Katie Driver
@thinkingalliance.bsky.social
Putting Thinking First. Helping public and third sector leaders prioritise the thinking that builds trust, shapes better decisions and strengthens progress on the work that matters.
Also: parent, runner, reader, volunteer, cat person, nature-lover...
Also: parent, runner, reader, volunteer, cat person, nature-lover...
Relieved and pleased to have successfully delivered a workshop on Learning Experience design together with @jocarter.bsky.social at today's #SDinGov We had a really lovely engaged, reflective group of folks, just like the Conference as a whole. Great few days - brain now officially full!
September 19, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Relieved and pleased to have successfully delivered a workshop on Learning Experience design together with @jocarter.bsky.social at today's #SDinGov We had a really lovely engaged, reflective group of folks, just like the Conference as a whole. Great few days - brain now officially full!
En route to Edinburgh for my first Service Design in Gov conference. Come say hi 👋 esp if it's your first too! Also, if you're there on Friday I'm co-delivering 'No More Content Vomit' with @jocarter.bsky.social showing how to use SD tools and approaches to create great training! #SDinGov2025
September 16, 2025 at 7:13 PM
En route to Edinburgh for my first Service Design in Gov conference. Come say hi 👋 esp if it's your first too! Also, if you're there on Friday I'm co-delivering 'No More Content Vomit' with @jocarter.bsky.social showing how to use SD tools and approaches to create great training! #SDinGov2025
So much to digest from #ukgovcamp25 today on so many levels: people, process, content. Mostly people though: so many great folk with so many great ideas and experiences, and so much potential. Thanks everyone for making me feel welcome at my first GovCamp and I feel sure it won't be my last!
January 18, 2025 at 5:56 PM
So much to digest from #ukgovcamp25 today on so many levels: people, process, content. Mostly people though: so many great folk with so many great ideas and experiences, and so much potential. Thanks everyone for making me feel welcome at my first GovCamp and I feel sure it won't be my last!
Reposted by Katie Driver
Coming to #ukgc25 on Saturday? Thinking of pitching a session?
For inspiration, have a look at the historic session grid via bit.ly/ukgovcamp.
You can also watch the UKGovCamp 2023 short video youtu.be/M1hD_Dyb8Zg or for a blast from the past the 2014 pitches www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqSo...
For inspiration, have a look at the historic session grid via bit.ly/ukgovcamp.
You can also watch the UKGovCamp 2023 short video youtu.be/M1hD_Dyb8Zg or for a blast from the past the 2014 pitches www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqSo...
Sessions @UKGovCamp
bit.ly
January 14, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Coming to #ukgc25 on Saturday? Thinking of pitching a session?
For inspiration, have a look at the historic session grid via bit.ly/ukgovcamp.
You can also watch the UKGovCamp 2023 short video youtu.be/M1hD_Dyb8Zg or for a blast from the past the 2014 pitches www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqSo...
For inspiration, have a look at the historic session grid via bit.ly/ukgovcamp.
You can also watch the UKGovCamp 2023 short video youtu.be/M1hD_Dyb8Zg or for a blast from the past the 2014 pitches www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqSo...
Interesting read about the challenges and options when upgrading services alongside legacy systems.
I've written this thread up as a blog post with some more details:
Why some DVLA digital services don't work at night
dafyddvaughan.uk/blog/2025/wh...
Why some DVLA digital services don't work at night
dafyddvaughan.uk/blog/2025/wh...
Why some DVLA digital services don't work at night
Every few months or so, somebody asks on social media why a particular DVLA digital service is turned off over night. Rather than answering it every time, I’ve decided to write this post, so I can poi...
dafyddvaughan.uk
January 16, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Interesting read about the challenges and options when upgrading services alongside legacy systems.
Reposted by Katie Driver
Fantastic opportunity to join the @instituteforgov.bsky.social as a researcher - please flag to all the brilliant people you know! www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...
