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At dxw, we design, build and run digital services for the public sector. Our teams work across government, creating the conditions needed for a connected smarter state.
For our analysts, this might involve supporting strategic infrastructure projects like One Login, which is transforming UK digital identity and will play a critical role in the move to building proactive public services.
But none of this work is possible without having the basics in place. And in many places they still aren’t. We’re often faced with data silos and unstructured and inaccurate data in many areas across the public sector.
One of our Performance Analysts, Melissa Hernandez, has been working on two data projects - one relating to our GovPress platform and the other supporting the Ministry of Justice, to address some of these challenges. Tackling the fundamentals, her work has enabled these government teams to build the strong data foundations needed to provide better services for citizens.
Designing a new approach to Cookies and Analytics for our GovPress platform
Cookies and analytics data inform and improve public services. So it’s important for government teams to be able to easily access and customise tracking to meet their needs. We’ve done some work to upgrade the campaigns platform we built back in 2016 and improve the way cookies and analytics tracking is set up.
This platform has saved government departments millions of pounds over its lifetime as well as making campaign sites more accessible for everyone. It hosts several high profile campaigns including Help for Households, Student Finance England and Homes for Ukraine.
However, incremental changes over time have caused the part of the platform that helps teams set up cookies and analytics to become more flexible but less intuitive. It was time for a more holistic rethink and redesign.
Depending on their roles, different client team members have different levels of experience in analytics. But everyone needs something that helps them to set up tracking that works and is compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).
dxw identified two core options - Recommended and Advanced. Working in partnership with the GDS team, we refined the approach to analytics for each option. Recommended was refined so that it could be implemented and used by all teams, regardless of experience or technical expertise. Advanced gives more flexibility to those doing more detailed monitoring and tracking of user behaviour.
Building a data-informed Applications Service at the MoJ
We’ve been working with MoJ to improve the way that people leaving prison apply for short-term accommodation, including a focus on performance data to support decision making.
Getting someone into accommodation significantly reduces their likelihood of reoffending, but until recently the process has largely been manual. This has made it difficult to monitor applications to housing providers, responses to applications, offers of accommodation and allocation of bedspaces.
With an end goal of increasing applications for accommodation through the service, we streamlined the key data points the service would collect. We then tested the service, monitoring these key data points. In the 10 weeks following the private beta launch, application volumes were 21% higher than the previous year’s figure.
The content of an accommodation application is largely made up of information already stored in other systems. In the original process, the person filling out the application would copy and paste information from other systems into a template. The length and complexity of these applications varied from person to person.
Using API calls to the source systems, we now pull the necessary information into digital application forms. This reduces the time and risk of error that comes naturally with any manual copy-paste process. We’ve also made it possible to understand how much time an application takes. Informing conversations on process bottlenecks, where training is needed, and further product features to support more efficient processing of applications.
Finally, we introduced PowerBi to visualise the data and help automate and streamline reporting. So service owners can now obtain real-time updates in an accessible format.
By working closely with teams on projects like these to get the basics right, we’re helping build capacity and capability in the sector. Laying the foundations for a smarter state by making sure the right people understand the what, why and how of the data they use.
To find out more, click here.
Head of Central Government Programme, techUK
Heather is Head of Central Government Programme at techUK, working to represent the supplier community of tech products and services to Central Government.
Prior to joining techUK in April 2022, Heather worked in the Economic Policy and Small States Section at the Commonwealth Secretariat. She led the organisation’s FinTech programme and worked to create an enabling environment for developing countries to take advantage of the socio-economic benefits of FinTech.
Before moving to the UK, Heather worked at the Office of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas and the Central Bank of The Bahamas.
Heather holds a Graduate Diploma in Law from BPP, a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from LSE, and a BA in Economics and Sociology from Macalester College.
Programme Manager, Central Government, techUK
Ellie joined techUK in March 2018 as a Programme Assistant to the Public Sector team and now works as a Programme Manager for the Central Government Programme.
The programme represents the supplier community of technology products and services in Central Government – in summary working to make Government a more informed buyer, increasing supplier visibility in order to improve their chances of supplying to Government Departments, and fostering better engagement between the public sector and industry. To find out more about what we do, how we do this and how you can get involved – make sure to get in touch!
Prior to joining techUK, Ellie completed Sixth Form in June 2015 and went on to work in Waitrose, moved on swiftly to walking dogs and finally, got an office job working for a small local business in North London, where she lives with her family and their two Bengal cats Kai and Nova.
When she isn’t working Ellie likes to spend time with her family and friends, her cats, and enjoys volunteering for diabetes charities. She has a keen interest in writing, escaping with a good book and expanding her knowledge watching far too many quiz shows!
Programme Manager, Cyber Security and Central Government, techUK
Annie joined techUK as the Programme Manager for Cyber Security and Central Government in September 2023.
Prior to joining techUK, Annie worked as an Account Manager at PLMR Healthcomms, a specialist healthcare agency providing public affairs support to a wide range of medical technology clients. Annie also spent time as an Intern in an MPs constituency office and as an Intern at the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed.
Annie graduated from Nottingham Trent University, where she was an active member of the lacrosse society.
Programme Manager, Central Government, techUK
Austin joined techUK’s Central Government team in March 2024 to launch a workstream within Education and EdTech.
With a career spanning technology, policy, media, events and comms, Austin has worked with technology communities, as well as policy leaders and practitioners in Education, Central and Local Government and the NHS.
Cutting his teeth working for Skills Matter, London’s developer community hub, Austin then moved to GovNet Communications where he launched Blockchain Live and the Cyber Security and Data Protection Summit. For the last 3 years he has worked with leaders in Education across the state and independent schools sectors, from primary up to higher education, with a strong research interest in technology and education management.
Team Assistant, Markets, techUK
Ella joined techUK in November 2023 as a Markets Team Assistant, supporting the Justice and Emergency Services, Central Government and Financial Services Programmes.
Before joining the team, she was working at the Magistrates' Courts in legal administration and graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2022. Ella attained an undergraduate degree in History and Politics, and a master's degree in International Relations and Security Studies, with a particular interest in studying asylum rights and gendered violence.
In her spare time she enjoys going to the gym, watching true crime documentaries, travelling, and making her best attempts to become a better cook.
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Building the Smarter State is techUK’s flagship public services conference and the go-to conference for public sector digital leaders.
2024 will mark the tenth anniversary of this hugely influential conference, where we will focus on the most pressing and important topics for public sector digital transformation.