IGP report predicts a great digital future with major jobs boost for Newham

The report ‘Unleashing the power of data to drive shared prosperity: A roadmap to a transformative data society’ predicts great potential in Newham from the burgeoning Data Sector. 

The think piece is the result of a research collaboration between the London Borough of Newham and the Institute for Global Prosperity. It will inform Newham Sparks’ future programme of work and influence wider national and regional policy to drive the growth of the Data Sector in Newham, in London as a city and the UK as a whole. The research is exploring the potential scale of the Data Sector in Newham, and in London and the UK, examining scope for inclusive economic growth and job creation, education and skills training needs, and the social value that data can generate for citizens and communities.

The report makes five key 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.

The IGP and the London Borough of Newham have a long-standing partnership with key areas of work including the citizen-led prosperity index pilots in east London, the launch of UCL’s citizen science academy, and the longitudinal study of prosperity in 13 postindustrialised neighbourhoods in east London, 6 of which are located in the borough of Newham. The IGP is committed to cross-sectoral and cross-community prosperity in Newham.

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“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

Profesor Henrietta L. Moore, Founder and Director of the Institute for Global Prosperity 

Download the report (pdf)