themselves.