Our team regularly provides training courses, workshops and events for councillors and officers.
We host a range of events and training for the sector across the cyber, digital and technology programme including webinars, roundtables, masterclasses and workshops. You can find information on this page about upcoming events and resources from past events. If you would like to be notified of our future events, please subscribe to our bulletin where we list all upcoming events.
Training courses and workshops
Following on from the success of last year’s programme, the LGA is hosting three more Leadership Essentials Digitalisation programmes which will aim to provide councillors with an understanding of their role as local leaders in a digital age. It is designed to demystify digitalisation for those new to this area as well as those looking to build on their existing knowledge.
Digitalisation is increasingly emerging as a key priority at both a local and national level. In recent years, councils have increasingly utilised digital technology to deliver services in response to pressures sparked by stretched budgets and the COVID-19 pandemic. The UK Government has also outlined its ambition to create modern, user-centred, public services using digital technology and data. But at the same time, recent high profile cyber-attacks on the local government sector have also placed a spotlight on the security risks around digital technology.
As local leaders, councillors will have a key role to play in supporting their council’s digitalisation journeys and ensuring that residents are at the heart of service design. This programme will provide councillors with an opportunity to learn about their role in creating strong digital and inclusive cultures for the benefit of all residents whilst managing security-based risks. The programme will also introduce councillors to our 12 strategic digitalisation outcomes framework which is a framework we launched to provide a common language and shared understanding of local government digitalisation.
The programme will aim to:
- Increase the awareness, understanding and knowledge of councillors to become champions and enablers for digitalisation.
- Increase understanding of digitalisation good practice and wider national strategies and frameworks that address digital technology within the public sector. Introduce delegates to the LGA’s digitalisation outcomes framework and Local Government Digitalisation Almanac
- Raise delegates understanding of their cabinet and/or scrutiny roles in delivering user centred digital services whilst managing security based risks
- Share a wide range of inspiring and relevant case studies presented in an engaging way by other local councillors, officers and external speakers.
- Encourage delegates to network, sharing information, knowledge, and common challenges.
Who is it for?: Leaders, deputy leaders, portfolio holders with responsibility for digital agendas, scrutiny chairs/committee members with an interest in cyber, digital and technology.
Dates and Venues
The training will take place in three different locations and councillors have a choice to attend any of the dates listed below. The start and finish times will be confirmed soon.
Programme 4: Wednesday 10 January – Thursday 11 January 2024
Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, Hammersmith, London W6 8DR
Programme 5: Saturday 20 January – Sunday 21 January 2024
Scarman House, Warwick Conferences, Coventry, CV4 7SH
Fee: The cost of attending this programme is fully subsidised. This includes accommodation, meals, course materials and tuition. To book onto any of the programmes above, please email [email protected]
Events
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the LGA are hosting a series of webinars for Local Authorities on digital connectivity.
The third webinar in the series will discuss the benefits of digital connectivity for housing providers, including increasing online access and providing connected services.
Find out more on the event page.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the LGA are hosting a series of webinars for Local Authorities on digital connectivity.
The fourth webinar in the series will discuss how telecommunication companies and Highway Authorities can work together to deliver digital infrastructure projects for the public.
Find out more on the event page.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the LGA are hosting a series of webinars for Local Authorities on digital connectivity.
The fifth webinar in the series will provide insights into the vital role of planning in progressing the digital connectivity agenda.
Find out more on the event page.
E-learning courses
Our free e-learning course on embedding cyber resilience in local government supply chains is based on the principles laid out by the NCSC. The course aims to help councils embed greater cyber resilience in their procurement processes and supply chains. The learning materials are tailored to anyone with a role at any stage of the procurement cycle. The e-learning modules provide a comprehensive educational experience that is designed to maximise information retention through questions based on the information introduced and relevant examples of local government procurement.
