NHSX was the UK Government unit with responsibility for setting national policy and developing best practice for National Health Service technology, digital and data. At the outbreak of COVID-19, they were faced with significant new challenges both at a central level and with the local health & care services NHSX aims to guide and support. Although technology solutions were forthcoming, it was often hard to pin-point which of these solutions could meet the specific challenges facing healthcare bodies. In addition, NHSX teams had to be sure of the companies’ capability to meet necessary procurement and technical criteria and scale quickly to meet the spread of the virus.
To tackle this, NHSX partnered with PUBLIC and AHSN to create TechForce19 - a new kind of challenge programme, aimed at scouting, assessing, piloting, funding and ultimately scaling technology solutions that could provide transformational value during the COVID-19 crisis.
TechForce19 was a first-of-its-kind challenge programme that used a unique methodology designed by PUBLIC to correspond to NHSX’s needs and timescales. This methodology consisted of a 6-stage process, moving from open calls to technology providers, to application assessment and interviews, to trials, implementation and recommendations for scale. In total the process took 6-weeks - faster than any previous challenge programme of its type.
The challenge focused on looking for innovators able to support in three main areas. Identified by key stakeholders, the challenge statements were selected due to the applicability of new technologies to help solve for. The challenge looked at the following three areas that new technologies could support:
As part of this, we stood up a major communications campaign and application process, drawing in over 1600 applications of novel technologies to the challenge areas. We appraised digital health and care solutions’ value and capability and orchestrated a multi-stakeholder selection process with 40+ assessors to review the technical feasibility, solution credibility and public sector compliance of all applicants, shortlisting 53 providers and selecting the 18 best solutions to progress to pilots and trials.
Our programme created one of the broadest and most insightful overviews of the digital health and care ecosystem and supported the 18 successful digital health and care companies delivering test contracts with local councils and health authorities. Working closely with NHSX commercial teams, our commercial team designed compliant procurement routes to scale the successful solutions at the end of the piloting phase, introducing a first-of-its-kind rapid scouting and procurement process that enabled the testing and adoption of new technology faster than any NHS programme previously, during an unprecedented moment of stretch and change.
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PUBLIC led a UK government initiative to fund five organisations developing privacy-preserving technology to detect child sexual abuse material in encrypted environments.
Supporting a Distribution Network Operator to craft a modern, future-proof IT and Digital estate to help them achieve long term digital transformation
Helping Hackney Council build more user-friendly housing and benefits programmes and recover from a cyber incident with advanced data management
Developing a practical data strategy to help the OPSS advance its data maturity within essential data-reliant regulatory functions
Partnering with DCMS to operate the UK’s first Safety Tech Challenge Fund - a groundbreaking grant programme aimed at empowering safety tech innovation to enhance child online safety
Working with the Cambridge City Council (CCC) to build a clear, actionable digital transformation strategy to ultimately serve its communities
Through extensive desk research, use case development and stakeholder engagement, we recommended four areas of focus for the EHRC’s Strategic Plan relating to AI and equality and human rights.
Developing recommendations grounded in leading industry insights to empower DSIT to support the SafetyTech sector’s growth effectively and navigate potential challenges
Empowering DSIT to assess the Online Safety Bill’s effectiveness with a flexible M&E framework informed by robust research
Researching accreditation approaches across the technology sector to develop recommendations for a tailored accreditation process for the online safety tech industry
Comprehensive research to equip Ofcom with a deep understanding of online content accessibility via search services, informing online safety guidance
Crafting a comprehensive Interactive Services (IS) Model to provide Ofcom with a common framework for understanding user journeys and platform workflows
Conducting a detailed analysis of the emerging SafetyTech sector to enable DCMS to make informed decisions and continue supporting the sector’s expansion
Mapping the current state of the Age Assurance market, identifying representative use cases, and key challenges to help DCMS gain a more in-depth understanding of a rapidly evolving technology sector
Researching the existing taxonomy, prevalence, legislative and regulatory landscape, and emerging trends related to Child Financial Harms
Developing a ‘minimum-viable product’ for a standards framework to assess online safety compliance solutions
Through mixed methods user research we mapped the prevalence and impact of OVAWG, identified key dynamics characterising how these harms occur, and categorised 18 harm types.
Researched innovative design approaches that can support the safety of women and girls on online platforms and services.
Supporting the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) to build a new platform which provides access to UK regulation as enriched, machine-readable data
Connecting cross-government data to deliver better outcomes for people with complex needs
Building a practical, user-centred digital strategy through meaningful team engagement with clinical and non-clinical staff
Research, system-mapping and recommendations for Nominet's fund combatting illegal online harm.
Facilitating data access to catalyse innovation in the Safety Tech sector
