Short update on the work of Digital Centre of UK government

It’s about a month since I joined the Advisory Board to collaborate with the DSIT team on the Digital Centre of Government, so its a good moment to share another short update.

Paul Wilmott, my co-chair, and I have dedicated considerable time to understanding our colleagues’ perspectives and stress testing the governmental team’s ambitious vision. Our advisory group comprises diverse experts whose viewpoints, while varied, converge on several key themes.

First, there’s a collective recognition that this moment could present a unique opportunity for substantive change.

We’re united in our understanding that to be successful we must focus not only on end products and services, but also on team and the cultural evolution needed to deliver things within civil service frameworks.

Additionally, we do not. underestimate the importance of establishing robust foundations while also remaining attuned to the transformative potential of AI.

Any emerging technology can offer tantalizing possibilities for public service transformation, but we have discussed that meaningful change requires fundamental structural improvements: enhanced data management, greater system interoperability, strengthened accountability measures, and modernized procurement processes.

Our engagement with our senior stakeholders has also been productive, including valuable discussions with Sarah Munby, Permanent Secretary of DSIT, and Peter Kyle, Secretary of State. Several advisory board members have already initiated discussions with other parts of the civil service and with civil society organizations.

Though work remains in refining the overarching vision and being clear about specific deliverables, our first face-to-face meeting next week will be an important moment to. align our direction and plan the delivery schedule for the next few months.

On a personal note, returning to this work after fourteen years is slightly strange. Today’s landscape differs dramatically, with more complex internal and external expectations and different technological capabilities.

I remain evangelical about the critical importance of high quality digitally enabled government for both citizens and our economy. However, the scale and sophistication of both vision and execution that is required now, seems marginally harder to get right than before.

I never take for granted what an amazing opportunity we have to be able to contribute to this agenda. So thank you to everyone working so hard, particularly Emily Middleton, DG at DSIT and her team. As always, onwards…