Government Digital Service Launch

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Created on Thursday, 8 December 2011

This morning I have been at the launch of the 'Government Digital Service' the official beginning of the new team, formed under Mike Bracken to deliver on recommendations in the 'Digital by Default' report we wrote last year. I am still reeling from the energy, excitement and talent that is now being deployed to make public sector services better.

There were some short presentations and speeches from Francis Maude and Ian Watmore, then I did a ten min recap of why I believe this new team and work is so vital.
 

It's pretty simple for me.

The government in the UK has the opportunity right now to not only create a world class tech team that builds extraordinary digital talent and services but also to transform the lives of millions of people by encouraging them online.

For the most socially excluded people in the UK the internet is a vital tool. Government is also one of the key relationships in their lives so brilliant services can and should go hand in hand. There should be the same focus and energy on making customer friendly services as there is at Apple or Google or Facebook.

I want the UK to be a place that has the whole world admiring the way the government has used the internet. Yes we have tech city, yes we have silicon roundabout and yes we have incredible open data – let's not stop there but instead help this new team to shape in a dramatically different way how citizens interact with the state. I want this team to be a place that our best UK talent wants to work – turning down jobs abroad or at a bank or at Google so they can work in the public sector. 
It already happening and this is only day one. Long may it continue.


Looking at the building is a great starting point from which to observe the real change that is happening. Its taken a huge amount of work by the team but they are now located in one open plan and creative space with things on the walls and people talking to each other and smiling which is scarily rare in the world of government departments.

Come and visit and read mike's blog about what they are up to.

http://digital.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/2011/12/08/new-home-for-gds/