The Importance of Data
If the past few years have proven anything, it’s the transformative power of data. It influences every aspect of our lives—shaping the way we shop, consume entertainment, access healthcare, and receive education.
Data is also a vital resource for modern public services. Yet, while many public and third-sector organisations in the Liverpool City Region recognise its significance, harnessing its full potential remains a challenge.
What is Greater Data?
Each day, vast amounts of data are generated across the Liverpool City Region—data that could be game-changing in addressing key health and public service challenges. However, much of this valuable information remains underutilised.
This is where What’s Your Problem? began—identifying the biggest obstacles in designing services that truly impact communities. Through two successful projects, we’ve established a robust methodology for understanding challenges, gathering intelligence, and uniting brilliant minds.
But there’s more to be done. The next step is to develop viable, scalable, and data-driven solutions that enhance the lives of people in the region. That’s where Greater Data comes in—a blueprint for a new approach to public services, placing data and local communities at the heart of decision-making.
Greater Data delves into what’s driving—or hindering—data innovation in the region. It identifies successful strategies and highlights gaps that need attention. One thing is clear: the future of public services cannot rely on outdated methods. We need fresh thinking and better data utilisation for public good.
By bringing together stakeholders from public, private, and VCSE sectors, we have outlined a vision for Greater Data in Liverpool City Region.
What’s Next?
In March 2024, the Liverpool Strategic Futures Advisory Panel published its final report, reinforcing our ambition for a best-in-class data and evidence platform to support local authorities in service improvement and decision-making.
A key milestone in this journey is the establishment of an Office for Public Sector Innovation (OPSI)—a dedicated space for driving forward data-led change. The Greater Data blueprint will be tested in a focused service area, demonstrating the power of collaborative, data-driven transformation. This effort will be integral to OPSI’s growth and our broader strategic priorities for the city region.
The momentum is building. We’ve gathered a committed and creative group ready to drive change. If you’d like to be part of this movement, reach out to sara.chattun@thisiscapacity.co.uk to learn more.
The Opportunity Ahead
At its core, Greater Data is about opportunity—the opportunity to harness data for public good through compelling insights, storytelling, and collaboration.
This initiative is founded on three key principles for real, positive change in our communities and public services:
- A shared, relational approach to working with data
- Local people at the heart of decision-making
- Visible impact on public service transformation
The Role of the Civic Health Innovation Labs (CHIL)
A groundbreaking initiative within this space is the Civic Health Innovation Labs (CHIL), hosted by the University of Liverpool. CHIL brings together scientists, engineers, residents, and health professionals to create an internationally significant civic health technology research and innovation cluster. This civic partnership between the University and the local NHS fosters collaboration under a cooperative model, using data to drive meaningful service change.
CHIL’s funding spans all three University of Liverpool faculties, with a strong focus on:
- Brain/Mental Health
- Infection Resilience
- Multi-morbidity and Medicines
- Systems & Methods
Over the past five years, Liverpool has led groundbreaking work using linked data, analytics, and coordinated civic action. The city pioneered the world’s first voluntary mass COVID-19 testing, delivering insights beyond central agency capabilities. Liverpool has also developed the Civic Data Cooperative, secured an NIHR Mental Health Research for Innovation Centre (M-RIC), and invested in the Civic Health Innovation Zone (CHI-Zone)—all contributing to a portfolio of active grants exceeding £55 million.
The establishment of CHIL will concentrate these efforts, maximising opportunities and positioning Liverpool City Region as a leader in data-driven innovation for public good.
Greater Data is more than just a project—it’s a movement towards a smarter, more connected, and people-focused city region. Join us on this journey to make data work for everyone.