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This was the first meeting of the working group for 2025 and we will be sharing the subsequent dates for the 2025 meetings in the coming weeks.
Emily Sullivan, Head of Products, Local Digital, MHCLG, outlined the need for data standards and the work that is taking place within the Local Digital team and the importance of data standards.
Data is needed for interoperability, to share data; needing good data quality for using AI tools (linking to the government’s newly launched AI Action Plan); improving local government services who want to operate in a place based way. Central and local government can't do data standards all by themselves and that's why they recognise the importance of strong strategic supply relationships in relation to data standards to make sure that the core software that local government run, so engaging with suppliers is key. A joined up, unified approach to creating sustainable funding models and ownership for data standards is important and, making sure we've got consistent priorities, approaching taxonomy to local government data standards so that we have that kind of standard for standards so that all software suppliers or departments will be approaching you with similar requests.
Ian Singleton (ORUK) - Overview of ORUK (Directory of Community Services)
ORUK is an international data standard, technically known as Human Services data standard, but generally referred to as open referral. At the moment, everybody seems focused on creating their own directory of services rather than contributing to and reusing a single repository of accurate data, and that's what ORUK is striving for.
Why are we encouraging adoption? When we think it is possible to provide support, hopefully earlier to people to prevent issues. So the key things are that we need to provide accurate data and need to make that data available to anyone at the front end. If we get accurate data and available data, it's going will create benefits. There is an opportunity for everybody to make efficiency savings as there are a lot of organisations at the moment currently involved in collecting this data so we can make that a bit more efficient and then less confusion and probably less work.
Information work or research work for frontline workers trying to find information out about services and then a key one really is about reusing this data. There are many benefits gained from partners at that front end if they have access to that accurate data. The good thing is MHCLG is supporting councils through this and that’s the whole point of the ORUK project. This project is going to run until March 2027 offering that support. For now, ORUK has prepared for documents to help councils think through that implementation.
Paul Davidson, Director of Standards (SAVVI): Overview of SAVVI (Finding & Supporting Vulnerable people)
It is important to stress that SAVVI isn't a product, it's all about the standards we'd like local authorities to be able to reuse the investments that they make in technology, rather than buying a new database for each type of vulnerability. Which is why we're keen to work with and listen to suppliers, and we're working with the government digital service. We've developed a playbook and the idea of the playbook is that it covers a common process about finding and supporting people with any kind of vulnerability. We support that with the information governance steps.
To ensure that we're acting lawfully, ethically, transparently and then we've got a set of data standards. Designed to allow data to flow around that common process, we've also started to build a technology guide. So one of the challenges is how to get lawful technical, lawful and technical access to risk factor data.
Technically, we're working to propose a single data standard that can represent any risk factor data from any source. For those kinds of solutions and this forum we talked earlier on, we'd really like to see how we push forward with this forum to make it an area that we can have specific conversations.
Government Data Standards Authority, Firoze Salim, Head of Frameworks & Standards, CDDO
CDDO was established in April 2020 and our job is to improve cross-government coordination and data standards. We act as a convener and an active prep presence in government, to work with departments to understand use cases and specific interoperability problems that can be usefully tackled with common data standards. We look to set and insure standards. We set direction, and looked at developing capability. We give expert advice and particular projects and programmes. We're also here to try to drive continuous improvement.
Which and in some instances we look to develop and deliver specific services. We're here to focusing on standards that support data interoperability to enable better joined up services, boost efficiency and enable better analytics and business insights.
There is an appetite from government, through the SAVVI programme, to engage with industry and work with suppliers to create a fit for purpose, usable data standards. And as we can see from what was shared during the workshop, there is a huge amount of opportunity and possibility to create real change through data standards, and industry have a fantastic opportunity through this programme.
ACTION: In the next meetings, we want to hear from suppliers about their solutions in this space – to understand what solutions have been deployed or are being trialled and see some use cases to help build a better understanding of the use of data and the standards being created.
Scalable Approach to Vulnerability via Interoperability (SAVVI) Tech Working Group Meeting What is SAVVI?
Local Councils need to identify vulnerable people and households, and then lead a multi-agency, and community response to assessing needs and providing support and interventions. This has involved blending attributes from data sourced from many local and national organisations. Councils have found that datasets containing vulnerability attributes need to be discovered and shared; attributes are hard to extract from many datasets due to inconsistent semantics, quality, and governance; matching datasets is imprecise due to inconsistent use of identifiers and lack of biographic standards; action tracking in real-time across many agencies requires a secure standards based ecosystem, rather than shared product.
This techUK working group is an opportunity for techUK members to offer their input to the work and give a view from suppliers.
Scalable Approach to Vulnerability via Interoperability (SAVVI)
This is part of the Scalable Approach to Vulnerability via Interoperability (SAVVI) programme. We are convening this working group to ensure that suppliers have early sight of the SAVVI standard to ensure it is fit for purpose.
Georgina is techUK’s Associate Director for Local Public Services
Georgina works with suppliers that are active or looking to break into the market as well as with local public services to create the conditions for meaningful transformation. techUK regularly bring together local public services and supplier community to horizon scan and explore how the technologies of today and tomorrow can help solve some of the most pressing problems our communities face and improve outcomes for our people and places.
