2.2: Innovation Budget
DirectGov, BusinessLink and NHS Choices should create an combined innovation pot of 10% of their budgets, focussed on improving
the public experience of government websites, through outside-in innovation not internal requirements.
Other Information:
The Taskforce judges that successful leading high tech businesses will spend at least 10% of their budget on innovation, data
reported by Booz & Co suggests as much as 13.6% for software and internet companies. Given the speed at which the internet
and people’s use of it changes the government’s leading web sites need to keep pace with innovation online. The rapid rise
of social networking sites demonstrates how innovation can rapdily change people’s communication habits. With over 60% of
the population online and American studies showing that more people use the internet for news than the traditional press,
it is particularly important for government sites to innovate themselves, given their central role in communications. The
Taskforce is making a range of recommendations that will require leading government sites to innovate. These sites are in
the Taskforce’s view adequately funded to innovate but by demonstrating more transparency in how they do so would aid the
innovation process. The Taskforce would like to see explicit provision made for investment in innovation, plans for such investment
published and some central co-ordination to ensure that this effort is pooled and not duplicative. Recommendation: Invest
in innovation that directly benefits the public by ensuring that public sector websites spend about as much on innovation
as leading knowledge businesses. DirectGov, BusinessLink and NHS Choices should create an combined innovation pot of 10% of
their budgets, focussed on improving the public experience of government websites, through outside-in innovation not internal
requirements. Annual plans on how this £10m innovation pool is to be deployed should be published and agreed by a new Head
of Digital Engagement.
Indicator(s):
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