The new head of the United Kingdom Public Service has urged the Government to do more to “unlock the potential of data”.
In an internal memo to staff, Simon Case (pictured) also said Public Servants would need “to pull out all the stops to deliver what the public expects”.
Mr Case said the Public Service’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic had shown what it was capable of.
“Thousands of you have worked tirelessly over the last few months to design innovative ways of delivering front-line services to our citizens,” Mr Case said.
“We must build on this momentum and also demonstrate our ability to act as an effective, evidence-driven Government service,” he said.
Mr Case said this would be “vital as we continue our journey towards becoming a world-leading 21st-century Government machine with people that can unlock the potential of data, invite challenge and remove the obstacles that frustrate us”.
He Case said he was taking on the mantle as head of the Public Service from Sir Mark Sedwill “in what can fairly be described as challenging times”.
“This includes managing the COVID-19 pandemic, kick-starting the nation’s economic recovery, navigating the transition out of the European Union, maintaining the integrity of the union, all while supporting the Government to deliver on its ambitious manifesto commitments,” he said.
“There is already amazing talent and ambition among Government officials and we must find every way to unleash it,” Mr Case said.
London, 12 September 2020
