Ways of working

Designing a user-centred intranet to help our staff work more effectively 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Design, Ways of working
a laptop screen showing the new intranet homepage

An intranet is an essential digital platform that connects employees within an organisation, giving them easy access to internal news and resources. Sian, content designer, shares how user-centred design transformed our department's intranet, streamlining communication, knowledge sharing and accessibility to help our UK-wide staff work more productively and efficiently.

Introducing UCD Ops at MHCLG: Bringing ResearchOps and DesignOps together 

A venn diagram with Research Ops and Design Ops combining to form UCD Ops

User-centred design (UCD) is integral to building and delivering more efficient and effective policy and services for the public we serve. Yana and Cathryn, UCD Operations (Ops) Managers within MHCLG, share insights on the unique role of UCD Ops and how it supports scaling up UCD practices and impact across the organisation.

Unlocking planning innovation: 150 brilliant minds collaborate in Leeds 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Artificial Intelligence, Digital Planning, Ways of working
Teams collaborating at the hackathon

Innovation was sparked at the Local Government Innovation Hackathon, where 150 planners, technologists and digital leaders collaborated to solve real planning challenges. MHCLG proudly co-organised the event with Government Digital Service, Incubator for AI and Open Digital Planning, reimagining planning services through this hands-on approach.

Funding Service: How we transformed Delta based on user needs  

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Funding Service, Ways of working
A screenshot of the Delta homepage on GOV.UK.

Delta is the main platform MHCLG uses to collect data and make payments. It helps the department make policy decisions, release national statistics and process payments to local authorities.  Read how the Funding Service transformed Delta based on user needs.

Open Digital Planning: a cross-sector partnership to transform local planning services

ODP community

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) Digital Planning Programme coordinates Open Digital Planning (ODP) – a cross-sector partnership of forward-thinking local planning authorities (LPAs) working together to create a more efficient, data-driven planning system. Over the last 4 years, we’ve worked closely with council officers to understand their technology and data challenges …

Breaking down barriers: working together to support local authorities

Mike Rose at the LLC Workshop in Birmingham

Through collaboration between HM Land Registry and Local Planning Authorities, the Digital Planning team is working on a joined-up approach to reduce the burden of providing the data needed for local land charges and planning purposes. Previously submitting similar data to different systems, our new way of working will make the process more efficient.

What it’s like to be a user researcher at MHCLG Digital

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Careers, Homes for Ukraine, Ways of working
James Higgins portrait

User researcher James joined MHCLG Digital just over a year ago, following a few years in the private sector. He shares his journey on the Homes for Ukraine programme, and how user research and starting with the needs of the users is shaping MHCLG products and services, creating a real impact for citizens, and more …

4 things I've learnt as a policy professional working in digital

Reuben - the blog post author - and colleagues sitting at desks

Policy professionals can learn a lot from the world of digital. In this blog post, Reuben, Policy Design Lead in MHCLG’s Funding Service team, shares insights he’s gained on user-centred design, agile working and cross-team collaboration.

Digital Planning: developing planning applications specifications in the open 

An illustrative image showing digital tools

The first collaborative sessions with the planning community to develop data specifications for planning applications have taken place. Find out about the ambition, the progress being made and how you can get involved.

Data Hackathon: exploring how open data can help transform the planning system

The hackathon team standing in a room looking at ideas on a white board

Find out how a recent hackathon was used to start to build an app, based on open planning datasets, which could be used to help identify brownfield land for development.