Bridging the Gap: How Private Sector Tech Know-How is Transforming UK Public Services
Private sector technology skills are an integral driver of change within UK public services. Collaboration between public and private organisations promotes efficiency, transparency, and innovation in public services through service-based software models and new thinking.
Greater Agility
Public sector organisations have historically struggled under the weight of inflexible, legacy applications. The positive impact of the private sector in enabling public entities to adopt service-based software models, has brought about greater agility and cost-effectiveness, so they can buy the exact services they need and move more quickly.
Scalable Cloud Solutions
Central to this evolution is the adoption of cloud technology. The cloud has been integral to the ability to innovate, allowing Oxygen and other similarly sized firms to deliver solutions that are secure and globally scalable, increasing our compute as data peaks. This shift has not only facilitated innovation but has also addressed longstanding issues such as data security and availability. The cloud means we can deliver both of those requirements quickly and at a sensible price.
Data Driven Decision Making
Data transparency and analysis within public sector finance and procurement is of increasing importance. Public sector finance and procurement teams often don't have access to good data. Oxygen's approach to cleansing and categorising £6trn of spend data has empowered public bodies, giving them insights into expenditure patterns, enabling them to make informed decisions. Because of this, bodies can outsource aspects of their reporting to us, and because we're doing this at scale, reduce the cost of production; all possible due to the openness of data within the UK public sector.
Furthermore, technology has fostered unprecedented collaboration among public sector bodies. Through platforms and solutions developed by private sector enterprises, entities across geographical divides can share insights and best practices seamlessly.
Technology and Social Value
Technology is also playing an important role in scaling frameworks designed to promote social value. It's right for the public sector to be leading on social value, and frameworks can help here, whilst also allowing solutions to be delivered in a small, focused way rather than always defaulting to an enterprise-level initiative. By mandating criteria such as local employment and living wage standards, frameworks can maximise public sector investment while fostering community development.
Through service-based models, cloud technology, and data-driven insights, public services in the UK are better equipped to meet evolving demands while maximising value for taxpayers. As technology continues to evolve, the potential for further transformation and improvement in public services remains promising.
Heather Cover-Kus
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.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-cover-kus-ba636538
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Ellie Huckle
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!
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2015
- Twitter:
- @techUK,@techUK
- Website:
- www.techuk.org,www.techuk.org
- LinkedIn:
- https://bit.ly/3mtQ7Jx,https://bit.ly/3mtQ7Jx
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Annie Collings
Programme Manager, Cyber Resilience, techUK
Annie is the Programme Manager for Cyber Resilience at techUK. She first joined as the Programme Manager for Cyber Security and Central Government in September 2023.
In her role, Annie supports the Cyber Security SME Forum, engaging regularly with key government and industry stakeholders to advance the growth and development of SMEs in the cyber sector. Annie also coordinates events, engages with policy makers and represents techUK at a number of cyber security events.
Before joining techUK, Annie was an Account Manager at a specialist healthcare agency, where she provided public affairs support to a wide range of medical technology clients. She also gained experience as an intern in both an MP’s constituency office and with the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed. Annie holds a degree in International Relations from Nottingham Trent University.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Twitter:
- anniecollings24
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-collings-270150158/
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Austin Earl
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.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 07891 743 932
- Website:
- www.techuk.org,www.techuk.org
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spencer-earl/,https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spencer-earl/
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Ella Gago-Brookes
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.
- Email:
- [email protected]
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Authors
Rob Parker
Chief Technology Officer, Oxygen Finance
