Helo bawb! Hi everyone!
It’s been a busy month here at Transform Wales.
Read the Transform Wales report
We launched our report earlier this month, setting out how the public sector in Wales must rethink not just what it delivers, but how it delivers.
We’ve had a fantastic response, and lots of good conversations both online and offline. If you’ve not seen it yet, read it online or download the PDF.
If you know someone who would benefit from reading it, please forward it or let us know and we’ll reach out to them.
The language of digital
One of the things we stress in our report is that digital is not just about technology. Nia reflects on the language of digital in our new blog post.
“Learning the language of digital is only the first step. Now we need to learn the practice of it: how to lead, organise, and make decisions in genuinely digital ways, centred around user needs. Unless our teams, culture, structures, and leadership habits evolve too, they remain just words.”
This month’s digital news in Wales
Launch of the new Stats Wales website
Stats Wales launched a new website to make official Welsh Government statistics easier to find, explore and reuse. The redesign focuses on accessibility, clear navigation and open data standards, important steps towards more transparent, user-centred public information.
–
Building bilingually by default
On the topics of Stats Wales, Marvell Consulting’s latest blog post calls for bilingual digital services to be the standard, not the exception. Drawing on their practical experience, the post sets out what it means to embed Welsh language design into every stage of service development, not just translation at the end.
–
Welsh Government AI content design assistant
The Welsh Government Digital Service Unit shared an open prototype of an AI-powered content design assistant. It’s an early experiment in using generative AI to support clearer, bilingual content. While the tool was developed by data scientists, we hope it will prompt valuable discussion about what good looks like, and how AI can assist (not replace) skilled content designers.
–
AI translation endangers ‘part of the richness of our language’
BBC Cymru Fyw highlights both the promise and tension in Wales’ digital landscape, from debates over AI in education to growing interest in tech innovation outside Cardiff. These conversations reflect wider questions about how Wales builds digital capacity that’s locally rooted and nationally connected.
–
AI used to help diagnose dementia – a UK first led from Wales
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has become the first in the UK to trial artificial intelligence in diagnosing dementia. It’s hoped this approach will cut waiting times and spare patients invasive procedures. The trial is supported by Health and Care Research Wales, building on Wales’s strong track record in medical research and innovation.
–
Technocamps funding controversy
Nation Cymru reports on the row over Technocamps funding, after Welsh universities lost out to an English provider. The decision has sparked concern about the future of computing education and digital skills provision in Wales, especially for schools and regions already underserved.
–
Designing accessible services for BSL users
Kainos shares principles for designing services that work for British Sign Language users, from co-design to accessible communication formats. It’s a useful read for anyone in Wales working towards the new accessibility regulations and more inclusive service delivery.
–
Problems Worth Solving podcast with Jim McManus
In Problems Worth Solving, Jim McManus from Public Health Wales argues that public service innovation should start with a deep understanding of people’s needs, not just policy goals. His reflections challenge teams to define meaningful problems before rushing to solutions, a principle that underpins human-centred design.
–
The Service Manual for Wales: Using the right technology
The Centre for Digital Public Services stresses that digital transformation is about people, culture and processes, not just tools. It advises that choosing the right technology helps teams build services that improve lives and deliver public value, while poor decisions can lead to technical debt, vendor lock‑in and barriers to accessibility and security.
Upcoming events
One week until GovCamp Cymru!
It was at last year’s event that we decided to do something positive about digital public service delivery in Wales, and Transform Wales was born. We’ll be there again this year, catching up with old friends and new faces to talk about what’s next.
–
Design Swansea #78 event
The next Design Swansea event features Omar Idris and Dylan Tucker, exploring creative practice, storytelling and design in community contexts. Tickets are free and open to all.
Digital jobs in Wales
The Welsh Government is hiring a Head of the Office for AI.
Health Education and Improvement Wales is hiring a Head of Digital Skills and Capabilities.
Support our Crowdfunder
A huge thanks to everyone who has contributed to our Crowdfunder already. If you believe in this work, please consider making a donation today. Every contribution helps us amplify our message. Donate to our crowdfunder.