Shropshire leads the way towards the Digital Future…

More than 200 people will be heading to Shrewsbury on Monday 10 September 2012 to discuss how digital media can improve the way their organisations communicate with residents.

The way public services are delivered is rapidly changing, mainly due to advances in digital technology, a massive growth in social media and major reductions in Government funding.

Councils and other organisations are starting to deliver services in new, innovative and more cost-effective ways, using technology to profoundly change the relationship between the citizen and the state.

Shropshire Council is hosting the ‘Digital Futures’ event at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury, to discuss how digital and social media is changing the way organisations connect with their customers and residents.

The event is aimed at councillors and public sector workers, as well as any organisations with an interest in social media and the digital future.

Speakers include Nick Jones, who is responsible for the Prime Minister and Cabinet Office’s digital communications; Justin Griggs, head of policy and development at the National Association of Local Councils (NALC); and Carrie Bishop, a director at FutureGov, which works with local government to create better, cheaper public services using technology and design thinking.

The free event is fully booked, but parts will be streamed live on the Digital Futures blog, and other videos added to the blog following the event.

Delegates will also be encouraged to debate and discuss the day on Twitter, using the hashtag #DigiFutures12.

Leader of Shropshire Council, Keith Barrow, who will open the event, said:

“Using digital and social media is no longer an optional extra for councils and public sector organisations – in the UK, about 30 million people use Facebook and 26 million use twitter.  That’s a lot of people!  It’s essential that we keep up with modern technology to be able to speak to as many of our residents as we can.

“I’m really pleased we’re hosting the Digital Futures event.  It shows that Shropshire is not standing still, and we’re actually leading the way with our use of social and digital media which are now an integral part of all our communications.”