A new digital function is to be created within the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), bringing together DWP Digital and the department’s digital tech provider BPDTS.
This follows the conclusion of a tailored review into the latter, which commended its performance and said it had improved the resilience of the DWP’s technology since it was set up in 2016.
The department said the joining of the two functions is aimed at creating a simpler and stronger digital offering to better equip the department to deliver goals of joined up customer journeys across digital-first channels.
It is aiming to have the new group in place by 1 July 2021.
Loveday Ryder, chief executive officer of BPDTS, said: “Despite existing as two separate functions since our inception, we have been united in our common goals, our work ethic and our desire to make a difference through digital. Our commitment is the same – to deliver better services for 85,000 DWP colleagues and 20 million customers.
“We will be working alongside our colleagues in DWP Digital and in wider DWP to make this vision of united digital excellence a reality.
“Now more than ever, digital services need to be quicker, simpler and offer the best user experience possible. Continuing to make the most of the digital expertise BPDTS has as part of a new super-function offers a truly exciting opportunity.”
Recommendation
The consolidation was recommended in the tailored review, along with the establishment of a well resourced project team to plan and manage the transition.
It said that, while BPDTS has met its original objectives of transferring contracted technology services to the public sector to underpin DWP services, its functions are still required by government.
Image from GOV.UK, Open Government Licence v3.0
