The public sector is no stranger to change, or new trends, but 2025 presents a pivotal moment.
As demands on public services grow and resources remain constrained, leaders face mounting pressure to innovate. While at the same time navigating challenges like cyber risks, skill shortages, and the unpredictable ripple effects of global events.
At Socitm, we understand these complexities. It’s why our Digital Trends 2025 collection [launched Monday 27 January] is designed to empower public sector leaders with actionable insights for the digital journey ahead.
The heart of this year’s report is about going beyond borders — transcending cultural, administrative, and organisational constraints to harness technology and data across networks, regions, and nations.
As someone who has worked in local public services for over 30 years, Socitm’s ‘beyond borders’ theme really chimes.
We are a sector which has a remarkable ability to adapt and innovate despite adversity. It’s a call to action for all of us to think beyond traditional constructs.
Digital and technology trends matter. Why?

Our report is more than a guide. It is a trusted resource for public sector executives, heads of service, IT leaders, and anyone invested in using digital, technology, and data.
We want to give you practical insights tailored for your unique circumstances. Helping you learn from others while applying lessons to your own organisation.
What makes this report unique is its grounded approach. We don’t focus on predictions that imply unattainable foresight. Instead, we emphasize enduring trends—changes that will have lasting impacts over time. This distinction ensures the report remains relevant, reliable, and actionable.
3 trends shaping 2025 [they’re not all digital]
This year, we’ve honed in on three priorities identified by Socitm’s Local CIO Council and international partners:
- Reimagining Services: Embracing new ways of working to redesign services around people’s needs, not organisational silos.
- Harnessing Data: Leveraging data as a strategic asset to drive decisions, inform policies, and deliver better outcomes.
- Cyber Security: Ensuring resilience and safeguarding public services against ever-evolving digital threats.
I’d really encourage everyone to take advantage of the case studies that highlight best practice in these areas.
We know from our members how useful sharing of knowledge as this showcasing helps us all know there is support out there and we don’t have to go it alone.
Balancing enthusiasm for digital trends with realism
In my role as Socitm president, I see the amazing work my colleagues across the UK are delivering. Despite the pressure they are under. So, while technology offers incredible opportunities, its rapid pace of development can outstrip our ability to adopt and adapt.
It’s crucial to temper enthusiasm with a realistic understanding of capacity and capability. Cyber risks, data quality issues, and unexpected global events like the pandemic or geopolitical conflicts serve as stark reminders of the challenges ahead.
Yet, amid these difficulties, we deliver phenomenal change, innovation, and reform. This resilience and creativity are testaments to the people driving these efforts — a point that resonates deeply with me as someone passionate about people development and the human side of transformation.
Moving forward together
At its core, Socitm’s Digital Trends report emphasises the importance of aligning technology, data, and digital strategies with cultural and organisational change. It’s about ensuring that digital isn’t just a buzzword but a catalyst for meaningful transformation that puts people first.
As we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead, I encourage you to use this report as a tool for collaboration and inspiration.
Together, we can go beyond borders and reimagine the future of public services for the better.
Photo of Socitm president Carol Williams by Matt Horwood.