UK Treasury Invites Designers to a Summit to Find New Ways to Save Money

Angela Eagle MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, hosted a "Design Summit" to identify ways that designers can help government improve efficiency and value for money in public services, and the role design can play in finding innovative ways to achieve savings in government procurement.

The event, held at No 11 Downing Street, took the minister and colleagues across government through some recent examples of how design has helped transform services which, if scaled up nationally, could have a major impact on value for money and efficiency in the public sector.

These include:

- How design is playing a role in fighting Healthcare Associated Infections by creating easier-to-clean hospital equipment and furniture.
- How creating innovative new ways to monitor and manage domestic energy use in the North East of England is bringing sustainable living within everyone's reach.
- How better-designed services are helping long-term unemployed people back into work in Sunderland.

Joining Angela Eagle at No.11 were guests from the world of design and innovation including designer Tom Dixon and David Bott, Director of Innovation Programmes at the Technology Strategy Board; and from the world of business and government, including Martin Temple, Chairman of the manufacturers organisation EEF, and Sir Michael Bichard, Chairman of the Design Council and Executive Director of the Institute for Government.

"Good design looks at the complex problems of service delivery from the point of view of both users and providers, balancing the needs of both," said Sir Michael. "That's why designers can make a real difference to the quality of public services by putting users at the heart of policy making and procurement.

But, at a time when budgets are being squeezed, we don't just want more responsive public services, we want more efficient public services. And I believe that design's power to drive innovation really can help deliver value for money."

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