Govtech blog

It seems a while ago but in the Chancellor’s Spring Budget 2024, there was a section focused on public service productivity, with services tasked to become more digitally inclusive, to explore artificial intelligence (AI) and to use automation to improve productivity. Although local authorities were not specifically mentioned in that part of the Budget, Ministers this week wrote to Chief Executives formally asking councils to produce productivity plans. Amidst some understandable groans, it remains the case that every forecaster is predicting continued pressure on council finances so, to many of us, this seems like déjà vu. Whoever forms a government after the next election will be looking to productivity as a means to increase capacity. As experts in Revenues and Benefits automation, we have a good understanding of how it improves productivity and increases capacity.

The digital age that we live in is ever advancing at an incredible rate. With the introduction of automation, productivity is enhanced, and the bottom line is ultimately maximised. But what happens when, for some reason, data has been entered incorrectly by a claimant and the system is then unable to accurately verify it against the database?

Earlier this month we attended the IRRV Annual Conference and Exhibition 2023 in Telford. Although we support many, if not most of the IRRV expos across the UK, this is by far the largest in our industry. And judging by how busy our stand was, it appears that the majority of local authorities across England and Wales attended – we got to meet our Scottish peers at their own Conference last month.

Recently, I completed a week of work experience at Govtech Solutions. I am a student at Pate’s Grammar School going into year 11, and I thought it would be a good idea to do some work experience during the summer. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to do so at Govtech, and it exceeded my expectations. 

The local government automation journey

Automation has been on the local government agenda for several years now and we all have a pretty good understanding of what it is. Or at least we believe we do. But does it have the same meaning to everyone?

I joined Govtech as their project manager almost 10 years ago. I had just completed 24 years of service for a large London Local Authority, and that was me done; I planned to put my work in Local Government firmly in the rear-view mirror. However, there was one company I felt compelled to say a personal goodbye to, and that was Govtech. 

How to Maximise Automation in Revenues & Benefits and the important role that statistics play.

In the current economic climate, more pressure than ever before is being put onto Local Authorities to save money and resources and of course automation plays a big part in that.

Our technological world is ever changing and ever advancing, so it’s more important than ever that we keep up to date with the world of data protection so that we can continue to keep our customers data as safe and secure as ever before. 

In November 2008, as I approached my 50th birthday, I moved my family from Essex and escaped to the countryside of Gloucestershire with the desire to discover a completely new lifestyle.

Once settled in my new home I decided to start looking for a job, and in the Spring of 2009 came across an on-line advertisement for an ‘IDCS Operator’ for Govtech Solutions Ltd, based in Cirencester.

The largest event on the Revenues & Benefits calendar, the 2022 IRRV Annual Conference & Exhibition in Telford, held at the beginning of October was as usual well attended, vibrant and informative with many brilliant speakers delivering their thoughts on most important topics impacting local authorities. We’d like to thank the Institute for organising such a valuable event.

Monday September 12th was a very special day for Govtech this year, as two of our colleagues, Catherine and Andrew, said ‘I do’ in front of their family, friends and co-workers and united in marriage.

What unusual property do the words Flour, Tern and Thirsty have in common? Take out one letter and they each spell a Number!

The answer seems obvious once you know it, doesn’t it? Alan, our Client Service Manager & DPO, put us through our paces with his quiz once again when we met for our annual summer outing. This year, our traditional BBQ was replaced by a pizza party at a Cirencester venue which we have visited before on several occasions: the Corinium Hotel. After a few rather miserable rainy days, even the weather was kind to us, and that Friday afternoon turned out to be unexpectedly sunny and warm which allowed us to enjoy al fresco dining.