Eight years ago yesterday on 6th November 2014, the UK Government Digital Marketplace opened for business. This was made possible by collective leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and foundations laid several years earlier as the UK Government Digital Service (GDS) was set up.

For several of us, this was the first time we had been to an in-person event since lockdown ended, and the majority of attendees had never been to an unconference before.

For several of us, this was the first time we had been to an in-person event since lockdown ended, and the majority of attendees had never been to an unconference before.

The Cabinet Office recently published its ‘Digital, Data and Technology [DDaT] Sourcing Playbook’, which was launched at an event hosted by techUK on 5 April. This may be welcomed by some contracting authorities who are looking for clarity on the government’s intersecting policies and priorities, and how these underpin the government’s DDaT and commercial activities.

After two years of lockdowns, working in spare rooms and far too many virtual meetings I took some of the CURSHAW Team on our first conference - and I’m glad we went.

Unsure of how the day would pan out, it’s fair to say that the Public Technology Live 2022 was the perfect return to the conference circuit. The venue was nice, food and drink was good and the people were great. More importantly, the topics, speakers and stalls were just right: