We recently joined the LGA and TechUK supplier event to discuss the challenges and possibilities of local government reorganisation (LGR). It was a valuable opportunity to explore how the sector can work together to meet the digital needs of councils and their communities.  

Testing alignment with the Technology Code of Practice

During the event, we asked suppliers to rate how relevant the Technology Code of Practice (TCoP) criteria are to their work. Suppliers rated each of the 13 criteria from 1 (not relevant) to 5 (highly relevant). 

This helped us understand whether suppliers are focused on building the software councils need and whether current procurement processes support this. The 36 responses we received suggest there’s strong alignment between supplier priorities and council requirements.

Shared priorities across the sector

Suppliers broadly value the same principles that councils and central government prioritise:   

• user focus
• accessibility  
• Security 
• privacy  
• making better use of data 

Encouragingly, there’s also a growing recognition of the importance of open standards. Many councils still face challenges because legacy systems don’t communicate with each other, and data can be hard to extract from customised proprietary systems. These barriers make it harder to join up services, migrate between systems, or welcome new suppliers into the market. 

If both suppliers and councils are ready to adopt open standards, it’s a promising sign for a more connected and competitive future. 

Looking ahead

At the event, Ellie Brown, Senior Product Manager in Local Digital, shared how we’re engaging with suppliers through our programmes. Her team is building market intelligence to better understand supplier capabilities, identify opportunities for alignment with councils, and help shape the market – focusing on cyber security, service improvement, and productivity. 

Ellie also highlighted that making good buying decisions takes time and preparation. Councils may need to review and redesign their processes and customer journeys first, so they can clearly express what they need and expect from suppliers. 

This event suggests there’s interest on both sides for collaboration and change. As LGR progresses, we’re here to support a more open, constructive relationship between councils and their suppliers.