Phil Rumens
@rumens.uk
Principal Technologist for GDS Local. Part of @LocalGovDigital.
Advocate of technology enabled user centred design.
o7 CMDR
Advocate of technology enabled user centred design.
o7 CMDR
Hello Leeds, it's been a while.
November 13, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Hello Leeds, it's been a while.
This week:
▶️ Went to Taunton to talk with officers at Somerset Council.
▶️ Presented at the Technical Design Council; spoke about the pressures on councils and some of the positive things happening with technology.
▶️ Took part in a GOV.UK App workshop for #localgov.
▶️ Went to Taunton to talk with officers at Somerset Council.
▶️ Presented at the Technical Design Council; spoke about the pressures on councils and some of the positive things happening with technology.
▶️ Took part in a GOV.UK App workshop for #localgov.
October 18, 2025 at 7:52 AM
This week:
▶️ Went to Taunton to talk with officers at Somerset Council.
▶️ Presented at the Technical Design Council; spoke about the pressures on councils and some of the positive things happening with technology.
▶️ Took part in a GOV.UK App workshop for #localgov.
▶️ Went to Taunton to talk with officers at Somerset Council.
▶️ Presented at the Technical Design Council; spoke about the pressures on councils and some of the positive things happening with technology.
▶️ Took part in a GOV.UK App workshop for #localgov.
Hello Birmingham.Just passing through on my way to Sheffield today.
September 30, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Hello Birmingham.Just passing through on my way to Sheffield today.
Still waiting for the announcement of digital ego and digital superego.
September 26, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Still waiting for the announcement of digital ego and digital superego.
Do you notice anything new on this list of teams at the Government Digital Service stand at #DigiGovExpo today?
September 24, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Do you notice anything new on this list of teams at the Government Digital Service stand at #DigiGovExpo today?
I'm at @techuk.bsky.social Building the Smarter State event tomorrow. If you're also attending and fancy a chat about anything #localgov #digital related, do please say hello.
September 9, 2025 at 10:00 AM
I'm at @techuk.bsky.social Building the Smarter State event tomorrow. If you're also attending and fancy a chat about anything #localgov #digital related, do please say hello.
This is my final week employed in #localgov, so I wrote a piece about it.
philrumens.blogspot.com/2025/08/leav...
philrumens.blogspot.com/2025/08/leav...
Leaving local government
It’s often been fun, occasionally frustrating, always fulfilling, but this is my final week employed in local government. There are few type...
philrumens.blogspot.com
August 25, 2025 at 8:05 AM
This is my final week employed in #localgov, so I wrote a piece about it.
philrumens.blogspot.com/2025/08/leav...
philrumens.blogspot.com/2025/08/leav...
It's encouraging to see more service design roles being advertised in #localgov, in recent months.
This example is at Westmorland and Furness.
recruitment.cumbria.gov.uk/trentl_webre...
This example is at Westmorland and Furness.
recruitment.cumbria.gov.uk/trentl_webre...
Job profile
recruitment.cumbria.gov.uk
August 13, 2025 at 8:52 AM
It's encouraging to see more service design roles being advertised in #localgov, in recent months.
This example is at Westmorland and Furness.
recruitment.cumbria.gov.uk/trentl_webre...
This example is at Westmorland and Furness.
recruitment.cumbria.gov.uk/trentl_webre...
This Briefing Room episode on the history and future of ID cards in the UK was a great listen, with the added welcome surprise that Rachel contributed to the discussion.
Listening to @jonagar.bsky.social bring this great thread to life www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... with the telling remark that ID cards are often mooted in response to the moral panic of the day. I pop up in the 2nd half talking @carefultrouble.bsky.social's research into public opinion on digital ID
August 6, 2025 at 8:08 AM
This Briefing Room episode on the history and future of ID cards in the UK was a great listen, with the added welcome surprise that Rachel contributed to the discussion.
It looks like existing councils going through local government reorganisation will require written consent from the successor council for any IT contract worth in excess of £100k revenue spend during the lifetime of the contract.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Financial decisions before local government reorganisation
www.gov.uk
July 28, 2025 at 5:47 PM
It looks like existing councils going through local government reorganisation will require written consent from the successor council for any IT contract worth in excess of £100k revenue spend during the lifetime of the contract.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
My most prolific chilli plant this year is also one that's been outside since May. Definitely a result of the hot weather this year, and perhaps a sign of things to come.
July 27, 2025 at 10:07 AM
My most prolific chilli plant this year is also one that's been outside since May. Definitely a result of the hot weather this year, and perhaps a sign of things to come.
I just "verified my age" through a service that uses facial age estimation.
What checks are in place in these services to stop me falsely verifying my age using a picture I printed out?
What checks are in place in these services to stop me falsely verifying my age using a picture I printed out?
July 26, 2025 at 8:07 AM
I just "verified my age" through a service that uses facial age estimation.
What checks are in place in these services to stop me falsely verifying my age using a picture I printed out?
What checks are in place in these services to stop me falsely verifying my age using a picture I printed out?
"In an era of growing mistrust in public institutions and traditional democratic processes, it is even more important for AI in the public sector to be seen as trustworthy"
This report from @adalovelaceinst.bsky.social is a good read.
www.adalovelaceinstitute.org/policy-brief...
This report from @adalovelaceinst.bsky.social is a good read.
www.adalovelaceinstitute.org/policy-brief...
Licence to build
Public attitudes to public sector AI
www.adalovelaceinstitute.org
July 8, 2025 at 11:56 AM
"In an era of growing mistrust in public institutions and traditional democratic processes, it is even more important for AI in the public sector to be seen as trustworthy"
This report from @adalovelaceinst.bsky.social is a good read.
www.adalovelaceinstitute.org/policy-brief...