Prior to techUK, Georgina worked for a public policy events company where she managed the policy briefing division and was responsible for generating new ideas for events that would add value to the public sector. Georgina worked across a number of portfolios from education, criminal justice, and health but had a particular interest in public sector transformation and technology. Georgina also led on developing relationships across central and local government.
If you’d like to learn more about techUK, or want to get involved, get in touch.
Ileana Lupsa is the Programme Manager for Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, at techUK.
Ileana studied electronics, telecommunications and IT as an undergraduate, followed by an MSc in engineering and project management at Coventry University.
She refined her programme management expertise through her most recent roles working in the automotive industry.
Ileana is passionate about sustainability and creating a positive impact globally through innovation.
Tracy supports several areas at techUK, including Cyber Exchange, Cyber Security, Defence, Health and Social Care, Local Public Services, Nations and Regions and National Security.
Tracy joined techUK in March 2022, having worked in the education sector for 19 years, covering administration, research project support, IT support and event/training support. My most outstanding achievement has been running three very successful international conferences and over 300 training courses booked all over the globe!
Tracy has a great interest in tech. Gaming and computing have been a big part of her life, and now electric cars are an exciting look at the future. She has warmed to Alexa, even though it can sometimes be sassy!
Alison Young is the Associate Director Local Public Services.
Alison has background in International Trade & Investment, with experience in the public, private and third sector, advising on international trade, new markets, inward investment and working closely with UK cities and regions around investment into innovation and partnerships and technology. Prior to joining techUK, she has her own consulting business and was Head of Global Investment with the Connected Places Catapult. This role had a focus on FDI around the built environment and mobility, working across NetZero mobility projects in the UK and globally. She worked closely with the Innovation Districts Group, to foster and network of knowledge sharing and helped set up the Freeport Innovation Network, to foster innovation in the context of freeports with a focus on investment.
She spent six years living and working in the Middle East, with the Department for Business and Trade. Based first in Oman, leading on a number of sectors, from Education to Infrastructure, then based in the UAE, setting up the Technology and Smart Cities sector, with a core focus on AI and Fintech.
She is passionate about economic growth for the UK, to create jobs and opportunities; the green agenda and the decarbonisation of transport. She has a degree in Russian Studies MA, from the University of Edinburgh and is currently learning Arabic.
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Alison Young is the Associate Director Local Public Services.
Alison has background in International Trade & Investment, with experience in the public, private and third sector, advising on international trade, new markets, inward investment and working closely with UK cities and regions around investment into innovation and partnerships and technology. Prior to joining techUK, she has her own consulting business and was Head of Global Investment with the Connected Places Catapult. This role had a focus on FDI around the built environment and mobility, working across NetZero mobility projects in the UK and globally. She worked closely with the Innovation Districts Group, to foster and network of knowledge sharing and helped set up the Freeport Innovation Network, to foster innovation in the context of freeports with a focus on investment.
She spent six years living and working in the Middle East, with the Department for Business and Trade. Based first in Oman, leading on a number of sectors, from Education to Infrastructure, then based in the UAE, setting up the Technology and Smart Cities sector, with a core focus on AI and Fintech.
She is passionate about economic growth for the UK, to create jobs and opportunities; the green agenda and the decarbonisation of transport. She has a degree in Russian Studies MA, from the University of Edinburgh and is currently learning Arabic.
Ileana Lupsa is the Programme Manager for Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, at techUK.
Ileana studied electronics, telecommunications and IT as an undergraduate, followed by an MSc in engineering and project management at Coventry University.
She refined her programme management expertise through her most recent roles working in the automotive industry.
Ileana is passionate about sustainability and creating a positive impact globally through innovation.
Tracy supports several areas at techUK, including Cyber Exchange, Cyber Security, Defence, Health and Social Care, Local Public Services, Nations and Regions and National Security.
Tracy joined techUK in March 2022, having worked in the education sector for 19 years, covering administration, research project support, IT support and event/training support. My most outstanding achievement has been running three very successful international conferences and over 300 training courses booked all over the globe!
Tracy has a great interest in tech. Gaming and computing have been a big part of her life, and now electric cars are an exciting look at the future. She has warmed to Alexa, even though it can sometimes be sassy!
Georgina is techUK’s Associate Director for Local Public Services
Georgina works with suppliers that are active or looking to break into the market as well as with local public services to create the conditions for meaningful transformation. techUK regularly bring together local public services and supplier community to horizon scan and explore how the technologies of today and tomorrow can help solve some of the most pressing problems our communities face and improve outcomes for our people and places.
Prior to techUK, Georgina worked for a public policy events company where she managed the policy briefing division and was responsible for generating new ideas for events that would add value to the public sector. Georgina worked across a number of portfolios from education, criminal justice, and health but had a particular interest in public sector transformation and technology. Georgina also led on developing relationships across central and local government.
If you’d like to learn more about techUK, or want to get involved, get in touch.