Researcher | Institute for Government
We are inviting applications for researchers, to start as soon as notice periods allow.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
December 12, 2024 at 10:58 AM
Fantastic opportunity to join the @instituteforgov.bsky.social as a researcher - please flag to all the brilliant people you know! www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...
www.linkedin.com/posts/kjdriv... Some musings on warning signs and what happens if we ignore them.
Katie Driver on LinkedIn: Bobbles underfoot. And a yellow line. And then the white line on the edge.… | 15 comments
Bobbles underfoot. And a yellow line. And then the white line on the edge.
Not one, not two, but three warning signs that alert us to the edge of the… | 15 comments on LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com
December 12, 2024 at 7:41 PM
www.linkedin.com/posts/kjdriv... Some musings on warning signs and what happens if we ignore them.
Reposted by Katie Driver
Another thought on all the 'blob-bashing' chatter. Pleased to see McFadden swerve Labour away from the culture war but...
There is an important distinction between *not criticising* your staff and *enthusing and inspiring them*.
There is an important distinction between *not criticising* your staff and *enthusing and inspiring them*.
December 10, 2024 at 11:08 AM
Another thought on all the 'blob-bashing' chatter. Pleased to see McFadden swerve Labour away from the culture war but...
There is an important distinction between *not criticising* your staff and *enthusing and inspiring them*.
There is an important distinction between *not criticising* your staff and *enthusing and inspiring them*.
Reposted by Katie Driver
New post just out:
"Policy vs Politics: the paralysis of technocratic government in a populist age"
Why Labour is getting stuck on identifying an approach to governing.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/p...
"Policy vs Politics: the paralysis of technocratic government in a populist age"
Why Labour is getting stuck on identifying an approach to governing.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/p...
Politics vs Policy
The paralysis of technocratic government in a populist age
open.substack.com
December 7, 2024 at 8:57 AM
New post just out:
"Policy vs Politics: the paralysis of technocratic government in a populist age"
Why Labour is getting stuck on identifying an approach to governing.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/p...
"Policy vs Politics: the paralysis of technocratic government in a populist age"
Why Labour is getting stuck on identifying an approach to governing.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/p...
Thank you to my former civil service colleagues and current civil service clients for continuing to work hard to make a real difference, notwithstanding the circumstances.
www.linkedin.com/posts/kjdriv...
www.linkedin.com/posts/kjdriv...
Katie Driver on LinkedIn: Starmer and Dominic Cummings now agree on one thing - the civil service is…
*Sigh*
As ever, it's a lot more complicated than it seems. I'm not going to start unpacking that box today.
Instead, I simply want to say thank you…
www.linkedin.com
December 6, 2024 at 2:09 PM
Thank you to my former civil service colleagues and current civil service clients for continuing to work hard to make a real difference, notwithstanding the circumstances.
www.linkedin.com/posts/kjdriv...
www.linkedin.com/posts/kjdriv...
I was pondering what to say in response to the criticism of the civil service - along the lines of 'er, it's a lot more complicated than that...' but @acjsissons.bsky.social has done a far better job than I'd have managed so please read his 🧵 instead 👇
Given the criticism of Whitehall from all sides, it’s worth asking: has the civil service got worse, or have politicians’ expectations risen? How did we get from David Cameron’s “Rolls Royce” civil service to “drain the bath”?
Here are my speculative thoughts (thread)…
Here are my speculative thoughts (thread)…
One of the most striking themes in Keir Starmer’s speech today — his frustration with Whitehall
For weeks I’ve been asking Labour people what they make of their time in government and one sentiment comes up again and again:
“Dominic Cummings was right”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
For weeks I’ve been asking Labour people what they make of their time in government and one sentiment comes up again and again:
“Dominic Cummings was right”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
December 6, 2024 at 9:59 AM
I was pondering what to say in response to the criticism of the civil service - along the lines of 'er, it's a lot more complicated than that...' but @acjsissons.bsky.social has done a far better job than I'd have managed so please read his 🧵 instead 👇
I post most weekdays on LinkedIn. Here's today's musings.
www.linkedin.com/posts/kjdriv...
www.linkedin.com/posts/kjdriv...
