At Brent, we’ve been trying to rethink how we tackle problems in a way that makes ‘innovation’ not just a buzzword, but a practical, everyday reality in local government.

That journey led us to something exciting: We will soon be launching ‘The Base’ , a dedicated space at the Civic Centre (both physical and cultural) where bold ideas, agile working and collaborative experimentation come to life. 

And, recently, we got to share our early steps with fellow innovators at the LOTI Data Jamboree as part of London Data Week by running a workshop to explore how councils like us can unlock real transformation.

Why do we need an Innovation Space?

Historically, local government has not always led the way in being fast-moving or experimental. But that is changing!

Our Innovation Space is designed to challenge this narrative by creating a place where cross-functional teams can come together to reimagine how services are designed and delivered. Think hackathons, agile sprints, creative problem-solving – all grounded in the needs of our residents.

The space is still taking shape , but the energy and ideas it has sparked, already tell us we’re onto something.

From Concept to Conversation: The LOTI Workshop

We took our idea on the road – well, only a few stairs down from the 5th floor of the Brent Civic Centre – to the LOTI Data Jamboree we were hosting. Our workshop, “Civic Sandbox: Maximising Local Government Innovation Spaces”, brought together a remarkable mix of data experts, service designers, project managers and digital transformation leads.

We hosted a World Café discussion to deep dive into two key themes:

• Agile Toolkit & Skills: What do teams need to work in truly agile ways?
• Hackathons: How can we use them to unlock innovation in local services?

Our participants had the opportunity to rotate around the different discussion groups, share stories, voice challenges and offer practical suggestions. 

The feedback? We heard the words, “thoughtful”, “energised” “enthusiastic” floating around the room. It’s no exaggeration when we say that people jumped out of their chairs to get their input on the board!

Key Takeaways: Tools, Trust, and the Resident Voice

What did we learn?

• Well-prepared Hackathons thrive! Participants emphasised the importance of setting teams up for success – with clear datasets, accessible tools and clearly defined, meaningful challenges. Although valid concerns around personal data and privacy were raised, there was real interest in the potential of synthetic data generated by GenAI (Generative Artificial Intelligence) to support early-stage innovation, with the important caveats that any synthetic data must be representative, free from bias and used within a framework of clear governance and ethical oversight. Innovation – yes. But always responsibly.
• Residents must remain as the North Star.  One of the key messages was that any innovation must keep residents at the heart of everything. We are not just about experimenting for fun but about solving real problems with real people in mind. Our participants suggested designating a dedicated team member as the “Voice of the Resident” – a person or persons who consistently champions the needs, perspectives and lived experiences of residents throughout the entire project. We discussed how the role would help ensure that innovation stays grounded in real-world impact and not only in technical solutions.
• Information governance is not an “afterthought”. Inviting external partners into these spaces means we must think carefully about data privacy and protocols. There were many suggestions on how to manage this, ranging from creating sandboxed environments through to establishing clear documentation and onboarding processes. We set up an IT & Information Governance Working Group for the Innovation space, but we recognise that there is still more work that needs to be done on this. 
• A Changing Narrative in Local Government. Perhaps the most powerful insight wasn’t about tools or processes, but people. The passion, creativity and optimism in the room demonstrated that the old cliché of ‘local government is a decade behind’, no longer holds. Even with diminishing budgets and increasing demand for services, we are ready to try new things. We recognise that local government can be reliable and radical and that perceived “failures” are learning moments on the road to better services.

What’s Next for Brent’s Innovation Space (The Base)?

We’re now working with early adopters to co-create the space and plan our first round of innovation sessions. 

Our next step? Bringing real service challenges into The Base – directly from our people at Brent Council. With over 1,000 ideas submitted through our latest round of Ideas Sharing, we won’t be short on inspiration.

And we invite you to join us.

If you’re experimenting with similar ideas in your council, working on Local Gov tech, or just curious about what we’re building, we’d love to connect. 

Whether it’s to collaborate, co-create or just have a chat over a cuppa, The Base is open for innovation!