New approach to delivering public services

New ways of providing public services are to be explored at a Challenge Lab to be held at Essex at the end of September.

Led by the Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor Slava Mikhaylov, the event will bring together academics, representatives from Essex County Council and other public sector partners (Police, NHS) to help to bring together ideas to help transform delivery of public services through a set of joint research projects.

Faced with reducing budgets but increasing demand for services, the public sector needs to improve the delivery and targeting of services to make sure money is spent where it is needed most.

As Processor Mikhaylov, explained: “At Essex we are at the cutting edge of research and latest thinking which could help the public sector with the challenges it faces. Over these two days we’ll be looking at what we can do, working with the partners, to develop ideas to improve service delivery for the benefit of the whole Essex community.

“Earlier this year the Government launched a consultation on a new Industrial Strategy, aimed at making the UK one of the most competitive places to grow a business.

“There is funding available to make sure good ideas become a reality, so there is a real chance that ideas discussed in September can be progressed.”

The event is the latest Challenge Lab, funded by the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account and the Catalyst Project. Previous events have focussed on the digital, creative and cultural industries and robotics and artificial intelligence.

The two-day event will be held at the University on 27-28 September. For more information email iaa@essex.ac.uk or dphayes@essex.ac.uk.