 |
 |
|
Why a conference on Public Service Innovation? The National School of Government Public Service Innovation conference was designed with the Young Foundation and NESTA, the aim was to generate an awareness of public service innovations and to discuss the role of government in diffusing innovative practice.
|
Quick LinksKey InnovatorsProgramme Case Studies Presentations Gallery Exhibition Contact Us Media Evaluation Form Delegate Comments |
The conference’s target audience was senior civil servants and innovation leaders working across the public services. The National School produced case studies with the Young Foundation and others to demonstrate the journey of innovation in the public sector and to establish learning points from which we can all benefit.
Aims of the conference were to
At the conference
The Public Innovation Conference was a start - it demonstrated the need for more interchange between those in government and public innovators. The report from the conference - ‘Creating the Conditions for Public Innovation’ - makes recommendations on how innovation might flow better around the public system. Every innovation story called for ‘space’ to breadth. Obstacles arise when local initiatives hit official systems – like snowflakes falling on scaffolding - overcoming these can be difficult for innovators whose voice is often not heard. Their message to those in leadership positions is to take the risk and open doors for innovators. The report is available online.
Future activities will include
In the meantime please post your comments to s.maddock@nationalschool.gsi.gov.uk – comments from all angles on public innovation diffusion are welcome
Key Innovators' Thoughts Top ^
"This conference chimes with Gordon Brown's recent comments on the importance of social innovation at a time when many of the best governments around the world are turning their attention to innovation and moving beyond warm words."
Geoff Mulgan, Director, Young Foundation
"Over the last two years, innovation has been recognised as a top priority for the public sector and is the word on the lips of every senior civil servant. A focus on innovation promises not just to reduce costs but to improve the quality of delivery in the sector.
"What we must ensure, however, is that this 'focus on innovation' moves from rhetoric to reality. An understanding of how we improve the public sector's capacity for innovation must follow swiftly on recognition of the need to innovate.
"To achieve this, we must work directly with the people who are responsible for the delivery of public services. Together we need to ensure they have the right skills to innovate, and exist in a culture that values risk-taking and provides space and finance for innovation to flourish.
"The National School of Government conference represents a chance to address key questions about how to create the right climate for innovation with the very people who will be responsible for it. How do you create the right environment for innovation? What are the consequences for business strategy and leadership of a focus on innovation? How do you build a team that can innovate?
"The practical, participatory nature of the conference mirrors a lot of our own work in this area at NESTA. We are interested in testing out a range of different incentives to explore the ways in which innovation in the public sector can be harnessed and improved."
Jonathan Kestenbaum, NESTA, CEO
Programme Top ^
Click here to download the Conference Programme 
162KB
Case Studies Top ^
Click here to download the Case Study Report 828KB
Exhibition Top ^
The following organisations exhibited at the conference:
National School of Government
www.nationalschool.gov.uk
NESTA
www.nesta.org.uk
Young Foundation
www.youngfoundation.org
The Innovation Unit
www.innovation-unit.co.uk
Centre for Excellence in Leadership
www.centreforexcellence.org.uk
Foresight, Government Office for Science
www.foresight.gov.uk
Local Government Association
www.lga.gov.uk
Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA)
www.idea.gov.uk
NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement
www.institute.nhs.uk
Links UK - Community Links
www.community-links.org
UK Workforce Hub
www.ukworkforcehub.org.uk
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/affiliates
Contact Us Top ^
Conference Enquiries:
Sue Hurt
Tel: +44 (0) 1344 634 341
Lucy Hosking MacLeod
Tel: +44 (0) 1344 634 185
Fax: +44 (0) 1344 634 090
Exhibition and Sponsorship Enquiries:
Hannah Pettit
Tel: +44 (0) 1344 634 124
To contact the team via Email: s.maddock@nationalschool.gsi.gov.uk
For media enquiries please see below.
Media Top ^
HACKING THROUGH THE JUNGLE’ TO INNOVATE
Wired-GOV – 1 November
Despite the talk, innovation is very rarely taken seriously. But this could change thanks to the work of the National School of Government, Young Foundation and NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) who have joined forces to show – through new research unveiled at their conference on public innovation on 1 November – that the public sector can innovate, but often it is despite, not because of, the systems they are working in.
Read more…
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-78JMLT
REFORMERS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE
Whitehall and Westminster World – 1 November 2007
Innovators from across the public services have been discussing how ground-breaking change can be encouraged across the sector.
Cabinet secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell opened the conference on public sector reform on Thursday with a speech examining the barriers to innovation and describing what was needed to create a more welcoming environment for frontline reformers….
Read more…
http://www.civilservicenetwork.com/news/article.html?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=24953&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=20&cHash=b77293d734
Media enquiries should be directed to Rob Reynolds:
Tel: +44 (0) 1344 634 145
Email: rob.reynolds@nationalschool.gsi.gov.uk
"Dr Su Maddock writes about a new culture of innovation being introduced by the National School of Government (article from September's Public Finance magazine http://www.publicfinance.co.uk") More...
Su Maddock talks to Whitehall & Westminster World - 25 September 2007
Delegate Comments Top ^
“An excellent collection of speakers and panel members”
“A very comprehensive debate, well orchestrated which tackled the key issues”
“Diversity of speakers and seniority of speakers showed the importance of this issue and thinking at highest levels”
“So what happens next? Will there be real world change as a result?”
“Very interesting – it was a real strength to have a wide range of perspectives from different areas of governments and public service”
“Good start to what is clearly a longer conversation”
“Lively and interesting speakers with wide experience. Table discussions also purposeful and well integrated with panel sessions”
“High energy throughout”
“A composite and cumulative reflective experience”