The Government Digital Service (GDS) has set out plans to improve access to government data and strengthen AI and digital capability across England’s Strategic Authorities.
The work forms part of the government’s new Digital Devolution programme, announced by the Prime Minister on August 21, which aims to give mayoral authorities better access to government data and build their capacity to use digital technologies and AI.
Writing in a recent blog, GDS director general for digital transformation Emily Middleton and digital products group director general Christine Bellamy said the programme would support places with the digital and data foundations, products and services needed to deliver their priorities.
Over the next three months, GDS will work with Strategic Authorities on a series of activities focused on unlocking access to data and strengthening digital capability.
Tackling barriers to data sharing
Data sharing has emerged as a significant challenge from GDS discussions with digital and data leaders across England’s Strategic Authorities.
According to GDS, organisations serving the same residents are often unable to share information easily, making it more difficult to provide joined-up services and target support effectively.
Authorities are also operating technology estates with differing levels of digital maturity. While GDS said there was “strong interest” in AI, authorities recognised that governance, workforce skills and organisational capability would need to develop alongside adoption.
As part of the programme, GDS will run data access workshops and data readiness diagnostics with localities and work towards reusable data-sharing agreement models intended to simplify interactions between central government and Strategic Authorities.
It will also work with authorities on “blocked data journeys” to identify and address barriers that prevent data from being accessed or used. This work will support recommendations from the Milburn Review around helping young people into jobs and training.
Building local AI capability
AI skills will form another part of the programme.
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GDS said it will invest in initiatives including local government AI and Data Science Skills Accelerators, AI Engineers in Residence, Get Tech Certified and a new AI Places Accelerator.
The initiatives are intended to give Strategic Authorities the skills and capacity to use AI, data and other digital technologies to support local priorities.
GDS will also work with partners to strengthen cybersecurity and data governance capabilities across Strategic Authorities.
An Early Years Digital and Data Innovation Day will take place in Sheffield on September 9 with South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, bringing local and national partners together to explore how digital and data could improve outcomes for children and families.
Two-year devolution roadmap
The programme comes as the government seeks to transfer greater powers and responsibilities from Whitehall to local leaders.
The wider package announced on August 21 also includes plans to second between five and ten civil servants into every mayoral authority for six to nine months under an initial pilot. The government said 18 Mayoral Strategic Authorities were expected to participate, with two more Strategic Authorities being formed that could benefit in future.
For GDS, however, Digital Devolution is intended to extend beyond a collection of individual projects.
It said engagement with Strategic Authorities had highlighted the need for common standards, interoperable data, reusable products, stronger cyber security and shared approaches to problems that cross organisational boundaries.
GDS now plans to bring this work together into a two-year digital and data devolution strategy and roadmap as part of the forthcoming Devolution White Paper.
“By strengthening the digital and data foundations that underpin public service delivery, we can help Strategic Authorities move faster, make better use of technology and focus on what matters most to them: delivering better outcomes for the communities they serve,” wrote Middleton and Bellamy.
