Data is the backbone of local public services. From waste collection and housing to social care and emergency response, councils rely on accurate information to make informed decisions and deliver services efficiently. However, without consistent and structured data standards, local authorities face challenges such as duplication, inefficiencies, and barriers to collaboration.
Data standards have been well championed by the Local Government Association (LGA) since at least the 1990s, recognising that standardised data is at the heart of local service delivery.
In its recent report on public sector digital trends, Socitm emphasises the critical role of data standards in modernising local government services. The report highlights that adopting open standards facilitates seamless data sharing through APIs, streamlining processes, minimising errors and enhancing interoperability. For these benefits to be fully realised, widespread adoption of data standards by both councils and their technology suppliers is essential.
But how can data be best harnessed to improve local public services? GeoPlace has worked with every council in England and Wales to develop national address and street datasets. These contain Unique Property Reference Numbers (UPRNs) and Unique Street Reference Numbers (USRN)which facilitate the rapid and unambiguous referencing of assets, properties, land and streets. These identifiers are machine-readable meaning address and street data can be utilised, referenced and shared by software systems efficiently and accurately. And as the LGA says, they arekey to almost everything that’s delivered or achieved by councils. However adoption of this data is not without its challenges. Being complex in nature, there are common pitfalls where the data may not be correctly handled in terms of its consumption, update, interpretation, display and ability to be shared. Without resolution these issues can significantly impact the effective delivery of council services.
To help avoid these issues, GeoPlace has recently published a set of policy principles to support the effective use of address data in local authority software systems and beyond. These adopt The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) format of defining principles, making it very clear what the rationale and implications are of each one. The document also provides a template for councils to tailor the principles to their own local requirements to further assist in their adoption and inclusion into relevant policies and strategy documents. The principles provide a structured approach to integrating the UPRN into council systems, ensuring accurate, efficient, and consistent use of property information across departments.
The policy principles are supported by the LGA and Socitm and so the three organisations have come together for this techUK event to outline how these can help local authorities and their system suppliers to streamline service delivery, improve communication, and enable data-driven decision-making
Why should you attend?
Whether you're enhancing digital transformation, reducing operational inefficiencies, or strengthening community outcomes, this webinar will provide actionable steps to support the effective use of address data and the UPRN.
Speakers include:
Mark Williams, Senior Data Adviser, Local Government Association
Sam Smith, Director of Institute, Soctim
Luke Studden, Data Integration Manager, GeoPlace
Other Local Government techUK data standard initiatives:
If you’re interested in this, please also have a look at our local government data standards working group, Scalable Approach to Vulnerability via Interoperability (SAVVI) Tech Working Group MeetingWhat is SAVVI?
Opportunities for suppliers: 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.
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.
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)
Click below to join
Scalable Approach to Vulnerability via Interoperability (SAVVI) Tech Working Group
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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 Maratheftis
Associate Director, Local Public Services, techUK
Georgina Maratheftis
Associate Director, Local Public Services, techUK
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.
Programme Manager, Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK
Ileana Lupsa
Programme Manager, Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK
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.
Our Local Public Services Programme helps techUK members to navigate local government. We champion innovation that can create truly digital local public services helping to create thriving, productive and safer places for all. Visit the programme page here
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Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
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.
Programme Manager, Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK
Ileana Lupsa
Programme Manager, Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK
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.