Katie Driver on LinkedIn: You have a 1000 piece jigsaw.
But you only have time to place 200…
You have a 1000 piece jigsaw.
But you only have time to place 200 pieces.
You could scatter them around. 10 connected here, 20 connected there, and so on.…
www.linkedin.com
December 4, 2024 at 10:48 PM
I post most weekdays on LinkedIn. Here's today's musings.
www.linkedin.com/posts/kjdriv...
www.linkedin.com/posts/kjdriv...
Reposted by Katie Driver
Good to know that the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework (previously, and as far as I can tell still continually referred to as, the DDaT framework) is being continually iterated.
designnotes.blog.gov.uk/2024/12/03/u...
designnotes.blog.gov.uk/2024/12/03/u...
Updating design skills in the Government Digital and Data Capability Framework
How and why heads of design across government came together to update the design skills in the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework.
designnotes.blog.gov.uk
December 3, 2024 at 11:55 AM
Good to know that the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework (previously, and as far as I can tell still continually referred to as, the DDaT framework) is being continually iterated.
designnotes.blog.gov.uk/2024/12/03/u...
designnotes.blog.gov.uk/2024/12/03/u...
Reposted by Katie Driver
If you’re afraid that books might change someone’s thinking, you’re not afraid of books, you’re afraid of thinking.
December 3, 2024 at 9:02 PM
If you’re afraid that books might change someone’s thinking, you’re not afraid of books, you’re afraid of thinking.
Yay! Looking forward to this in the new year - soooo much to learn, and I hope I'll have things to share as well.
December 4, 2024 at 2:46 PM
Yay! Looking forward to this in the new year - soooo much to learn, and I hope I'll have things to share as well.
Great to be at the launch last night of @tomjonbrown.bsky.social 's first book The Mind of the Minister. Lots of nuggets from interviews with former Ministers and Perm Secs which I'm looking forward to reading!
December 3, 2024 at 8:46 PM
Great to be at the launch last night of @tomjonbrown.bsky.social 's first book The Mind of the Minister. Lots of nuggets from interviews with former Ministers and Perm Secs which I'm looking forward to reading!
Advent birds from @levparikian.bsky.social Far better than cheap chocolates behind a cardboard window.
Advent bird No. 1
Wren
Scientific name: Troglodytes troglodytes
Alternative name: Tiny Shouter
Finnish name: peukaloinen
Song: tsib-a-tsab-a-tsoo-diddy-dabble-iddy-wodda-tsipp-a-brrrrr-tsip-tsip-tsip-tsip-tsip-tsip-tsip—tjop-tsrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr—-ts’tjupp-tjupp-tjupp-tjupp
Wren
Scientific name: Troglodytes troglodytes
Alternative name: Tiny Shouter
Finnish name: peukaloinen
Song: tsib-a-tsab-a-tsoo-diddy-dabble-iddy-wodda-tsipp-a-brrrrr-tsip-tsip-tsip-tsip-tsip-tsip-tsip—tjop-tsrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr—-ts’tjupp-tjupp-tjupp-tjupp
December 3, 2024 at 8:54 AM
Advent birds from @levparikian.bsky.social Far better than cheap chocolates behind a cardboard window.
www.weforum.org/videos/franc...
What a great idea - put solar panels over car parks, rather than using agricultural or forested land.
What a great idea - put solar panels over car parks, rather than using agricultural or forested land.
France Wants To Cover All Large Car Parks With Solar Panels
The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape glob...
www.weforum.org
November 30, 2024 at 1:17 PM
www.weforum.org/videos/franc...
What a great idea - put solar panels over car parks, rather than using agricultural or forested land.
What a great idea - put solar panels over car parks, rather than using agricultural or forested land.
This looks handy. I'm gradually settling in here and it's good to see folks laying out the welcome mats and showing us where to find the tea and biscuits.
🦋 Welcome to Buesky! 🦋
This popular guide has been 🚨updated🚨 and the bad link fixed. Direct links to the tools mentioned can be found in the threaded reply.
