Gavin Freeguard
@gavinfreeguard.com
Data/govt etc freelancer gavinfreeguard.com
Starting sotf.org.uk
@connectedbydata.org, Data Bites @publicdigital.bsky.social, @instituteforgovernment.org.uk, Think Digital Partners, @kinship.works, @transformgovtalks.bsky.social
Pic @paulclarke.com
Starting sotf.org.uk
@connectedbydata.org, Data Bites @publicdigital.bsky.social, @instituteforgovernment.org.uk, Think Digital Partners, @kinship.works, @transformgovtalks.bsky.social
Pic @paulclarke.com
Happy FOI Fest week!
Come and join us this Thursday, 19 February, at Birkbeck College, London and online, as we think about what freedom of information has achieved to date, where it goes next, and benefit from lightning talks and skills shares
pretix.eu/mysociety/fo...
Come and join us this Thursday, 19 February, at Birkbeck College, London and online, as we think about what freedom of information has achieved to date, where it goes next, and benefit from lightning talks and skills shares
pretix.eu/mysociety/fo...
FOI Fest 2026
Thu, Feb. 19, 2026
pretix.eu
February 16, 2026 at 9:53 AM
Happy FOI Fest week!
Come and join us this Thursday, 19 February, at Birkbeck College, London and online, as we think about what freedom of information has achieved to date, where it goes next, and benefit from lightning talks and skills shares
pretix.eu/mysociety/fo...
Come and join us this Thursday, 19 February, at Birkbeck College, London and online, as we think about what freedom of information has achieved to date, where it goes next, and benefit from lightning talks and skills shares
pretix.eu/mysociety/fo...
Reposted by Gavin Freeguard
Given UK government's focus on economic growth Ministers really should be asking civil servants why they have not done any assessment of the potential economic growth of open address data (& geo data more broadly)
Every other govt that does has come to conclusion to push it towards open...
Every other govt that does has come to conclusion to push it towards open...
February 13, 2026 at 11:08 AM
Given UK government's focus on economic growth Ministers really should be asking civil servants why they have not done any assessment of the potential economic growth of open address data (& geo data more broadly)
Every other govt that does has come to conclusion to push it towards open...
Every other govt that does has come to conclusion to push it towards open...
Reposted by Gavin Freeguard
Wormald confirmed as leaving as cabinet secretary - interesting that Antonia Romeo (MoJ), James Bowler (HMT) and Cat Little (Cabinet Office) will act as joint interims
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
The Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary have agreed by mutual consent the Cabinet Secretary will stand down
Sir Chris Wormald to stand down as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service
www.gov.uk
February 12, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Wormald confirmed as leaving as cabinet secretary - interesting that Antonia Romeo (MoJ), James Bowler (HMT) and Cat Little (Cabinet Office) will act as joint interims
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
DSIT consultation on 'Opportunities for public sector data' closes 28 Feb (or sooner) 👇
DSIT is looking for ideas about what public data to focus on making available (to business) within the National Data Library.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Opportunities for public sector data survey 2026: questions
www.gov.uk
February 12, 2026 at 2:00 PM
DSIT consultation on 'Opportunities for public sector data' closes 28 Feb (or sooner) 👇
🚨 ONE WEEK TODAY 🚨
Join us at Birkbeck College, London & online for
FOI FEST 2026
- Keynotes from ICO & Scottish Info Commissioner, followed by discussion
- Lightning talks
- Skills sessions
Sign up now: pretix.eu/mysociety/fo...
And for FOI Network updates: www.mysociety.org/transparency...
Join us at Birkbeck College, London & online for
FOI FEST 2026
- Keynotes from ICO & Scottish Info Commissioner, followed by discussion
- Lightning talks
- Skills sessions
Sign up now: pretix.eu/mysociety/fo...
And for FOI Network updates: www.mysociety.org/transparency...
FOI Fest 2026
Thu, Feb. 19, 2026
pretix.eu
February 12, 2026 at 10:10 AM
🚨 ONE WEEK TODAY 🚨
Join us at Birkbeck College, London & online for
FOI FEST 2026
- Keynotes from ICO & Scottish Info Commissioner, followed by discussion
- Lightning talks
- Skills sessions
Sign up now: pretix.eu/mysociety/fo...
