Technology made large populations possible', American write Joseph W. Krutch once said, but ‘large populations now make technology indispensable'.

We live in a society whose population is growing (9% by 2030), whose elderly are living longer (demand for old age services will increase by 70% and population by 39%) and whose public simply expect more from their government. Everyone agrees that having more people living healthier, longer lives is a cause for celebration, but government must learn to harness the benefits of technology and data to be able to create an accommodating environment for our growing populations.

Just over a decade ago, less than 2% of us owned a smart phone – today it's two thirds and rising. We are global leaders in online shopping and one in ten of us send work-related emails from bed. New technologies and innovative concepts are constantly changing and evolving how we live our lives.

Our public services need to reflect the advances in modern technology and mirror how we live – so when 80% of people interact with businesses online, but only 40% interact with government services online, it is all the more clear that UK public services have been stuck behind the times for too long.