Local councils are set to benefit from UK government-led digital transformation to their services.

The new GDS Local unit within the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) will work to make everyday tasks across local services faster and easier for residents through a dedicated team of central and local government tech experts.

GDS Local is set to focus on three core areas, the first of which is working with councils to ensure they can eventually use GOV.UK One Login and the GOV.UK App to access national and local services via a single account.

The team will also work on reforming how councils buy technology, trying to avoid long-term contract lock ins with single suppliers.

GDS Local will also support councils to share anonymised data on issues like homelessness trends or serve demand through the Government Digital and Data Hub, facilitating sector-wide learning and the ability to scale innovations.

“For too long, local councils have been left out of the digital transformation happening across central government, despite delivering the services that matter most to, and are closest to, people’s lives,” minister for digital government, Ian Murray said.

“That changes today. GDS Local will help end the postcode lottery for digital services, giving every community access to modern, joined up and reliable online services. “This is about making government work seamlessly for people wherever they live and delivering the world-class local digital experience they rightly expect.”

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Part of the government’s blueprint for modern digital government, it also delivers on the commitments of the state of digital government review to unlock £45 billion in productivity benefits across the public sector every year.

To bolster the work of the GDS Local unit, the UK government is also rolling out the Government Digital and Data Hub. This is a new online platform where public sector digital and data professionals can learn, connect and share expertise.

The Hub brings together staff from central government, local councils, the NHS and other public bodies in one place for the first time. It gives them access to training courses, career guidance, networking events and practical resources to help improve their skills.

The platform will help grow the UK’s public sector digital workforce, ensuring staff have the skills needed to deliver faster, simpler and more secure services for the public.