And for FOI Network updates: www.mysociety.org/transparency...
Join us at Birkbeck College, London & online for
FOI FEST 2026
- Keynotes from ICO & Scottish Info Commissioner, followed by discussion
- Lightning talks
- Skills sessions
Sign up now: pretix.eu/mysociety/fo...
And for FOI Network updates: www.mysociety.org/transparency...
Join us today, online! 👇
📢 Register now for the next Data & AI public engagement community of practice where we'll be joined by Louis Horsley (National Voices) and Rachel Astall (Beam).
📅 Wednesday 11 Feb
🕑 2pm - 3:15pm UK time
💻 Online, free of charge
More info and to register: connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
📅 Wednesday 11 Feb
🕑 2pm - 3:15pm UK time
💻 Online, free of charge
More info and to register: connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
Data and AI public engagement: Community of Practice
On Wednesday 11 February 2026 at 2pm we will hold the sixteenth meeting of a community of practice as part of our project on Giving communities a powerful say in public sector data and AI projects.
connectedbydata.org
February 11, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Join us today, online! 👇
Join @connectedbydata.org @demos-uk.bsky.social and some great speakers and attendees in Manchester, 6 March 👇
⭕ We're pleased to announce DEMOS as a 'power and participation in public tech' conference partner.
📆 Friday 6 March
🕰️ 10:00 - 17:00
🏢 Manchester
🔗 connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
(1/3)
📆 Friday 6 March
🕰️ 10:00 - 17:00
🏢 Manchester
🔗 connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
(1/3)
February 11, 2026 at 10:12 AM
Join @connectedbydata.org @demos-uk.bsky.social and some great speakers and attendees in Manchester, 6 March 👇
Just spotted @foodgov.bsky.social appear to have joined Bluesky (h/t @ukhsa.bsky.social)
Have added to my UK (central) government organisations Starter Pack - please shout if I've missed any others that have joined in recent weeks!
go.bsky.app/JHsY1Wz
(More info bsky.app/profile/gavi...)
Have added to my UK (central) government organisations Starter Pack - please shout if I've missed any others that have joined in recent weeks!
go.bsky.app/JHsY1Wz
(More info bsky.app/profile/gavi...)
So... I've created a starter pack of UK government organisations currently on Bluesky: go.bsky.app/JHsY1Wz
(Currently includes all those listed under ministerial and non-ministerial departments here www.gov.uk/government/o... - let me know any I've missed, or got wrong)
(Currently includes all those listed under ministerial and non-ministerial departments here www.gov.uk/government/o... - let me know any I've missed, or got wrong)
February 10, 2026 at 11:41 AM
Just spotted @foodgov.bsky.social appear to have joined Bluesky (h/t @ukhsa.bsky.social)
Have added to my UK (central) government organisations Starter Pack - please shout if I've missed any others that have joined in recent weeks!
go.bsky.app/JHsY1Wz
(More info bsky.app/profile/gavi...)
Have added to my UK (central) government organisations Starter Pack - please shout if I've missed any others that have joined in recent weeks!
go.bsky.app/JHsY1Wz
(More info bsky.app/profile/gavi...)
Time for my increasingly frequent, 'there's a clear Trend on this chart' joke
February 10, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Time for my increasingly frequent, 'there's a clear Trend on this chart' joke
Reposted by Gavin Freeguard
In-person tickets for FOI Fest have almost sold out, so act now if you are hoping to join us in London: pretix.eu/mysociety/fo... (online spaces are limitless, but still a good idea to book now while you're thinking of it!). #FOI #freedomofinformation
February 10, 2026 at 9:32 AM
In-person tickets for FOI Fest have almost sold out, so act now if you are hoping to join us in London: pretix.eu/mysociety/fo... (online spaces are limitless, but still a good idea to book now while you're thinking of it!). #FOI #freedomofinformation
If you want to do something productive, that could help make government better, while you doomscroll...
