The UK government has established a new panel of technology experts and academics to develop a long-term digital strategy aimed at transforming public services and fostering innovation.
This 12-member group will provide guidance on the creation of a ‘digital centre’ within the government, with the goal of improving public service efficiency, enhancing operations, and fully leveraging data and technology.
This initiative follows the expansion of the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT), which has now incorporated key digital teams from the Cabinet Office and No.10. These teams are responsible for managing GOV.UK, the government’s main platform for public services, and leading a network of over 28,000 technology professionals across the public sector.
According to DSIT, the consolidation of these units aims to drive digital transformation more effectively, ensuring that technology plays a central role in cutting backlogs, improving accessibility, and making public services more efficient.
The panel is co-chaired by entrepreneur Baroness Martha Lane Fox and Paul Willmott, Chair of the Central Digital and Data Office. It includes leading figures from the technology and academic sectors, such as Poppy Gustafsson, co-founder of Darktrace, and Anne-Marie Imafidon, an advocate for digital inclusion.
“Poor technology slows down public services too often, when new tools should be cutting waiting lists and taking the burden from citizens and the taxpayer,” said the UK’s digital government minister, Feryal Clark. “That is why DSIT has become the centre for digital government. We will be bold in our plans with this new responsibility, and the external expertise we are bringing in to advise us will help deliver on our shared ambitions to improve public services and drive sustainable growth that works for everyone.”
UK government plans for infusing technology into policy decisions and deployment
The panel will assist in shaping a 10-year vision for digital government, focusing on harnessing technology to make government services more accessible, user-friendly, and efficient. The government claims that driving digital transformation throughout Whitehall will not only boost economic growth but also improve the lives of citizens across the UK.
The digital centre is expected to play a crucial role in addressing long-standing inefficiencies within the public sector. Through the integration of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven tools, the government seeks to improve service delivery times, reduce bottlenecks, and increase transparency.
This panel of experts will guide the government’s efforts in embedding digital solutions at the heart of public services, aiming to create a future where services are more responsive, accessible, and tailored to meet the needs of the public.
“Embracing digital technologies such as AI is vital for the public sector, enabling delivery of faster yet more efficient services,” said Paul Willmott. “In turn, this will improve accessibility and transparency for citizens, and boost economic growth by removing bottlenecks for business.”
Last month, the UK government, through the DSIT and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, designated UK data centres as part of the country’s Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). This is the first CNI designation in nearly a decade, following the inclusion of the Space and Defence sectors in 2015.
The CNI status for data centres aims to enhance their protection by establishing a dedicated CNI data infrastructure team. This team of senior government officials will monitor and anticipate potential threats, coordinate with security agencies such as the National Cyber Security Centre, and manage access to emergency services in the event of an incident.
The designation is expected to bolster the resilience of data centres, which store a significant portion of the UK’s health and financial data. By providing prioritised access to national security resources, it seeks to deter cybercriminals and minimise disruptions to critical services, including the NHS and the wider economy.
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