Foreword
Foreword
Councillor Paul Leinster - Chair of the Digital Glasgow Board
The Digital Glasgow Strategy 2024-2030 builds upon the success of the previous digital strategy that was published in 2018. A lot has changed since then. The world experienced a global pandemic which created a greater reliance on digital technology within society our economy, and for the delivery of public services. In many cases this required us to accelerate the plans we set out in the previous strategy, and in some cases required us to increase our level of ambition. Some of the key achievements of the last five years include:
- We accelerated and scaled-up our plans to provide children and young people with iPads as part of our Connected Learning programme. In total we have now delivered 85,000 iPads, the majority of which were provided between the first two lock-down periods to support remote learning
- We targeted our digital inclusion work, working with Scottish Government and the third sector to rapidly make equipment and connectivity available to those that weren’t online
- Like many other sectors, we put in place digital technology to allow staff to work from home and this has led to greater flexibility for staff for how many of our staff work,
- We had to rapidly transform how services were provided to people, making more services available online
- We worked with partners from across the public sector and third sector to provide a joined-up (and data-driven) response to the challenge we faced as a nation and to deliver novel solutions at an unprecedented pace
- The creation of Europe’s first Telecoms Unit to improve engagement with the telecommunications sector to drive increased investment in digital connectivity
The Digital Glasgow Strategy 2024-2030 builds upon the success of the previous digital strategy that was published in 2018. A lot has changed since then. The world experienced a global pandemic which created a greater reliance on digital technology within society our economy, and for the delivery of public services. In many cases this required us to accelerate the plans we set out in the previous strategy, and in some cases required us to increase our level of ambition. Some of the key achievements of the last five years include:
- We accelerated and scaled-up our plans to provide children and young people with iPads as part of our Connected Learning programme. In total we have now delivered 85,000 iPads, the majority of which were provided between the first two lock-down periods to support remote learning
- We targeted our digital inclusion work, working with Scottish Government and the third sector to rapidly make equipment and connectivity available to those that weren’t online
- Like many other sectors, we put in place digital technology to allow staff to work from home and this has led to greater flexibility for staff for how many of our staff work,
- We had to rapidly transform how services were provided to people, making more services available online
- We worked with partners from across the public sector and third sector to provide a joined-up (and data-driven) response to the challenge we faced as a nation and to deliver novel solutions at an unprecedented pace
- The creation of Europe’s first Telecoms Unit to improve engagement with the telecommunications sector to drive increased investment in digital connectivity
Our previous approach was for the digital strategy to be comprehensive, recognising the connectedness of the impacts of digital across society, our economy and public services. We wanted to take a joined-up approach to how we realise the benefits of digitisation, whilst simultaneously addressing the challenges that come with it. This proved to be the correct course of action.
As we look forward to the next five years it is clear that this approach needs to continue and develop further and we must also increase the throughput and success of digital programmes. The rate of change in the global digital market continues to increase rapidly and the rise of digital technologies such as AI provide opportunities for the city that we cannot yet imagine. Digital technology already underpins every aspect of Glasgow’s Strategic Plan, and new technologies will provide future opportunities to address the grand challenges in the city: reducing poverty and inequality in our communities, increasing opportunity and prosperity for all of our citizens, fighting climate change with a just-transition to net zero, and delivering sustainable and innovative public services. Yet it is also clear that there will be concerns and that these must be addressed to ensure that digitisation is fair, inclusive and equal, ethical, protects our human rights, and builds and maintains trust.
To do this, we will place “Digital Rights” at the centre of digitisation in the city (and within the City Council). Members of the Digital Glasgow Board (which contains cross-political group representation) have worked together to establish core values for digitisation in Glasgow; reflecting and reinforcing the values of the City Charter for the digital age. We tested these with communities through online and face-to-face consultation and this has helped us to shape the plans set out in the strategy. These principles will sit at the heart of our approach to digitisation in the city: -
- Accessible and Inclusive
- Protective and Secure
- Open and Transparent
- Involve and Empower
- In Collaboration and Partnership
To place digital rights at the heart of our approach means that we also need to put people at the heart, and so the strategy introduces a third mission “A Fair and Equal Digital Society” that will sit alongside the previous missions for “An Inclusive Growth Digital Economy”, and “Sustainable and Innovative Public Services”.
Finally, in order to deliver against these three missions as well as Glasgow’s Strategic Plan in a way that is joined-up and creates solid foundations for future digitisation, the actions within the strategy focus on how we continue to build our capacity and capability to use digital to improve outcomes. They go beyond just technology implementation and instead look more holistically at our approach to leadership, skills, user-focus, collaboration, data, technology, security, and innovation. These are capabilities we will need to make use of digital technology to underpin the Glasgow Strategic Plan and build the foundations that we need for Glasgow to prosper and flourish in the digital world.
To place digital rights at the heart of our approach means that we also need to put people at the heart, and so the strategy introduces a third mission “A Fair and Equal Digital Society” that will sit alongside the previous missions for “An Inclusive Growth Digital Economy”, and “Sustainable and Innovative Public Services”.
Finally, in order to deliver against these three missions as well as Glasgow’s Strategic Plan in a way that is joined-up and creates solid foundations for future digitisation, the actions within the strategy focus on how we continue to build our capacity and capability to use digital to improve outcomes. They go beyond just technology implementation and instead look more holistically at our approach to leadership, skills, user-focus, collaboration, data, technology, security, and innovation. These are capabilities we will need to make use of digital technology to underpin the Glasgow Strategic Plan and build the foundations that we need for Glasgow to prosper and flourish in the digital world.
To place digital rights at the heart of our approach means that we also need to put people at the heart, and so the strategy introduces a third mission “A Fair and Equal Digital Society” that will sit alongside the previous missions for “An Inclusive Growth Digital Economy”, and “Sustainable and Innovative Public Services”.
Finally, in order to deliver against these three missions as well as Glasgow’s Strategic Plan in a way that is joined-up and creates solid foundations for future digitisation, the actions within the strategy focus on how we continue to build our capacity and capability to use digital to improve outcomes. They go beyond just technology implementation and instead look more holistically at our approach to leadership, skills, user-focus, collaboration, data, technology, security, and innovation. These are capabilities we will need to make use of digital technology to underpin the Glasgow Strategic Plan and build the foundations that we need for Glasgow to prosper and flourish in the digital world.
Councillor Paul Leinster - Chair of the Digital Glasgow Board