👇
👇
Some of us @transformgovtalks.bsky.social & some great govt policy people are planning @policycamp.bsky.social - a new unconference for people who want to make govt policymaking even better
Help shape it - here's a short survey!
Microsoft Form: bit.ly/MSPolicyCamp
Google Form: bit.ly/GPolicyCamp
Help shape it - here's a short survey!
Microsoft Form: bit.ly/MSPolicyCamp
Google Form: bit.ly/GPolicyCamp
Policy Camp
policycamp.org.uk
February 9, 2026 at 2:43 PM
If you want to do something productive, that could help make government better, while you doomscroll...
👇
👇
Reposted by Gavin Freeguard
📣 'Power and participation in public tech' conference registration is open!
📆 Friday 6th March
🕰️ 10:00 - 17:00
🏢 Manchester, UK
We're pleased to announce the day includes @gavinfreeguard.bsky.social in conversation with @evefrancisholt.bsky.social from GMCA.
🔗 connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
📆 Friday 6th March
🕰️ 10:00 - 17:00
🏢 Manchester, UK
We're pleased to announce the day includes @gavinfreeguard.bsky.social in conversation with @evefrancisholt.bsky.social from GMCA.
🔗 connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
February 9, 2026 at 7:00 AM
📣 'Power and participation in public tech' conference registration is open!
📆 Friday 6th March
🕰️ 10:00 - 17:00
🏢 Manchester, UK
We're pleased to announce the day includes @gavinfreeguard.bsky.social in conversation with @evefrancisholt.bsky.social from GMCA.
🔗 connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
📆 Friday 6th March
🕰️ 10:00 - 17:00
🏢 Manchester, UK
We're pleased to announce the day includes @gavinfreeguard.bsky.social in conversation with @evefrancisholt.bsky.social from GMCA.
🔗 connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
Reposted by Gavin Freeguard
🚨 6PM, WED 25 February 🚨
At the MoJ or online.
Liam Hawkes and Violette Gadenne, CoLab HO on service design in a spending review
James Plunkett, Kinship Works, on the energy at the edges - and how the centre can spread it
luma.com/q19znan6
Please share! Thanks 🙏
At the MoJ or online.
Liam Hawkes and Violette Gadenne, CoLab HO on service design in a spending review
James Plunkett, Kinship Works, on the energy at the edges - and how the centre can spread it
luma.com/q19znan6
Please share! Thanks 🙏
TransformGov Talks: February 2026 · Luma
Liam Hawkes, Principal Service Designer, and Violette Gadenne, Senior User Researcher, Policy and Innovation Lab (CoLab), Home Office, on setting the scene,…
luma.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:01 PM
🚨 6PM, WED 25 February 🚨
At the MoJ or online.
Liam Hawkes and Violette Gadenne, CoLab HO on service design in a spending review
James Plunkett, Kinship Works, on the energy at the edges - and how the centre can spread it
luma.com/q19znan6
Please share! Thanks 🙏
At the MoJ or online.
Liam Hawkes and Violette Gadenne, CoLab HO on service design in a spending review
James Plunkett, Kinship Works, on the energy at the edges - and how the centre can spread it
luma.com/q19znan6
Please share! Thanks 🙏
Reposted by Gavin Freeguard
Experience: I am the Excel world champion
Experience: I am the Excel world champion
I have been called the LeBron James of spreadsheets, but I try not to take myself too seriously
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2026 at 5:42 AM
Experience: I am the Excel world champion
Reposted by Gavin Freeguard
Good to see the membership of the NDL Expert Advisory Group has been published - congrats @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social @bengoldacre.bsky.social @maltbyps.bsky.social @stianwestlake.bsky.social www.gov.uk/government/g...
Hopefully a sign of things to come on working in the open, too
Hopefully a sign of things to come on working in the open, too
February 5, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Good to see the membership of the NDL Expert Advisory Group has been published - congrats @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social @bengoldacre.bsky.social @maltbyps.bsky.social @stianwestlake.bsky.social www.gov.uk/government/g...