🦋 Share for all newcomers! 🦋
This popular guide has been 🚨updated🚨 and the bad link fixed. Direct links to the tools mentioned can be found in the threaded reply.
🦋 Share for all newcomers! 🦋
November 30, 2024 at 10:25 AM
This looks handy. I'm gradually settling in here and it's good to see folks laying out the welcome mats and showing us where to find the tea and biscuits.
Worth a read. One of the areas where services don't recognise and work with the reality of people's lives.
Chuffed to be the latest 'poster boy' for Working Families - trying to help raise the profile of the most hidden and unsupported of all #unpaidcarers: the roughly half a million of us who are also self-employed...
workingfamilies.org.uk/news-events/...
workingfamilies.org.uk/news-events/...
Caring Aloud - Adrian's Story - Working Families
In the next in our Caring Aloud series, we hear from Adrian, who talks candidly about the challenges of running your own business whilst caring, and his frustration at the lack of support for self-emp...
workingfamilies.org.uk
November 30, 2024 at 8:13 AM
Worth a read. One of the areas where services don't recognise and work with the reality of people's lives.
Reposted by Katie Driver
🚨 NEXT THURSDAY AT 6PM 🚨
It's @transformgovtalks.bsky.social #2, with:
- @cthimon.bsky.social & Holly Simpson, MoJ, on product development/policy/digital
- Isadora Schappell & Anna Goulden, @ucl-iipp.bsky.social
, on missions & capability
Join us in person at MoJ, or online! lu.ma/4gdplw35
It's @transformgovtalks.bsky.social #2, with:
- @cthimon.bsky.social & Holly Simpson, MoJ, on product development/policy/digital
- Isadora Schappell & Anna Goulden, @ucl-iipp.bsky.social
, on missions & capability
Join us in person at MoJ, or online! lu.ma/4gdplw35
TransformGov Talks : Second event · Luma
For our second event we have Simon Manby and Holly Simpson from the MoJ speaking about digital and policy teams working together. Also Isadora Schappell and…
lu.ma
November 29, 2024 at 3:33 PM
🚨 NEXT THURSDAY AT 6PM 🚨
It's @transformgovtalks.bsky.social #2, with:
- @cthimon.bsky.social & Holly Simpson, MoJ, on product development/policy/digital
- Isadora Schappell & Anna Goulden, @ucl-iipp.bsky.social
, on missions & capability
Join us in person at MoJ, or online! lu.ma/4gdplw35
It's @transformgovtalks.bsky.social #2, with:
- @cthimon.bsky.social & Holly Simpson, MoJ, on product development/policy/digital
- Isadora Schappell & Anna Goulden, @ucl-iipp.bsky.social
, on missions & capability
Join us in person at MoJ, or online! lu.ma/4gdplw35
Cracking start to the day, by the way.
November 28, 2024 at 11:23 AM
Cracking start to the day, by the way.
Reposted by Katie Driver
Hey #government & #ThirdSector folks
Stop designing services that frustrate people 😢
Start designing ones that work
Service Design in Practice is live!
> Practical skills
> Tools to fix broken services
> Real talk from people who get it
www.weareserviceworks.com/service-desi...
Spread the news!
Stop designing services that frustrate people 😢
Start designing ones that work
Service Design in Practice is live!
> Practical skills
> Tools to fix broken services
> Real talk from people who get it
www.weareserviceworks.com/service-desi...
Spread the news!
a man in a white shirt and tie with his mouth open
Alt: a man in a white shirt and tie with his mouth open. Gif zooms into him
media.tenor.com
November 20, 2024 at 9:35 AM
Hey #government & #ThirdSector folks
Stop designing services that frustrate people 😢
Start designing ones that work
Service Design in Practice is live!
> Practical skills
> Tools to fix broken services
> Real talk from people who get it
www.weareserviceworks.com/service-desi...
Spread the news!
Stop designing services that frustrate people 😢
Start designing ones that work
Service Design in Practice is live!
> Practical skills
> Tools to fix broken services
> Real talk from people who get it
www.weareserviceworks.com/service-desi...
Spread the news!