“New Ways of Working Enabled by Technology”
Nomad began as one of the national ‘Local eGov’ projects supported by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Nomad’s focus was originally on mobile & flexible working and a wealth of resources including case studies, specimen policies and procedures, business case toolkits, pilot project reports and presentations from various events, were made available to the local government community at www.projectnomad.org.uk
Nomad survived beyond the national projects, managed by Cambridgeshire County Council and funded from supplier sponsorship and the proceeds of events. Local Government’s interest in new work styles, asset rationalisation and technology enabled transformation has steadily increased. The current and forecast pressures on public spending serve only to further reinforce interest in these issues and to demand a forum for peer to peer support, experience sharing, innovation and leadership development.
I assumed the national lead for Nomad in November 2009.
I’m currently looking for partnerhsip and sponsor opportunities in order to sustain a dedicated programme to develop and deliver:-
- an information service to local government on mobile & flexible working, new work styles, leadership & organisational change and associated technology enabled transformation;
- a refreshed online reference library and archive of materials including case studies, toolkits, policies and procedures;
- a new web 2.0 platform to support the local authority Nomad community and enable peer to peer networking, support and experience sharing;
- marketing and promotion to further raise awareness of the offer to local authorities and to grow an active online community (currently 3,000 registered local authority members);
- support to regional groupings, including Nomad Scotland, where local authorities may determine their own programmes, to reflect local priorities and requirements;
- bespoke support and advice, responsive to individual local authority requirements whilst also identifying and responding to emerging cross cutting issues;
- a series of targeted events, workshops and conferences to deliver value for money learning, and;
- new eLearning packages.
Nomad has received numerous recent messages of support and encouragement. There have been requests for the existing archive to at least be sustained into the future. There has also been consistent observation that given the challenges facing local government, Nomad should continue with renewed vigour and focus. Mobile & flexible working will remain the key to the future of local public services, whether under ‘Total Place’ or other new approaches.
A Nomad community, providing peer to peer support and best practice sharing across local government, is needed now more than ever before.
Initial work on a new home for nomad is taking place over at www.publicsectornomads.com Subscribe for updates by email or RSS from that site to keep in touch with future developments.