Hopefully a sign of things to come on working in the open, too
Hopefully a sign of things to come on working in the open, too
The @connectedbydata.org Data and AI Public Engagement Community of Practice has been running since July 2024.
Next Weds (2pm, online) will be the latest meeting, our 16th overall, when we'll hear from @nationalvoices.bsky.social & Beam. Join us! connectedbydata.org/events/2026-...
Also... (1/3)
Next Weds (2pm, online) will be the latest meeting, our 16th overall, when we'll hear from @nationalvoices.bsky.social & Beam. Join us! connectedbydata.org/events/2026-...
Also... (1/3)
Data and AI public engagement: Community of Practice
On Wednesday 11 February 2026 at 2pm we will hold the sixteenth meeting of a community of practice as part of our project on Giving communities a powerful say in public sector data and AI projects.
connectedbydata.org
February 5, 2026 at 11:15 AM
The @connectedbydata.org Data and AI Public Engagement Community of Practice has been running since July 2024.
Next Weds (2pm, online) will be the latest meeting, our 16th overall, when we'll hear from @nationalvoices.bsky.social & Beam. Join us! connectedbydata.org/events/2026-...
Also... (1/3)
Next Weds (2pm, online) will be the latest meeting, our 16th overall, when we'll hear from @nationalvoices.bsky.social & Beam. Join us! connectedbydata.org/events/2026-...
Also... (1/3)
Reposted by Gavin Freeguard
📢 Register now for the next Data & AI public engagement community of practice where we'll be joined by Louis Horsley (National Voices) and Rachel Astall (Beam).
📅 Wednesday 11 Feb
🕑 2pm - 3:15pm UK time
💻 Online, free of charge
More info and to register: connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
📅 Wednesday 11 Feb
🕑 2pm - 3:15pm UK time
💻 Online, free of charge
More info and to register: connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
Data and AI public engagement: Community of Practice
On Wednesday 11 February 2026 at 2pm we will hold the sixteenth meeting of a community of practice as part of our project on Giving communities a powerful say in public sector data and AI projects.
connectedbydata.org
February 4, 2026 at 5:00 PM
📢 Register now for the next Data & AI public engagement community of practice where we'll be joined by Louis Horsley (National Voices) and Rachel Astall (Beam).
📅 Wednesday 11 Feb
🕑 2pm - 3:15pm UK time
💻 Online, free of charge
More info and to register: connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
📅 Wednesday 11 Feb
🕑 2pm - 3:15pm UK time
💻 Online, free of charge
More info and to register: connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
Oh, and interim CTO: appointed www.digitalhealth.net/2026/01/soni...
February 4, 2026 at 10:37 AM
Oh, and interim CTO: appointed www.digitalhealth.net/2026/01/soni...
😞
February 4, 2026 at 10:25 AM
😞
Reposted by Gavin Freeguard
📣 'Power and participation in public tech' conference registration is open!
📆 Friday 6th March
🕰️ 10:00 - 17:00
🏢 Manchester, UK
We're pleased to announce the day includes @gavinfreeguard.bsky.social in conversation with @evefrancisholt.bsky.social from GMCA.
🔗 connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
📆 Friday 6th March
🕰️ 10:00 - 17:00
🏢 Manchester, UK
We're pleased to announce the day includes @gavinfreeguard.bsky.social in conversation with @evefrancisholt.bsky.social from GMCA.
🔗 connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
February 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM
📣 'Power and participation in public tech' conference registration is open!
📆 Friday 6th March
🕰️ 10:00 - 17:00
🏢 Manchester, UK
We're pleased to announce the day includes @gavinfreeguard.bsky.social in conversation with @evefrancisholt.bsky.social from GMCA.
🔗 connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
📆 Friday 6th March
🕰️ 10:00 - 17:00
🏢 Manchester, UK
We're pleased to announce the day includes @gavinfreeguard.bsky.social in conversation with @evefrancisholt.bsky.social from GMCA.
🔗 connectedbydata.org/events/2026...
Some of us @transformgovtalks.bsky.social & some great govt policy people are planning @policycamp.bsky.social - a new unconference for people who want to make govt policymaking even better
Help shape it - here's a short survey!
