LEADING technology organisations from across the world, Essex businesses and public sector workers joined together at the iconic BT Tower on 27 February for Essex’s first digital summit.

The Smart Essex Digital Summit, organised by Essex County Council, aimed to redefine how digital strategy can support and improve the delivery of public services to residents in Essex, and the wider public sector.

With more and more activity taking place online, the summit saw speakers from BT, Google, Eurovia, Microsoft, Dell, Huawei, Anglia Ruskin Health Partnership and Essex County Council join together to share their thoughts on the future of digital services and encourage a discussion with the event attendees.

Councillor Stephen Canning, Cabinet Member for Digital Innovation, IT and Customer Services at County Hall, was one of the key driving forces behind organising the digital event. He said: “Our summit brought together international thought leaders in digital from across the private and public sectors and demonstrated Essex is leading innovation in this field.

“Digital technologies are increasingly present in all of our lives, and are what the public now expect.

“We must work together to use these to improve the lives of those we serve.”

George Freeman MP, chairman of the Prime Minister’s Policy Board, addressed attendees saying: “The Prime Minister’s support for this project is well known; it is good we have leaders like Stephen pushing this forward.”

The Summit successfully provided a platform for digital leaders from the public and private sector to share their thoughts on how digital services can help improve how we live and work, which will inspire Essex County Council’s digital strategy