Past events
The LGA hosted two webinars featuring speakers from Microsoft who shared top tips about maximising security and compliance features from councils’ existing Microsoft 365 license. The first webinar focused on E3 licenses and the second focused on E5 licenses and provided an opportunity for attendees to ask questions directly to Microsoft. You can access the recording from both sessions below:
Maximising security and compliance features from Microsoft 365 E3 license - 15 November 2022
Maximising security and compliance features from Microsoft 365 E5 license - 22 November 2022
This roundtable discussion brought together democratic services officers across the sector to reflect on the answers to this question. The delegates discussed learnings from the past two years since COVID-19 and shared insights about their experiences in adopting digital tools, the resources needed to adopt digital tools including staffing or technology and setting digital cultures within their councils to maximise the impact of digital tools to boost local democracy.
Coming out of the pandemic many organisations were keen to harness the benefits of hybrid working, but were also acutely aware of the need to ensure workforce wellbeing. This roundtable reflected on the learnings from the past two years and shared insights into how councils are moving forward, adapting their strategies to build resilience in the future and create a place where people can live, work, and study.
Are you a councillor with a portfolio for cyber or digital? Or perhaps you are interested in learning more about how digitalisation can deliver transformative services for the benefit of your local communities?
Following on from our Leadership Essentials two-day programmes, we held four deep dive half day masterclasses for councillors to explore the 12 outcomes of digitalisation. It provided councillors with the skills, tools, and knowledge to lead and engage with their council’s digitalisation journeys. It was aimed at those new to digitalisation and those looking to build on their existing knowledge.
A cyber incident in a council has the potential to cause significant disruption and seriously impact the lives of individuals and communities. What, how, when and to whom should information about the incident be communicated internally and externally?
Our cyber security and the crisis communications response webinar featured speakers talking about communication risks and the realities of responding to a crisis.
This all-day online showcase put a spotlight on innovative work councils are undertaking across our 12 local government digitalisation outcomes. We also launched a brand-new digitalisation almanac for local government which contains simple steps, practical examples and recommended reading to support those new to local government digitalisation and those looking to build on their existing knowledge.
Launch of the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) and LGA’s scrutiny guide for cyber security.
This 10-question guide does not seek to produce a single, set blueprint for scrutiny of cyber security. It instead aims to provide guidance as to how good governance and scrutiny within local councils can engender a positive culture surrounding cyber security, focusing on how there needs to be an understanding that it is an organisational-wide concern and that cyber threats are continually evolving.
This event included an overview of the guide from CfGS and the LGA, followed by a panel discussion to break down it’s purpose across council roles, promoting broader cyber security initiatives.
This event was aimed at:
- Councillors sitting on scrutiny committees
- Officers that support them
- Cyber security professionals within authorities
This event presented the Digital Inclusion Triage Tool with insights into the tool’s latest design decisions and implementation with Lead Partner, Salford City Council.
The tool began its development as part of the LGA's Digital Pathfinders Programme, designed to support councils seeking to innovate and develop pioneering initiatives to advance digital inclusion, digital connectivity, and cyber security.
Now in its Beta phase, this event introduced the tool as well as the work taking place with Associate Partners, East Riding of Yorkshire, London Borough of Waltham Forest, and Worcestershire County Council. We demonstrated the decisions informing the Beta phase of the tool’s development including improving the tool’s accessibility, development of local digital inclusion partnerships, and plans for user-testing.
This event was aimed at:
- Digital inclusion officers and team members or those progressing the digital inclusion agenda within local government
- Digital transformation and customer experience officers and directors
- Customer service and service delivery managers and directors
The Cyber 360 programme provides an opportunity for councils to explore cyber security through a different lens – offering a fresh set of perspectives on a council’s cyber-security culture in a safe, friendly and constructive environment.
The LGA is inviting expressions of interest from all councils to take part in the programme. A multi-disciplinary team of peers and technical experts will provide in-depth, bespoke support to your council, supporting you to build your capabilities, and develop a whole-council approach to cyber-security.