Microsoft Form: bit.ly/MSPolicyCamp
Google Form: bit.ly/GPolicyCamp
Help shape it - here's a short survey!
Microsoft Form: bit.ly/MSPolicyCamp
Google Form: bit.ly/GPolicyCamp
Policy Camp
policycamp.org.uk
February 3, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Some of us @transformgovtalks.bsky.social & some great govt policy people are planning @policycamp.bsky.social - a new unconference for people who want to make govt policymaking even better
Help shape it - here's a short survey!
Microsoft Form: bit.ly/MSPolicyCamp
Google Form: bit.ly/GPolicyCamp
Help shape it - here's a short survey!
Microsoft Form: bit.ly/MSPolicyCamp
Google Form: bit.ly/GPolicyCamp
Keynotes from the ICO and Scottish Information Commissioner!
Discussions on what FOI has changed - and what comes next!
Skills sessions!
Lightning talks!
FOI Fest schedule! www.mysociety.org/transparency...
Sign up now for 19 Feb! Free! pretix.eu/mysociety/fo...
Discussions on what FOI has changed - and what comes next!
Skills sessions!
Lightning talks!
FOI Fest schedule! www.mysociety.org/transparency...
Sign up now for 19 Feb! Free! pretix.eu/mysociety/fo...
FOI Fest 2026
FOI Fest 2026 will be held at Birkbeck University of London and online.
Full venue and joining details will be shared a few days ahead of the conference.
Draft Schedule
Time
Location
Session / A...
www.mysociety.org
February 3, 2026 at 11:10 AM
Keynotes from the ICO and Scottish Information Commissioner!
Discussions on what FOI has changed - and what comes next!
Skills sessions!
Lightning talks!
FOI Fest schedule! www.mysociety.org/transparency...
Sign up now for 19 Feb! Free! pretix.eu/mysociety/fo...
Discussions on what FOI has changed - and what comes next!
Skills sessions!
Lightning talks!
FOI Fest schedule! www.mysociety.org/transparency...
Sign up now for 19 Feb! Free! pretix.eu/mysociety/fo...
Reposted by Gavin Freeguard
I’ve finally had enough and blogged about the new Civil Service Pensions website @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social @janethughes.bsky.social @zsk.bsky.social @hetanshah.bsky.social
bearoneill.com/2026/01/29/bad…
bearoneill.com/2026/01/29/bad…
Bad
It’s unusual to come across a truly bad new digital service these days. People now praise the online passport service for speed and ease of use, the same for Jobseeker’s, voter registra…
bearoneill.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:02 PM
I’ve finally had enough and blogged about the new Civil Service Pensions website @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social @janethughes.bsky.social @zsk.bsky.social @hetanshah.bsky.social
bearoneill.com/2026/01/29/bad…
bearoneill.com/2026/01/29/bad…
Would you like to help shape a new event, bringing policymakers together to improve government policymaking?
Do I have the survey* for you!
Help build Policy Camp - it only takes a few minutes
(*Surveys, given departmental tech restrictions)
Do I have the survey* for you!
Help build Policy Camp - it only takes a few minutes
(*Surveys, given departmental tech restrictions)
Last night we also trailed the idea of Policy Camp, a possible unconference for people who want to make policymaking in govt even better policycamp.org.uk
We'd love you to help shape it, so we've set up a survey:
- Microsoft Form bit.ly/MSPolicyCamp
- Google Form bit.ly/GPolicyCamp
We'd love you to help shape it, so we've set up a survey:
- Microsoft Form bit.ly/MSPolicyCamp
- Google Form bit.ly/GPolicyCamp
Policy Camp
policycamp.org.uk
January 29, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Would you like to help shape a new event, bringing policymakers together to improve government policymaking?
Do I have the survey* for you!
Help build Policy Camp - it only takes a few minutes
(*Surveys, given departmental tech restrictions)
Do I have the survey* for you!
Help build Policy Camp - it only takes a few minutes
(*Surveys, given departmental tech restrictions)