In 2016, York City Council invested significantly in its ICT team by training them in agile development. The team were creating and launching digital products to the wider business, but became frustrated that staff were not using their new products. At the same time, the council’s Youth Offending Team (YOT) were exploring how they could use digital technology to support their work with young people.

FutureGov was tasked with helping York’s ICT team to prototype digital ideas for the YOT, and in the process teach the ICT team transferrable skills in user-centred design and product design.

We delivered an immersive learning experience to the ICT team, teaching theory combined with practical application. We guided the team through an end-to-end design process with the YOT, growing their confidence in user-centred design techniques through learning-by-doing. The project resulted in Accomplish, a digital tool co-designed with YOT workers and young offenders that helps both parties collaborate on goal setting and tracking, with the aim of improving outcomes for young people.

FutureGov achieved great results for York City Council, for a fraction of the cost of a traditional digital skills training programme. For example, the ICT team has embedded user centred design at the heart of its offer to the business, and their new digital transformation capabilities are much in-demand across the organisation. The team continues to design user-centred products and services, experiencing unprecedented uptake from users and supporting both the council and its residents.