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Newsletter: Your new and exclusive member-only research

Out of focus fireworks

Plus, Microsoft training is back for the last time this year!

Your events, training and resources

You have 2 new key updates this week. Take a look at:

  1. New free training with Microsoft on Monday 4 to Friday 8 December. Join the last Change Agent programme of the year (and tell all your friends and passing acquaintances).
  2. New member-only research: who’s using which tech to do what? See how other local public service providers are using IoT, local data, digital twins, and intelligent automation to get the best and most from people and resources. And at the same time improve place-based outcomes.
    Log in to read: Enabling local digital outcomes

Our annual alumni meeting

ICYMI Our meeting on Thursday 7 December has moved online. Thank you so much to everyone who informed this decision. These meetings are there to support you. And as much as we want to see you in person, if it’s just not possible to travel then the meeting will come to you.

The agenda covers the same people-centric topics. We hope being online makes it easier for you to drop into that one key session that really grabbed your attention.

Not sure where to start? Joining your next regional meeting is a good first step. And if there isn’t one in yours, sign into someone else’s! Your Socitm colleague in Canterbury might just the thing you’re doing in Cambridge.

Take care. I hope you can have a lovely weekend.

Alex.

Do you benchmark?

Socitm’s benchmarking has been helping members like you identify their departmental strengths and weaknesses for over 24 years.

In data collected between April 2021 and March 2023, we can see that users have short memories!
During the Covid-19 pandemic, in appreciation for the changes in working that ICT provided, our benchmark for overall satisfaction rose by 10%. However, recent responses have dropped back by 4.5%. While this is still a high result, it shows that continual effort is required to fulfil the expectation of users.

Read more

Ready for Windows 11?

This week’s webinar wasn’t all hedgehog-based :), but it was an enjoyable start. Simon Townsend started with a demonstration of his IGEL desktop and then shared what’s behind these solutions and why. It is an honest and stark look into electronic waste, and how we can tackle some of it and at the same time save money.

Short on time? Skip to these highlights/chapters (with approx. timings):
01:16 Space Hedgehog – the IGEL desktop
06:17 Secure, sustainable and cost effective and Simon’s observations of local government priorities
12:35 Another challenge is coming…Windows 11
13:58 The cost of migrating
15:24 Solution #1: take Windows off the endpoint
18:39 Solution #2: apps to the Cloud
20:05 But what about those desktops…
23:45 The numbers
28:08 Questions

Watch this week’s webinar.

Next Wednesday, learn how to deliver savings while also enhancing your citizens’ experience. See what a Contact-Center-as-a-Service (CCaaS) solution, such as Amazon Connect, can offer you.

AI: what you should know

AI experts and senior local gov leaders met to consider what this rapidly changing environment means for the sector.

Your summary of the key themes discussed is in the Resource Hub and it includes:

  • awareness of AI among leaders;
  • the ethics, biases, and the unconscious bias;
  • the data breaches that AI might cause;
  • skills and tools and how it can be used.

Get the best value

Training

Reflect on the Leadership Academy training experience with Eleri Thomas – Empowering Women graduate [Class of London 2022]

How was your course? Tell us 🙂

December’s CPD certified workshops

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 Sara Razon.

On completion of training, don’t forget to claim your CPD points.

Browse all training

Socitm Advisory

System migration to enable future innovations and efficiencies

Swansea underwent a migration of their HR, payroll, finance and procurement systems from a legacy Oracle E-Business Suite system to Oracle Fusion Cloud.
Discover the whole project (that was paused due to Covid-19).

Are you making full use of your membership?

As part of your membership you can receive between 2 and 12 hours of FREE consultancy advice per year. To make use of your inclusive consultancy hours, get in touch or log in to My Account.
Visit Socitm Advisory

Events from Socitm and our partners

Meet up with your Socitm colleagues for great networking opportunities.

Next few weeks or so…

Missed a webinar? Past recordings are available to watch in the resource hub. Also, make sure to check out our regional events. There’s a mix of online and in-person meetings, so please feel free to join any that are outside your area.

Browse all events

Going to techUK’s Digital Ethics Summit?

Digital Ethics Summit 2023 – Seizing the moment

Date: Wednesday 6 December
Time: 09:00 to 18:00
Venue: Central London
Your Socitm colleagues Martin Ferguson and Sam Smith will be at this techUK summit. It is free to attend, but you will need to create a user account on techuk.org so you can register.

LocalGov Drupal Week

It’s the first annual LocalGov Drupal Week from Monday 13 to Friday 17 November.
In a week of virtual sessions, you can find best practice, code and experiences – all focused on doing more with less. It’s an excellent opportunity to network and solve problems with digital professionals from councils and their suppliers.
Browse the week

Thank you for reading (or scrolling) this far! Just one more thing…

It’s back to Atlas Obscura this week 🙂 Was reminded of an excellent episode of Britain’s Lost Masterpieces (not alas currently on iPlayer) with Tuesday’s episode on Gregynog Hall. The Davies sisters created an amazing art collection, which was bequeathed to the University of Wales.