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Thoughtworks has launched a report exploring how citizens' behaviour towards the public sector has changed since COVID-19 and what public services will look like in the future.

techUK members Thoughtworks are a global software consultancy and community of passionate purpose-led individuals. Over their 25 year history they have helped clients solve complex business problems where technology is the differentiator.

Recently, Thoughtworks launched a report on the Future of the Public Sector, exploring how citizens’ behaviour and sentiment towards the public sector has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the public services they will expect moving forward. This report takes an in-depth look at the challenges the public sector currently faces and assesses the effect of COVID-19, to predict how public services might evolve over the next decade.

The report was compiled using independent market research conducted by Maru/Blue on behalf of Thoughtworks, with a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults in the UK in April 2020. The surveys asked people about how they value public services, how they currently use them, and how they would like to do so in the future.

It covers four chapters, and each one is concluded by detailed analysis from David Howell, Portfolio Director – Public Sector, UK at Thoughtworks. The chapters are as follows:

• Coronavirus as a catalyst for change
• Paying for the public sector
• Looking to the future of public services in 2030 and beyond
• Spotlight on data privacy

Perhaps the most significant finding is that the pandemic has prompted a change in how people view the public sector, with the “overwhelming majority” now viewing it in a far more positive light. The figures show that “almost nine out of ten people in the UK (88 percent) say they now value the public sector more than they did before the pandemic” which has presented a significant opportunity for the public sector to look at more efficient ways of working in all aspects, to accelerate the positive changes that took place during the pandemic and continue driving this forward with citizen’s best interests at heart.

The report then goes on to explore just what that value looks like and the fact that there must be a “serious long-term investment” if it is to ensure the public sector continues to deliver these valued services - and looks at where other parts of the economy should be supported, like helping small businesses and high street shops for example. It looks at how people would like to use public services in the future through more efficient and flexible means, and how the challenges around data privacy will be addressed.

Follow this link to read more and download the report.