A great digital future for Newham – with more than 5,500 new Newham ‘open data’ jobs in the Data Sector
Has been predicted in a report by University College London’s Institute for Global Prosperity (IGP).
Newham Sparks: Chapter 2, ‘Unleashing the power of data to drive shared prosperity:
A roadmap to a transformative data society’ – a research collaboration between the IGP and Newham Council – foresees huge potential in the borough from the burgeoning Data Sector.
Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz OBE said the report provided the clearest evidence yet from experts about the “potential of the data economy for Newham, quantifying the growth opportunity for our borough, London and the UK”.
In its foreword, Mayor Fiaz wrote: “That opportunity is for us to seize now: over 5,500 new jobs that don’t yet exist can be created in our borough by 2035, alongside £104 million in our local economy to benefit our residents and businesses as part of the estimated ‘high growth’ or ‘optimistic’ £999 billion value of the data sector economy as it grows in the UK.
“The report sets out crucial areas for further exploration concerning citizens’ relationship with data, privacy and transparency of data use, alongside the important role that Newham Council can play in convening vital discussions and promoting actions that are driven by data use for the public good.”
Institute for Global Prosperity Founder and Director Professor Henrietta Moore said: “The five ambitious recommendations we have set out for Newham put citizens firmly in charge of their own data and that of their communities, driving innovation and bringing a whole systems approach to data policy, data governance, digital value capture and sustainability.
“Our partnership with the London Borough of Newham offers the opportunity to bring significant socio-economic benefits for local citizens, through greater prosperity and improvements in quality of life, including enhanced democratic participation. We look forward to collaborating further with Newham Council to ensure the Sparks initiative blossoms with and for the citizens of Newham in the coming years.”
Newham Sparks: Chapter 2, ‘Unleashing the power of data to drive shared prosperity:
A roadmap to a transformative data society’ makes five recommendations for Newham Council to make the most of the economic and social value of the Data Sector:
- Data Citizenship: Give residents the tools and skills they need to understand the value of data for doing public good;
- Spark Centres: Start “incubators” enabling digital innovation and entrepreneurship alongside shared services like libraries and community kitchens;
- Spark ID: Lead an initiative to establish a London-wide digital identity system;
- Data Exchanges: Convene partners across London to consolidate and standardise the collection and sharing of data without compromising the privacy and freedom of residents;
- Digital Dependencies: Establish a network of “Universal Basic Services” to enable the Data Sector, tackling the barriers to its development.
To learn more and download the report: https://www.newham.gov.uk/NewhamSparks
For more information, images and interviews, please contact: Mark McAdam, Mark.McAdam@newham.gov.uk or 07711 280422