In November 2025, Essex County Council brought together its Technology Services and Service Transformation teams to create a single, modern digital service: Essex Digital Service (EDS).
This new service is a big step toward our ambition to be a leading digital council. By combining expertise in technology and digital innovation, we can deliver smarter, faster, and more connected services for the people of Essex.
Why This Matters
We’ve reorganised behind the scenes so we can:
- Solve problems more quickly.
- Work more closely with teams across the council and those that use our services.
- Create new opportunities for innovation that deliver better outcomes for staff, residents and businesses.
Digital and technology are at the heart of how we make services easier, faster, and designed around your needs.
What Does This Mean for Those we Serve?
Simpler, faster, and more connected services designed around user needs.
We’re creating better digital experiences so that those who need can access services anytime, anywhere, and get things done online with ease.
Our goal is to make every interaction with Essex County Council more convenient, more reliable, and more user-friendly, regardless if you are a resident, staff member or business we support.
Our New Structure
Essex Digital Service brings together five key areas:
- Architecture & Design
Sets the digital direction for Essex, leading strategy and reducing complexity by reusing systems wherever possible.
- Cyber Security
Keeps information and systems safe, ensuring security measures are up to date and aligned with council priorities.
- Operations & Platform
Runs the technology that powers everyday services, from networks to core systems, and supports new digital solutions.
- Product & Delivery
Manages the full journey of digital products—from ideas to launch—while introducing smart tools like AI, automation, and low-code platforms.
- Digital Innovation
Explores new technologies, inspires fresh ideas, and connects with partners to bring the best innovations into Essex.
Our Principles
We are guided by our principles:
- Digital is a team sport – we work together across disciplines and with users.
- Iterate and improve – test, learn, and improve step by step.
- Standardise and repeatable patterns – for consistent, easy-to-use services.
- Cybersafer – protecting information while keeping systems usable.
- Our users first – understanding needs and designing around them.
What’s Next?
- January: We’ll share what “digital” really means for Essex and introduce each EDS team in more detail.
- February: We’ll explain how we work, our roadmap, and new self-service options.
2 comments
Comment by Oliver posted on
Morning. Is it me or are those headings not tagged as headings (H2 etc) 🙂?
Comment by Bianca Cole posted on
Hello Oliver
Thanks for taking the time to message. It would be good to understand more about your message in relation to headings and tagging. Feel free to reach out via bianca.cole@essex.gov.uk
Kind regards Bianca