LGC View - O2 Future Fund
Councils across the UK are looking to transform their organisations - to improve productivity and efficiency, achieve culture change and develop new ways of achieving outcomes for residents while making savings. Technology has an enormous role to play.
So I am delighted to be supporting the Future Fund from the O2 Local Government Futures Forum. The initiative gives you the opportunity to pitch your digital project idea to a panel of judges, and compete to win a share of the £250,000 fund.
There is a need for councils and the government to rethink public services in the online age, and to go ‘digital by default’
Three winners will receive between £50,000 and £125,000 of consultancy and technology from O2 to make their project a reality. LGC will be reporting on the progress of the winning projects.
Martha Lane Fox has written in LGC about the need for councils and the government to rethink public services in the online age, and to go ‘digital by default’.
Technology is creating a communications revolution, such as the growing use of Twitter by council communication teams, senior officers and councillors. Technology is also rewriting the rules on staff development and progression - such as the ‘bar camp’ and ‘unconference’ movement taking the ranks of up-and-coming officers by storm.
While recent LGC research found that councils are facing the challenge of building digital skills, channel shift is a priority for most.
But this is just the start. Technology has far more to offer, providing new ways of engaging, paying and managing demand.
I hope to see you at the launch event on 25 April to hear more about the project and be inspired by the opportunities. You can register at O2.co.uk/futurefund.
Emma Maier, editor
emma.maier@emap.com
How it works
- Launch event held in Stratford-on-Avon, 25 April
- Open for entries, 25 April
- Entry deadline, 20 June 2012
- Finalists pitch to judges, July 2012
- Winners announced
- LGC follows progress as projects get under way
Any UK council is eligible to take part
Get involved
The launch event on 25 April will be an opportunity to find out more and to gather inspiration from shared examples of what technology can offer.
Register your interest at: O2.co.uk/futurefund
If you are not able to make the event, you will still be able to enter.
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