Transform drives the government's shift to digital

Today, Martha Lane Fox, the Government’s Digital Champion, and Francis Maude, Minister for Cabinet Office published initial proposals to make digital the default delivery mechanism for public services.

The proposals were based on a number of recommendations made to Fox in an independent strategic review of Directgov carried out by Transform.

The context for the review was the reform of public services and the Government’s drive for greater efficiency and transparency. The purpose was to provide a radical new vision and strategic direction for Directgov, the government’s official website for citizens.

Our recommendations placed digital at the heart of service delivery and a number of immediate actions are now being taken forward by the Government with further work being considered by departments.

These actions include the recruitment of an Executive Director of Digital and Information, giving Directgov the ‘teeth’ to improve the user experience of digital public services, and producing a clear timetable for migrating all government transactional services to Directgov. A new Ministerial Working Group on Digital will also be set up with Fox’s participation, demonstrating the commitment to digital by default.

Speaking about her work, Martha Lane Fox said: “For years, businesses have been using digital communications to improve services and engagement with their consumers. Government should take advantage of the more open, agile and cheaper digital technologies to deliver simpler and more effective digital services to users, particularly to disadvantaged groups who are some of the heaviest users of government services.”

Francis Maude applauded the clarity of Fox’s proposals given the complexity of the subject and said: “We will use digital technology to drive better services and lower costs… The shift towards online services also has the power to transform the relationship between Government and individuals. As Martha Lane Fox’s insightful report shows quality online services can be the default solution for people needing Government services. Not only are services more convenient and cheaper, but they can be better and more personalised.”

As channel shift specialists, Transform was well placed to bring experience and expertise to the review of Directgov. Through our work for Government in the areas of health and education we are skilled in taking digital services to the public in order better meet the needs of users, and to improve their interaction with Government.

For more information about Transform’s channel shift work, email Jonathan Akwue or call him on 020 3128 8304.

For more information on the Government’s digital agenda see the Cabinet Office Press Notice .