Engaging the sector on heritage matters

Creating a safe and trusted environment

In 2017 we undertook an independent review of our training courses. These courses were delivered to local authority officers and those with a heritage, planning or environmental role. We wanted a way of keeping contact with course participants – to help them “reach back” and stay in touch and set up a new group.

Initially, colleagues were reluctant and nervous about posting in the main training group. We needed more discreet groups – a trusted and safer environment for only those participants who were on the same course. This led to us needing more groups to support our different training areas. So, in early 2018 we created the Heritage Workspace digital network on Knowledge Hub to support the delivery of all our training courses.

The platform provided a good fit with our local authority audience and central government advisors on heritage matters.

Edmund Lee, Sector Resilience Manager at Historic England

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Connecting peers across and beyond Scotland

Creating a national directory of working groups and people

The Improvement Service has been using Knowledge Hub since its inception in 2012. With a devolved government, communities have greater power and as a knowledge management organisation we wanted a place to bring people together – local government, national government and its partners – to share best practice, discuss new ideas, and build on work together.

Working at the centre of local and national government and delivery projects locally, the Scottish Public Service Network (SPSN) on Knowledge Hub enables us to connect to the wider world – with colleagues in England and across the UK – sharing expertise, practice and ideas across the country. With a dispersed audience, Knowledge Hub is holistic in its approach and the advantage is that it creates a searchable national directory of working groups and people’s skills and expertise.

Mike McLean, Knowledge and Collaboration Manager at the Improvement Service for Scotland

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Saving money through sharing practice and experience

Discover how the Local Authority Civil Enforcement Forum (LACEF) is helping local authorities save millions of pounds by sharing best practices and expertise in debt collection. Through their online community on Knowledge Hub, nearly 1,000 members from councils across the UK connect to solve problems, discuss new techniques, and support one another.

This collaborative approach allows members to quickly resolve complex issues, from avoiding business rate avoidance to pursuing debts internationally. By fostering a network of shared experience, LACEF not only improves working practices but also builds valuable professional relationships through its forums and free events.

Barrie Minney, Senior Enforcement Agent at Brighton & Hove City Council.

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Building a networked commercial community

The Government Commercial Function (GCF) is successfully building a unified and networked commercial community across the UK through its interactive space on Knowledge Hub. This platform has revolutionised how commercial staff in central government and the wider public sector communicate, share best practice, and collaborate.

By providing a central hub for over 2,000 members and 50+ groups, the GCF has drastically reduced email traffic and eliminated information silos. Members can now access a single repository of standards, toolkits, and award-winning guidance, such as the interactive cross-government contract management guide. This has created a dynamic environment where professionals can easily connect with peers, ask questions, and share expertise, ultimately creating the best commercial function in the UK.

Ian Mackie, Cabinet Office

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Bridging the Gap Between Trading Standards and Fire Authorities

Discover how the Fireworks Enforcement Liaison Group (FELG) is uniting trading standards and fire authorities across the UK. By creating a collaborative online space, the group overcomes previous disconnects, fostering a consistent approach to fireworks and explosives regulation.

This case study highlights how sharing knowledge and best practices is clarifying roles, standardises enforcement, and builds a vital link between the two services to improve public safety.

Rob Nowak from West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

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Boosting Local Authority Engagement and Feedback

The Local Government Association (LGA) leverages its LG Inform and LG Inform Plus Group on Knowledge Hub to streamline communication and gather rapid feedback from local authorities. This online community serves as a vital tool for a variety of tasks, from running consultations and organising event content to disseminating valuable learning across the sector.

Through features like polls and the 'ideas' function, the LGA can quickly solicit input on new metrics and initiatives, often receiving responses within a day or two. This ongoing, informal dialogue provides a real-time snapshot of member views without congesting email inboxes.

Alex Marshall, Programme Support at the Local Government Association

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Bringing local and national together to support the delivery and legacy of the High Streets Heritage Action Zone Programme

Historic England successfully utilises a Knowledge Hub group to support its national High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) programme, connecting over 60 delivery partners. The platform serves as a vital central repository for all official guidance, ensuring clear version control, while also functioning as a dynamic space for direct peer-to-peer dialogue. This allows partner organisations to bypass formal channels and communicate directly, fostering a collaborative and supportive network.

The group empowers members to share expertise, troubleshoot challenges, and learn from a wealth of shared case studies and best practices. It has been crucial for disseminating consistent programme messages, gathering feedback, and supporting training initiatives. Launched during the pandemic, the virtual workspace proved invaluable in connecting schemes across England, uniting local delivery with the national vision and creating a lasting collaborative community.

Laura Emmins, Learning & Networking Officer, at Historic England

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Using Knowledge Hub to host our first online exam
 

The National Records of Scotland (NRS) revolutionised its 'Certificate of Proficiency' exam by hosting it online via Knowledge Hub, overcoming the challenge of assessing geographically dispersed candidates. They established a main study group for sharing general information and revision materials, alongside 40 secure, individual groups for each candidate. This provided a private space for candidates to access their work, communicate with managers, and prepare for the exam in a trusted online environment.

This innovative approach replaced costly, handwritten exams that required travel to a central location. On exam day, candidates securely downloaded password-protected papers and uploaded their completed work from a convenient local setting. The new system delivered major time and cost savings for local authorities by eliminating travel and printing expenses. It also created significant efficiencies, providing examiners with typed, accessible papers for quicker marking and ensuring all candidates received consistent communication.

Louise Budge, Registration Training Manager at the National Records of Scotland

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