We held an event on how to get the most from your existing security investments through a single pane of glass. We heard from the Microsoft team and a London Borough on how they approached this and upgraded their security posture with best practices. All examples were relevant for M365 E3 and E5 licenses and covered use of Sentinel.
Speakers:
- Arron Kerai – Microsoft cyber specialist
- Kam Hussain – Microsoft technology strategist
- a London borough
You can access the recording from the session below:
Monitoring your Security Through a Single Pane of Glass with Microsoft - 17 August 2023
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the LGA came together to host a series of webinars for Local Authorities on digital connectivity.
The first webinar in the series provided an overview of the digital connectivity landscape and discuss the benefits of digital connectivity for local communities including increasing access to online services, driving innovation, and supporting businesses to grow and helping to meet net zero targets.
Find out more about this event.
Ensure the right people have the right access to the right resources at the right time with automated lifecycle management tasks for the joiners, movers, leavers (JML) process, access provisioning, and ML powered access reviews.
This event was aimed at those working in IT teams in a council with a Microsoft E3 or E5 license.
Speakers:
- Chris Howett
Exploring how Security Copilot, and other new processes can significantly reduce the risk of cyber-attacks and greatly improve overall security effectiveness.
This event was aimed at those working in IT teams in a council with a Microsoft E3 or E5 license.
Speakers:
- Lesley Kipling
On November 9th, the LGA is hosting an in-person, all day Local Government Women in Tech event at 18 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ. This event is for colleagues looking to connect, engage and collaborate with other women working in tech in local government.
Join us to hear from women currently working in local government tech across the country share their experience, work and stories. There will also be opportunities for networking with colleagues, including a drinks reception following the days' programme.
Please register using this form.
Speakers:
- Ceren Clulow (Programme Director, Connecting Cambridgeshire & Chair of the ADEPT Network)
- Jenny Nelson (Head of ICT & Digital Transformation, Newcastle City Council)
- Rhea Ebanks-Simpson (User Researcher, Westminster City Council)
- Simone Thomas (Senior Manager for Strategic Data and Systems, Cheshire West and Chester Council)
They will be discussing topics including AI and data, recruitment and skills development, and transformation of council systems - as well as sharing their journeys into and within tech. The event will feature speakers from other local government adjacent bodies including Dorset Women in Tech, Tech Talent Charter, and more.
You should attend if:
- You are a woman working in Local government who works in or with Cyber, Digital and/or Technology.
- We encourage women who do not see themselves as being in technology roles to consider where their work touches themes of digitalisation and tech - a reminder that 'women in tech' is a broad umbrella!
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the LGA are hosting a series of webinars for Local Authorities on digital connectivity.
The second webinar in the series will provide an overview of the legal environment around telecoms deployment.
Find out more on the event page.
The LGA’s Cyber, Digital and Technology team conducted a series of workshops to understand more about Cyber, Digital, Data, and Technology (CDDAT) skill needs in key council services. We are inviting expressions of interest from Heads of Service in Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, Planning, Environmental Services, and Public Health.
Our peer-based workshops were an opportunity to:
- Shape our collective understanding of the CDDAT skills needed to design and deliver modern digital public services.
- Discuss the specific CDDAT skills needed for distinct areas of the local government workforce now and in the future.
- Explore CDDAT skills gaps and shortages across your specific council services
- Explore challenges in addressing shortages, and ways to respond to these challenges.
- Access, and provide feedback on, an early version of a CDDAT skills taxonomy, designed to support councils with identifying and defining specific skills.
Workshops were held remotely/online at the following times:
- Planning services – 21 November 2023, 10am-12pm
- Public health – 28 November, 10am-12pm
- Environmental health – 29 November, 10am-12pm
- Adult Social Care – 5 December, 10am-12pm
- Children’s services – 6 December, 10am-12pm