UK digital platform to connect public sector leaders

The UK government is building an online platform designed to help the public sector’s most senior leaders connect and work with each other.

The government’s newly launched National Leadership Centre (NLC) is seeking a supplier to help develop the digital service, which is currently in the prototype stage.

The prototype, which includes a website and directory, is currently being tested by users and is expected to exit the alpha phase this month.

Bids for the project will be open until 21 August, with work expected to start on 15 September. The contract is expected to have a total value of around £460,000 ($816,400).

The tender indicates that a multichannel approach will be preferred that addresses challenges such as meeting the need for a common platform to help public sector leaders contact each other across agency boundaries.

“User research and market analysis shows there is no existing service to bring together the most senior public sector leaders. Use of external services — [such as] LinkedIn — is not consistent, and use of sector-specific services does not cross organisation boundaries,” the request for tenders states.

“The most senior leaders of our public sector cannot find each other’s details, contact each other across boundaries with confidence, provide feedback to the prime minister as a group, and access cutting-edge support and content, curated for them.”

So far 26 companies have initiated applications for the tender, with four having submitted complete applications.

The NLC worked with digital leadership strategy, design and development consultant Convivio during the discovery and alpha phases of the program.

The NLC was established in 2018 based on the recommendations of the Public Services Leadership Taskforce. The organisation’s flagship leadership program brings together 100 of the most senior people across the public sector each year.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Sergey Nivens

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