The Visionary Network was founded in 2006 and became the Welfare Reform Club in 2013. For a time, its spirit lived on within Connect, but in 2022 Visionary resumed its original name and focus.
In Visionary, we encourage creative thinking and challenge conservative and siloed thinking that drives public service administration.
It is often difficult for local and central governments to look beyond defining themes and targets. This is because of the need to respond to immediate demands on service provision. But this does not mean that public administration hasn’t been visionary and innovative. Historically, innovation has been limited to the confines of a particular service or an aspect of one.
By supporting original thinking across services, public, third party, and private entities, Visionary aims to re-explore the public administration landscape and identify innovative cost-effective and cutting-edge service delivery models.
Our plan is not to be a traditional consultancy repeating back to public servants and public services what they already have told us. We are not a consultancy that manages change or strategies for organizations. It is better for organisations to take charge of this themselves. We can help facilitate the thinking, networking, and connections to drive real change.
As well as leveraging existing technologies and emerging tools, such as artificial intelligence and knowledge bases, it is also about improving communication or how to use existing resources more effectively. Are we equipped with not just the method of communication through social media but also trough the fluid use of language and iconography?
What we have done within Revenues and Benefits is created a network that meets (online) and explores the wider issues of delivering financial support and administration of local tax alongside housing needs and the importance of health.
We are the only network that covers the landscape of economics, cutting-edge technology, modern management techniques, the tax base, poverty, debt & revenue collection, policy, and strategy. In addition to human resources, it has encompassed everything from automation to joined-up services, that treat citizens as complex individuals with multiple needs and not a number.
We know that next year’s professional conference season agendas will cover those subjects that we discussed last year.
Our goal is to expand our success into other service areas. To create a series of networks that are organic and happily blend with other Visionary Networks. Aside from being inclusive and platform-agnostic, we want to be the pulpit for a wide range of ideas, thoughts, and ideas. We want to be the beginning of innovation, not the end.
We are looking for people who are willing to lead and drive change. This is a voluntary role that will help the public service develop visionary leaders and thinkers.
Please email malcolm@visionarynetwork.co.uk if you would like to get involved.