This report from @adalovelaceinst.bsky.social is a good read.
www.adalovelaceinstitute.org/policy-brief...
Interesting to see the GOV.UK App already has a your local services section, albeit just a link to council websites at the moment.
July 1, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Interesting to see the GOV.UK App already has a your local services section, albeit just a link to council websites at the moment.
Hi Bluesky. Can anyone give me some insight into ORCATS (Operational Research Computerised Allocation of Tickets to Services), used for real time reservation and revenue sharing on tickets between train operating companies please?
June 29, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Hi Bluesky. Can anyone give me some insight into ORCATS (Operational Research Computerised Allocation of Tickets to Services), used for real time reservation and revenue sharing on tickets between train operating companies please?
Sometimes when I click the Applause reaction in Teams, I actually mean it as a slow hand clap.
May 21, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Sometimes when I click the Applause reaction in Teams, I actually mean it as a slow hand clap.
I was delighted to be able to able to give evidence in Parliament today to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee's inquiry on the Digital centre of government.
I hope I represented #localgov #digital well. You can watch and make your own mind up here: parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...
I hope I represented #localgov #digital well. You can watch and make your own mind up here: parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...
May 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
I was delighted to be able to able to give evidence in Parliament today to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee's inquiry on the Digital centre of government.
I hope I represented #localgov #digital well. You can watch and make your own mind up here: parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...
I hope I represented #localgov #digital well. You can watch and make your own mind up here: parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...
Really enjoyed the Are you Listening Festival in Reading yesterday.
A huge variety of acts at venues across the town, which were really busy (but not uncomfortably so) even at 4pm.
A huge variety of acts at venues across the town, which were really busy (but not uncomfortably so) even at 4pm.
May 11, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Really enjoyed the Are you Listening Festival in Reading yesterday.
A huge variety of acts at venues across the town, which were really busy (but not uncomfortably so) even at 4pm.
A huge variety of acts at venues across the town, which were really busy (but not uncomfortably so) even at 4pm.
I'll be giving evidence at a Science, Innovation and Technology Committee inquiry meeting next week.
Obviously the questions and discussion will be led by the Committee, but what might you mention in relation to #localgov #digital, if the opportunity arose?
committees.parliament.uk/event/24188/...
Obviously the questions and discussion will be led by the Committee, but what might you mention in relation to #localgov #digital, if the opportunity arose?
committees.parliament.uk/event/24188/...
13 May 2025 - Science, Innovation and Technology Committee - Oral evidence session - Committees - UK Parliament
09:00 - TBC
committees.parliament.uk
May 7, 2025 at 11:09 AM
I'll be giving evidence at a Science, Innovation and Technology Committee inquiry meeting next week.
Obviously the questions and discussion will be led by the Committee, but what might you mention in relation to #localgov #digital, if the opportunity arose?
committees.parliament.uk/event/24188/...
Obviously the questions and discussion will be led by the Committee, but what might you mention in relation to #localgov #digital, if the opportunity arose?
committees.parliament.uk/event/24188/...
Could small language models be a big idea for the public sector?
Something by me on whether a faster, cheaper form of Gen AI with potentially less environmental impact, might keep the automation of UK public sector tasks, within the UK and the public sector.
philrumens.blogspot.com/2025/05/a-bi...
Something by me on whether a faster, cheaper form of Gen AI with potentially less environmental impact, might keep the automation of UK public sector tasks, within the UK and the public sector.
philrumens.blogspot.com/2025/05/a-bi...
A big idea for small language models
It's likely there are hundreds of solutions that utilise generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) already in use across the public sector....
philrumens.blogspot.com
May 6, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Could small language models be a big idea for the public sector?
Something by me on whether a faster, cheaper form of Gen AI with potentially less environmental impact, might keep the automation of UK public sector tasks, within the UK and the public sector.
philrumens.blogspot.com/2025/05/a-bi...
Something by me on whether a faster, cheaper form of Gen AI with potentially less environmental impact, might keep the automation of UK public sector tasks, within the UK and the public sector.
philrumens.blogspot.com/2025/05/a-bi...
Thunderbolts* isn't multi-layered, deep, or meaningful, but it does do what sci-fi and fantasy can do well; featuring topics or subjects not always covered in blockbuster, mainstream cinema to the fore.
May 5, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Thunderbolts* isn't multi-layered, deep, or meaningful, but it does do what sci-fi and fantasy can do well; featuring topics or subjects not always covered in blockbuster, mainstream cinema to the fore.
This looks like a great event from @local.gov.uk for #localgov #digital colleagues, where they'll be sharing their discovery findings on considerations for cyber, digital, data and technology, as part of Local Government Reorganisation.
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/62977d...
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/62977d...
Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
events.teams.microsoft.com
April 29, 2025 at 11:58 AM
This looks like a great event from @local.gov.uk for #localgov #digital colleagues, where they'll be sharing their discovery findings on considerations for cyber, digital, data and technology, as part of Local Government Reorganisation.
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/62977d...
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/62977d...
Really liked #TheAssembly on ITV last night.
I'm not a fan of Danny Dyer but the format is great and I'm looking forward to future episodes with other interviewees.
I'm not a fan of Danny Dyer but the format is great and I'm looking forward to future episodes with other interviewees.
April 27, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Really liked #TheAssembly on ITV last night.
I'm not a fan of Danny Dyer but the format is great and I'm looking forward to future episodes with other interviewees.
I'm not a fan of Danny Dyer but the format is great and I'm looking forward to future episodes with other interviewees.