What should successful place-based digital transformation look like?

Devolution has moved to the centre of the political agenda. The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, is promising a major transfer of power, funding and responsibility out of Westminster, with local leaders taking greater control over the services and decisions that shape their communities.  

The question now is whether public services have the digital capability, data and skills to make that shift work. 

We have collaborated with New Statesman on a report that brings together different perspectives to debate what successful place-based digital transformation should look like. Hear from: 

• Dan Aldridge MP, Chair of the Cyber Innovation and Digital Inclusion APPGs arguing that communities need a say in how new technology is introduced, alongside investment in the skills people will need as AI changes jobs and public services. 

• Professor Helen Margetts, Professor of Society and the Internet at Oxford Internet Institute examining how place-based data could give public servants a fuller picture of people’s needs, rather than treating each interaction in isolation.  

• Natasha Bray-Wright, Associate Director of Communications at Good Things Foundation making the case for treating digital inclusion as core public infrastructure. 

• James Towner, Chief Growth Officer at ArvatoConnect exploring the delivery challenge for local government of building lasting capability, sharing what works between places and ensuring greater autonomy does not widen existing inequalities.  

From political ambition to delivery 

Our CEO, Debra Maxwell, argues that Britain’s digital transformation must create opportunity in every postcode and that public procurement should build UK skills, regional delivery capability and more resilient public services.  

The discussion comes at a point when our research finds 56% of public sector organisations are delivering government-wide digital transformation programmes, up from 37% a year earlier. Yet 44% have no performance monitoring in place and 53% have yet to set KPIs.  

The report also looks at what measurable change can look like, featuring a case study on Wales Air Ambulance Charity.

For leaders across central government, local government and health, this is a timely discussion about what comes after devolution of power and what it will take to turn greater local control into measurable improvements for the public. 

Selecting the link will take you to the New Statesman website, where the report is hosted. This report was published in collaboration with New Statesman on 18th September 2026.