Transformation Innovation Exchange (TIEx)

Developed by councils for councils, the Transformation and Innovation Exchange (TIEx) brings practical support for councils into one place.

We are looking to relaunch and revamp TIEx and the new hub will aim to:

• bring together a range of resources, guidance, tools and training that councils may find useful about transformation, innovation and efficiency
• capture and describe the characteristics of effective councils and allowing you to connect up and share resources with councils on similar transformation journeys
• introduce an online self-assessment maturity tool to help councils benchmark themselves, identifying areas they wish to focus on and revisit to measure improvement and progress.

The self-assessment tool uses, as its basis, the research and learning assembled over the last decade about what makes an effective authority. The tool invites a response to a number of statements in areas identified as hallmarks of an effective council:

• role of the authority
• managing income
• managing expenditure
• use of data and intelligence
• use of digital and technology
• procurement and commissioning
• leadership and management
• organisational approach to change
• getting the best from staff.

A key feature is an online self-assessment tool which helps councils identify their current capabilities and consider improvement opportunities and useful support. Senior managers and elected members are encouraged to undertake an assessment of their organisation. This could be done on a regular basis or as part of preparation for a corporate peer challenge.

Consideration is given to the following areas of governance and critical success:

• leadership of place and the role of the authority
• financial planning, viability and priority setting
• use of data and intelligence (learning, sharing and understanding)
• use of digital and technology
• procurement and commissioning.

The self-assessment maturity tool ultimately aims to help councils consider where they are on their improvement journey, what their priorities are and where they want to get to. It can also signpost councils to useful recourses as well as help connect councils up with those further long their journeys.

As part of the revamp process we are looking for interested parties and volunteers to get involved to help us get this right and fit for purpose – be that reviewing, beta testing and generally being involved when it goes live.