What does it take to build a government fit for the digital age?

Public services across the UK are going through significant change. The government's Blueprint for Modern Digital Government has set out a clear path, consolidating GDS and CDDO into a new integrated Digital Centre under DSIT. By 2030, the UK has committed to expanding public sector computing power twentyfold, rolling out the GOV.UK App and Wallet, and embedding AI across services through initiatives like the AI Accelerator and the National Data Library. The scale of ambition is unprecedented: over £573 million in AI contracts have already been awarded in 2025, with projected savings of up to £45 billion annually through automation of routine tasks.

Legacy IT systems still underpin many critical functions. Cybersecurity threats remain high. Citizens want faster, more personalised and more inclusive services, yet digital exclusion continues across regions and communities. Questions around data governance and the ethical use of AI highlight the need for greater transparency and accountability. At the same time, councils and local authorities face growing financial pressures that make it harder to invest and innovate. Addressing these challenges calls for strong leadership, close collaboration and a new approach to how government and citizens interact through technology.

The Institute of Government & Public Policy's National GovTech Show and Exhibition 2026 will bring together senior leaders from central government, local authorities, the wider public sector and technology innovators to showcase and debate the latest advances shaping the future of the UK public sector. The programme will focus on the realities of today's cybersecurity landscape, strategies for resilience, cultural change, innovation in service delivery and the importance of collaboration in meeting emerging threats and opportunities.

Join the Institute of Government & Public Policy at the National GovTech Show and Exhibition 2026 to explore practical solutions to the sector's most pressing challenges. Themes will include AI and data-driven government, cyber resilience, procurement reform and citizen-centred service design.