Capita

Chris Melia
Vice Chair for techUK Local Public Services Committee
Growth Director, Capita Local Public Service

In Capita I work with the Local Public Service Team which has a footprint across over 270 council customers around the UK. My role as Growth Director means I regularly engage with senior decision makers in district, county and borough councils, all of which has helped me understand the very real challenges councils are facing today.

Speaking to customers it is clear that over the last few years, the complex and challenging nature of delivering public services at a local level has never been under more pressure. Rising inflation and increasing costs of energy, foods and other products are fuelling significant increases in the cost of delivering public services, and constantly evolving demographic pressures are creating further budgetary and social challenges that will not be solved by local government alone.

True partnerships across the sectors and collaboration between different services within local government, and with external partners across other sectors, can make a very real and significant difference. And with these increases in the cost of delivery and demand for services, councils are looking to the tech sector for more partnership support than ever before.

That is why I was delighted to be appointed as Vice Chair of the Local Public Services Committee (LPSC) through our partnership with teckUK. Throughout my career, I have seen how advances in technology will offer hope, and create new issues of their own, which is why these partnership forums are vital in supporting local authorities. For over seventeen years I have worked with and for local authorities supporting them on their technology, digital and business transformation journeys. I am passionate about collaboration to help deliver innovative change, particularly linked to technology, to drive service improvement, and ensure easy access to services and information for both residents and businesses.

Through my time in this sector harnessing new technology has been important, but as important has been the people, processes and sharing of best practice. With the LPSC committee, we will look to lead the way in engaging with stakeholders across the local government family to not only represent the tech sector at a high level to local government, but also to facilitate and share best practice, new ideas and approaches that resonate with our council partner’s priorities.

For my role on the committee, I will endeavour to make sure that we also explore how we can blend technology and customer experience as seamlessly as possible, to help deliver real change in providing meaningful support for communities, and deliver long-term provision of services where the emphasis is clearly on the needs and outcomes of residents and communities.