Digital
Booting up for a new career in coding
Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street explains how coding bootcamps are helping learners from the West Midlands to start exciting new careers in technology.
COVID and Brexit call for radical transformation
Havant BC and East Hampshire DC already have a shared chief executive and senior management team and are now looking to build on their already close partnership, says Gill Kneller. 'We need to be radical', she adds.
Responding to the rise in parental conflict during lockdown
Despite a divergence in referral rates during COVID, research has found that councils are responding dynamically to deliver services, says Virginia Ghiara of the Early Intervention Foundation.
Making the most of remote working
Solace's Karishma Vakta-Smith looks at the impact of remote working, and what it means for the future of recruitment.
Four in five council staff working from home
The number of council staff working from home has rocketed from 5% pre-lockdown to 80%, according to new research.
Councils urged to take on data firms
Councils should acquire and make use of digital data for the benefit of communities and challenge the dominance of big tech companies, a new report has argued.
Getting onboard the digital recruitment era
With office working still a way off for many organisations, how can the induction and settling in process be replicated effectively in this era of virtual recruitment? Jessica Mullinger looks at ways to address this dilemma
Meeting citizens’ expectations after the pandemic
Hilary Jones highlights how COVID-19 has been the catalyst for shifting up a gear when it comes to communicating with local residents, providing the environment and the permission for digital to take centre stage.
Minister unveils grants to fast track digital innovation
The Government has announced a series of grants to councils in a bid to capitalise on fast-track digital programmes introduced during the pandemic.
Exclusive: Government will support councils with ‘modernising’ shift to digital
Local government minister Simon Clarke says £800,000 for eleven projects that use technology to help people through the pandemic will support councils with the ‘major modernising shift’ to digital.
Improving engagement and communication across the NHS in a time of crisis
Effective communication and digital innovation is the key to keeping employees engaged and well-informed, says Steve Brain. Communication apps, like Civica's Connect, provide Trust leaders and HR teams with a platform to share resources, he adds.
Tackling the barriers to information-sharing
Graham Bright looks at the perceived legal and ethical barriers to sharing information about children, and how they can be overcome.
Opening up access to UPRNs and USRNs
Nick Chapallaz, Managing Director at GeoPlace, discusses how open access to UPRNs and USRNs is set to unlock the power of place
Supporting more democratic, responsive urban planning and design
In one of a series of essays on how the wisdom of citizens could support councils in managing cities after COVID-19, Peter Baeck and Sophie Reynolds look at the urban planning and design process - and share inspiring examples from across the world.
Digital engines – the ‘new normal’ in local government?
Digital engines will become a staple of every local authority’s digital provision moving forward into the ‘new normal’, says John McMahon.
Test, test, test the tech!
Managing director of Penna Julie Towers offers some key observations on virtual recruitment, and says many of the online elements will be retained when lockdown eases further.
The right time for some strategic thinking
The pandemic has presented an opportunity for the sector to re-think its recruitment strategies, particularly in the search for experienced social workers. Maggie Hennessy and Sonia Tanda explain.
Scaling self-created solutions in local government
Barnsley MBC has developed a self-created income management system (IMS) with dxw, with a vision to see that shared with other councils. Richard Kingston says ‘working together we can aim much higher’.
We have an opportunity to radically reinvent ourselves
Our new coronavirus-shaped world has changed beyond recognition, says Gill Kneller - and If we’re going to thrive, recovery will be key, 'but we simultaneously need to reinvent ourselves'.
Councils 'will be ready' to welcome back shoppers
Local authorities will be ready to welcome shoppers back to the high street if retail is allowed to reopen the week after next, the chairman of the District Councils’ Network has said.
