A front office for government

Delivering public services in the digital age.

A week long series of seminars, 05-09 March 2012

Post Office Ltd is hosting a week-long series of free-to-attend seminars for public officials to explore a range of challenges facing government. Each seminar will bring together leading officials and partners to share plans, experiences and successes, enabling attendees to discuss their challenges, explore solutions, gain new insights and learn from best practice.

Topics covered include digital by default, digital inclusion, government communications, identity assurance and reducing fraud, working with external organisations, social and financial inclusion and delivering local services (details below),    

The Post Office is embarking on a major investment programme to improve customer service, including new and innovative government services. These seminars will help attendees understand how the Post Office is changing to meet government needs.

Registration
Attendance is free. To register your place email events@civilserviceworld.com indicating which session you would like to attend. Please provide your name, role and organisation. Refreshments will be provided.

When  
5 - 9 March 2012

Where
All seminars will take place at Dept for Business, Innovation & Skills Conference Centre, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1 H 0ET. http://www.bis.gov.uk/contact/london-offices

Exhibition
Attendees will have the opportunity to see an exhibition of new Post Office services including biometric identity and assisted digital services.

Programme

Monday 5 March

10am – 12pm Digital by default: putting users at the heart of the channel shift agenda
This seminar will examine how government policy teams can best place user needs at the centre of service design, including excluded and vulnerable users. Confirmed speakers include:

Graham Walker, Government Director, Digital Champion / Race Online 2012
Joan Wood, Director, Online Service & Digital Development, HMRC 
Bob Gann, Director of Strategy & Engagement, NHS Choices, Dept of Health
Teresa Perchard, Director of Policy, Citizens Advice Bureau
Martin Moran, Commercial Director, Post Office Ltd

2 – 4pm Delivering policy in the new world of government communications
The government communications environment is changing. This seminar will explore the emerging communication landscape and addresses how officials can achieve their policy objectives. Newly-appointed Cabinet Office Executive Director for Communications, Jenny Grey, will set out her vision, how the new environment will operate and what it means for policy leads and others. Rachel Neaman, Deputy Director, Corporate Communications at Department of Health will explore her department’s innovative use of digital channels, including social media. Confirmed speakers include:

Graham Walker, Government Director, Digital Champion/Race Online
Jenny Gray, Executive Director for Government Communication, No 10 and Cabinet Office
Rachel Neaman, Deputy Director, Corporate Communications, Department of Health
Dr David Halpern, Head of Behavioural Insight Team, No.10 and Cabinet Office
Sara Moseley, Director of Communications, Welsh Assembly Government

Tuesday 6 March

10am - 12pm Innovative ways to work with external partners
This seminar explores how officials can work with external partners to achieve their aims, for example through fostering new forms of delivery and payment by results. How can these further develop expertise in policy and implementation teams? Confirmed speakers include:

Sally Collier, Executive Director, Policy, Efficiency & Reform Group, Cabinet Office
Neil Cleeveley, Director, Policy & Communications, National Assoc fo Voluntary and Community Action
Rob Wormald, Associate Consultant, PublicCo Ltd
Mike Young, Chief Operating Officer, Post Office Ltd

2-4pm Where next for digital inclusion?
What are the key challenges and issues around digital inclusion? This session will consider these questions from the perspective and learning’s of digital inclusion partners and will provide an overview of the definition of ‘Assisted Digital.’ Officials will gain a better understanding of how to engage with and support digital inclusion through their own policy decisions; partners will learn how they can help departments deliver ‘Digital by Default’ plans and service those groups needing ‘Assisted Digital’ support. Confirmed speakers include:

Graham Walker, Government Director, Digital Champion/Race Online
Leigh Smyth, Managing Director, Digital Champion
Felicity Singleton, Deputy Director, Digital Policy, Cabinet Office and Head of Policy, Government Digital Service
Martin Wilson, Head of Media Literacy, BBC
Kevin Seller, Head of Government Services, Post Office Ltd

Wednesday 7 March

10.30am-12pm Transformation of the Post Office network
The Government has committed significant funding to modernise the Post Office network. Attendees will gain an understanding of the Post Office transformation and how it can support their own service delivery objectives. Conformed speakers include:

Stephen Lovegrove, Chief Executive, Shareholder Executive, BIS,
Jeremy Oppenheim, UK Border Agency, Home Office
Kevin Gilliland, Network and Sales Director, Post Office Ltd

2-4pm Social and financial exclusion – how can the Post Office support inclusion?
This seminar examines how social and financial exclusion can be tackled and how to ensure that public service reform will reduce, not exacerbate, social and financial inclusion. Confirmed speakers include:

Mark Lyonette, Chief Executive, Association of British Credit Unions.
June Milligan, DG, Local Government and Communities, Welsh Government
Mark Fisher, Director of Social Justice, Dept for Work & Pensions
Jane Vass, Head of Policy, Age UK
Nick Kennett, Director, Financial Services, Post Office Ltd

Thursday 8 March

10am-12pm Local choices and local services for local growth
This seminar explores the options for improving local service delivery, including greater use of digital channels, at reduced cost. Attendees will learn from best practice across the country, sharing lessons and outcomes from innovative work underway in Reading, Sheffield and Westminster. Confirmed speakers include:

Councillor Richard Kemp, Deputy Leader, Liverpool City Council
Helen Bailey, Chief Executive, Local Partnerships
Mark Cullinan, Chief Executive, Lancaster City Council
Nick Dexter, Deputy Director, Community Budgets & Local Delivery, Department for Communities and Local Government
Kevin Seller, Head of Government Services, Post Office Ltd

Friday 9 March

9am-11am Breakfast session: Post Office, now and in the future
Hosted by Roger Gale, General Manager and Kevin Seller, Head of Government Services, Post Office Ltd.
This session will explore and dispel some of the myths surrounding the Post Office and set out the organisation’s strategy and plans for network modernisation and delivering public services, including digital services. Breakfast will be provided, registration required.

12 - 2pm Lunch session: Post Office as a front office for government
Hosted by Kevin Seller, Head of Government Services and Spencer Chapman, Project Manager, Post Office Ltd.
This session will explore in detail government services provided by Post Office for government departments and local councils, including case studies, and set out its plans for expanding its service offerings. Lunch will be provided, registration required.