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Your events, training and resources
State of the Sector: AI
Our colleagues at the LGA are currently undertaking a survey to explore the use of Artificial Intelligence in English councils. It gives you the opportunity to highlight where you are realising benefits from using AI, and also you see risks and challenges.
An invitation to take part in the survey has been sent to all councils with a deadline of 1 March. If you have not received yours and would like to take part in the survey check the newsletter in your inbox (or junk folder) for the LGA’s contact details.
Microsoft Change Agent training
Don’t forget that the first Change Agent course of 2024 starts next week on Thursday 22 February. It’s the much-requested modular version of the intensive week-long programme. So, it’s 1 day (mostly half-days) a week for 6 weeks.
Please add hello@socitm.gv-c.com to your Outlook safe senders list (I strongly encourage newsletter subscription as a handy summary of everything Socitm-related you need).
I hope you can have a great weekend.
Best wishes,
Alex.
Your Resource Hub
2024’s Public Sector Digital and Technology Trends
The challenge for public service organisations in 2024 is managing growing demands and leading the momentum of digital opportunities – culture, technologies and data – ensuring no one and no place gets left behind. Get the super-top level overview first from the infographic and summary.
You might have missed…
Webinar: Revolutionising social care with AI
ICS.AI hosted Wednesday’s webinar looking at potential opportunities to use AI. It could streamline the entire spectrum of assessment processes at the digital front door, but also to deliver improved outcomes and provide substantial financial benefits, aligning financial management with service quality
ICS.AI also shared these YouTube clips:
- Social care at the coalface
- The leadership/CEO perspective
- And you can watch just the demonstrations
Webinar Feedback
Check your email newsletter for the survey link. For every completed survey they receive ICS will make a £10 donation to the National Trust.
The recording is divided into easy to navigate chapters, with subtitles and transcript available via the video player toolbar.
Website accessibility
Log in to check your Silktide Score and to complete your Digital Accessibility Maturity Assessment.
You will need a user account on socitm.net to access member-only resources. Let us know if need any support.
Closing the gap between data and insight
Socitm and Impera have joined forces
We are on a mission to enhance the lives of people and the environment, using the power of data.
At the heart of this collaboration is the desire to close the distance between data and insight. We know that the sector can act in an impactful way when insights are generated quicker, but we also know that analytical resources are scarce.
Over the coming months, Socitm and Impera will be co-launching new data tools which have been tried and tested in the sector already, address problems all councils face, are easy to replicate, and increase efficiency of decision making.
Reimagining communities and places
09.30 to 16.30 on Wednesday 28 February in Sheffield
A journey through data, technologies and service design
The event will bring together delegates and presenters from a mix of backgrounds and experiences. Everyone is united in their commitment to people-centred service design and transformation.
Your chair and other guests include:
- Huw McKee, Head of IT and Digital Transformation for Conwy Council and Socitm President from 2022 to 23 is your chair for this in-person conference day
- Oracle will be taking an agile approach to service design with cloud technology and AI
- Dr. Peter Dewhurst will share his place making strategies for Derby and Derbyshire
- Robert Ling (Director of Transformation, North Yorkshire County Council) and Julian Patmore (Head of Operational Services for Cambridgeshire County and Peterborough City Councils) will both talk about how they’re using data and digital technology to transform services
- Discover more about community wealth building from Steve Wilson (from Kent County Council’s Commercial Services Group)
- See how robust identity security can free up your resources to focus on innovation and personalised citizen experiences
National conference days are member-only events.
Training
February’s virtual and in-person programmes
- Thursday 22 February: Change Agent Reflector [6 weekly modules] | Teams | 0 points
- Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 February: Top Talent | London | 4 points | CPD-certified
March’s in-person leadership programmes
- Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 March: Place-Based Leadership | London | 4 points
- Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 March: Empowering Women | Yorkshire | 3 points | CPD-certified
Training places are included in your organisational membership – subject to availability and membership level. If you have any questions or would like further information, please email the training team.
Events
Member-only meetings
Meet people for catching-up, problem sharing (and solving) and great networking.
- Wednesday 28 February: in-person conference day on service design and transformation (Sheffield)
- Thursday 29 February: Members Connection Hour
- Friday 1 March: in-person meeting for the South West (in Exeter)
- Wednesday 6 March: virtual meeting for members in the East
- Friday 22 March: in-person meeting for members in the North West (Manchester)
Free webinars (from Socitm and our partners)
- Wednesday 21 February: How to improve council process efficiency
- Thursday 22 February
- Friday 23 February: Safeguarding, intelligent monitoring and data in the AI era
- Friday 1 March: Cyber focus: You should “assume breach” with the evolving ransomware threat
VP Matt Lewis will be joined on the session by Morten Gammelgard, co-founder of BullWall, a key strategic partner of SRS (of which Matt is the COO). - Wednesday 6 March: Microsoft Innovation and Collaboration Forum
- Wednesday 6 to Friday 8 March: Powering Digital Public Services 2024
- Tuesday 19 March: AWS Public Sector Day: Collaborating to solve today’s public sector challenges [London]
- Wednesday 20 March: Unleashing the strategic advantage of escalated IT support services)
- 11:00 Role of AI and Data: Leveraging technology while reducing costs
- 12:30 Embedding a culture of Continuing Professional Development in DDaT teams
Missed a webinar? Past recordings are available to watch in the resource hub.
Webinars are open to anyone in the public sector, membership is not necessary, so please do share them with your network.
Come and say hello
- Wednesday 28 February: HETT North 2024 (Manchester)
Join Institute Director Sam Smith for a fireside chat with Mark Nicholas from NHS England: what does the future of digital look like in social care? - Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 May: DigiGov Expo (London)
Join Nadira Hussain, Mark Lumley and Sam Smith on Wednesday
President’s Conference
Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 June in Birmingham
There will be two Socitm presidents in Birmingham, each with a particular policy focus. Whatever that policy is, it’s worth reminding ourselves that at the heart are people. Us and our communities..
Postgraduate Access Scholarships
50 scholarships for students from under-represented backgrounds beginning a Masters in 2024
The University of Birmingham is proud to offer 50 scholarships worth £4,000 each to enhance the accessibility of postgraduate study for students from widening participation backgrounds.
As we identify how we work better with higher education institutions to enhance the additional benefits Socitm can offer its members, we have become aware of the University of Birmingham’s widening access scholarships to enable students from under-represented backgrounds in pursuing postgraduate study.
There is an opportunity to study public management or administration.
Thank you for reading (or scrolling) this far! Just one more thing…
Episodes of Radio 4’s More or Less have featured here before. But have you heard another numbers and statistics based podcast, Trendy? One of the co-hosts is Prof Sir John Curtice (coming to general election coverage near you sometime this year no doubt).
Photo by RF._.studio