LocalGovCamp 2023
26 Oct 2023
Yesterday I attended LocalGovCamp 2023 in Bristol. As a relative newcomer to this space, the event provided an exciting opportunity to connect with like-minded officers, and together delve into the challenges and triumphs shaping public services in 2023.
Exploring innovation
One prevalent theme that echoed through the corridors of LocalGovCamp this year was the spirit of innovation. The speakers, including the insightful duo Sarah Peña (Swindon Borough Council) and Wayne Soutter (AWS), illuminated the innovative landscape that is possible within local government design. Their presentations painted a vivid picture of groundbreaking projects, showcasing the transformative power of technology and forward-thinking strategies.
Philippa Newis and Joe Silverman from Public Digital addressed the factors that ensure innovation fails in an engaging interactive session. Their insights into identifying pitfalls and challenges added a crucial layer to the discussion, emphasising the need for a comprehensive understanding of both success and failure in the innovation journey.
Inspirational insights
Reflecting on the day, the standout moment for me was the presentation by Sarah and Wayne. Their talk delved into the exciting innovations underway at Swindon Borough Council, which sparked a bright flame of inspiration and purpose in me. Their holistic approach to projects, zooming out to view services in their entirety resonated deeply with me, aligning with a principle I consistently advocate for in my own projects - I have witnessed firsthand the great success that can be achieved with this approach, especially when senior management is effectively engaged and brought on board from the start.
Takeaways
The event reinforced to me the importance of a collaborative approach, especially the idea of "intrapreneurship" - Sarah and Wayne spoke about how fantastic innovation emerges at the intersection of collective wisdom, different perspectives and disciplines; organisations should encourage staff to act like entrepreneurs, give them the freedom and safety to experiment and innovate.
The success stories shared, from machine translation to robotic process automation, underscored the transformative potential within Local Government design in the future. As I reflect on the valuable insights and the inspiring conversations shared, I am eager to incorporate these lessons into my own work, contributing to the ongoing journey of making public services better for everyone.
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