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More than half of UK civil servants have warned that their departments lack the technical tools, resources and skills needed to transform public services, according to a government-backed survey.
Earlier this year, ministers set out a “road map” to improve digital public services by 2025, with ambitions to deliver “world-class” systems and to “attract and retain the best in digital talent”.
However, the results of the UK Civil Service digital skills report, published on Tuesday and supported by Google Cloud, show officials face an uphill battle as they try to modernize Whitehall infrastructure.
The report found that employees had low confidence in the government’s ability to use technology to improve public services.
About 63 percent of civil servants working on digital transformation said “legacy technology” was a barrier; 61 percent cited a lack of funding and half blamed the inability to hire qualified talent.
Only 42 percent of those surveyed said their department has the tools, resources and expertise to use technology to upgrade public services.
The report also found that staff had only limited understanding of more advanced tools, hampering the government’s digital ambitions.
More than a third said they have little or no skills in artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation, and even more – 39 percent – reported the same for cloud technologies. All these areas are considered essential for the delivery of modern digital services.
However, the report also showed that there was a sense within the government that change was needed.
More than three-quarters of respondents said innovation was the key to unlocking public sector reforms, while more than three-quarters wanted more digital skills training.
The report was commissioned to determine the scale and shape of the digital skills gap across the civil service. The survey was conducted by the Global Government Forum, a publishing house for Whitehall officials, and involved more than 1,000 staff.
In a foreword to the report, Megan Lee, chief executive of the Central Digital and Data Office, which leads digital, data and technology work for the government, said she “doesn’t underestimate the challenges we face when it comes to attracting. Fierce Retaining the market’s top digital talent in a competitive environment.
Adam Stewart, Head of Public Sector, UK&I, at Google Cloud, research shows that Whitehall is falling behind as a result of digital barriers: “Legacy technology and lengthy procurement processes are preventing the public sector from progressing.
“However, with 75 per cent of civil servants wanting more digital skills training, it is clear that there is an appetite for change.”
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