Connecting Data for Better Outcomes – GeoPlace Presentation
Below is a recording and the full written transcript of a presentation I gave at the GeoPlace Annual Conference in Leeds on 11 May 2017. In the talk I explain why it’s essential for local authorities and public sector bodies to be able to link together their datasets for both place-based and person records, in […]
City Data, featured, Local Government, open data, personal data
Interview: the rationale for a London Office of Data Analytics
During the Socitm Annual Conference in October 2016, I spoke to UKA to record this video about Nesta’s collaboration with the GLA and 14 London boroughs to pilot a London Office of Data Analytics. Interested in how cities can use data to improve services? I highly recommend The Responsive City by Stephen Goldsmith and Susan […]
Big Data, Cities, City Data, Data, Local Government, Smart Cities
Who’s responsible for building trust with personal data?
As the age-old saying goes, knowledge is power. The continued relevance of this morsel of wisdom seems to underpin at least part of the growing unease at the amount of data that corporate – and especially internet – giants hold about us, their users. It is healthy, many wonder, for so much personal data to […]
Data, Data Privacy, digital economy, featured, personal data
Why data is key to the success of city devolution
Imagine it’s the day after the mayoral election in a UK city region. The victorious candidate gathers together the local authorities, the LEPs, the public sector bodies and citizen groups for the first time. “Right everyone,” says the Mayor. “City devolution gives us an opportunity to make progress on three things across the region. We’re […]
Cities, City Data, Data, featured, Local Government, Smart Cities
9 Principles for reforming public services with data
Nesta’s Office of Data Analytics (ODA) programme aims to help cities and regions join up, analyse and act upon data sourced from multiple local authorities and public sector bodies to reform public services. Our hypothesis is that the scale of the financial challenges facing the public sector is such that it’s not sufficient for individual […]
City Data, Data, featured, Local Government, personal data, Smart Cities
London 1854: the world’s first smart city?
What’s the first name that comes to mind when you think about a smart city? Elon Musk? Jeff Bezos? Travis Kalanick? It’s natural that we should leap to the technologists. Smart cities are, after all, about technology: driverless cars, drone deliveries and Minority Report-style signs that change depending on who’s looking at them. But I’ll […]
The Rise and Rise of UK City Data Analytics
Supporting troubled families. Ensuring children are school-ready by the age of five. Tackling diabetes. Predicting and preventing fires. Identifying rogue landlords. Combating alcohol abuse. These are just a few of the things that UK cities are already tackling with data science. On 12 September, practitioners from Manchester, Bath, London, Essex, Sunderland, Birmingham, Sheffield and Cardiff […]
Big Data, Cities, City Data, Data, featured, Local Government
Overcoming the hurdles to UK city data analytics
It’s no secret that Nesta’s current programme of work to pilot offices of data analytics in London (with the GLA and 14 boroughs) and the North East (with seven local authorities, the Digital Catapult and Sunderland Software City) is inspired by the Mayor’s Office of Data Analytics in New York City (MODA). Yet it’s been […]
Big Data, City Data, Data, featured, Local Government, Smart Cities
Offices of Data Analytics: next steps for London and the North East
As announced in previous blogs, Nesta is working with the GLA and more than a dozen boroughs in London – and with local authorities, the Digital Catapult and Sunderland Software City in the North East – to pilot data analytics projects that address public service challenges. This post provides a brief update on the latest […]
Three Lessons on City Data Analytics from Mike Flowers
I’ve previously written about plans by the GLA’s Andrew Collinge and Nesta to run a pilot for a London Office of Data Analytics, inspired by the Mayor’s Office of Data Analytics (MODA) in New York City. Last week saw significant progress when 15 London boroughs came together for a workshop with the GLA to select […]
Big Data, Cities, City Data, Data, Data Privacy, featured, Local Government, open data, personal data
The power of data – London Tech Week 2016
On Monday 20 June 2016, as part of London Technology Week, I was one of seven speakers who presented at an event hosted by the London Borough of Camden to discuss the power of data and the role data needs to play in reforming public services. The other speakers included: Sherry Coutu, Chair of founders4schools; […]
UK Offices of Data Analytics – from rhetoric to reality
If you’ve heard me speak at a conference or read one of my blogs, you’ve probably gathered that I’m a big admirer of New York City’s Mayor’s Office of Data Analytics (MODA). At times I may have sounded like a broken record. In my defence, there are good reasons to be excited about the model […]
