Hylands House isn’t just a beautiful setting. In December 2025, it became the backdrop for something important. For one morning, Essex Digital Service came together to pause, reflect, and reconnect after a year of change.
2025 was a big year for us. We launched Essex Digital Service, bringing together Technology Services and Service Transformation into one team so we can deliver better, more joined-up digital services for the people of Essex. It’s been exciting, but it’s also been challenging. Before stepping into 2026, we wanted to take a chance to celebrate what’s been achieved and share what’s inspiring us for the year ahead.
A morning of reflection and connection, we packed a lot into those few hours, including:
- A bingo-style icebreaker that got everyone moving, talking and learning new things about each other
- A video showcasing some of the incredible things we’ve achieved this year
- A team identity session where each team pitched who they are and the value they bring, with votes (and chocolate coins!) for the most inspiring pitch
- Some words of reflection from our Assistant Directors
- And finally, a quiz that reflected on the year and celebrated Essex
A key part of the morning was an interactive reflection activity. Around the room, every table had two big sheets of paper, stacks of sticky notes, and two simple questions:
- What are you proud of in 2025?
- What are you looking forward to in 2026?
Those reflections turned into a gallery walk, with walls filled with what we’re proud of from the past year and what excites us about the next. The room became a space for celebration and inspiration, giving everyone the chance to see our shared achievements and feel energised by what’s ahead.
What we’re proud of in 2025
Despite a challenging year, there was so much to celebrate. And although we all have different roles and experiences, the colourful wall of sticky notes revealed common themes, shared achievements and collective pride in our work.
We’re proud that we:
- delivered meaningful change against our five missions – we modernised core technology with Windows 11 and Intune, strengthened security and resilience, and automated processes that saved thousands of hours. We introduced AI capabilities and redesigned the online offer for fostering, while unifying websites to make information easier to find. Behind the scenes, we improved risk management and built the foundations for smarter, more connected services.
- received recognition for our work - from winning an award of excellence for our Intranet, to team nominations at the ‘We Make The Difference’ awards and individual finalists for ECC Employee of the Year, feedback reminded us why our work matters. Perfect satisfaction scores for IT training and positive comments from colleagues showed the impact we make every day.
- grew as people and professionals – we gained new skills and qualifications, completed apprenticeships, and stepped into new roles. We also celebrated life beyond work with weddings, engagements, marathons, cycling challenges, and even the birth of a daughter. Whether presenting at conferences, wrapping up first solo projects, or achieving personal milestones, growth was everywhere.
- built new relationships and collaborated across teams – we formed new teams, welcomed new colleagues, worked across disciplines, and created spaces like the Essex Digital Service Hub. We worked closely with colleagues within and across Essex, shared knowledge, and connected on projects to make a real impact together.
- stayed resilient and supported each other through change – we navigated a restructure and looked out for each other all while keeping services running. We delivered through uncertainty and showed what resilience looks like.
What we’re excited about for 2026
After everything achieved last year, the focus now turns to what’s next. Once again, the sticky notes spoke of a shared appetite for moving forwards, of our shared goals, establishing our new identity, and our own professional and personal developments.
We’re excited to:
- bring the new Essex Digital Service to life – we’ll create clarity in our team offer and operating model and embed new ways of working that are meaningful and lasting to amplify our influence across the council. From introducing a transparent front door and improving how we work, to driving digital strategy forward and turning vision into action, we’ll work together to shape an excellent Digital Service ready for the future.
- deliver bold, future-facing solutions and driving transformative change – we’ll go further against our five missions by modernising systems, removing legacy technology, and embracing AI, low-code platforms, and smarter tools like Copilot+. We’ll make services more accessible, secure, and integrated. By driving innovation and tackling big projects head-on, we’ll create a digital Essex that’s ready for the future.
- seize new opportunities and master new skills – we’ll embrace the possibilities of our new structure, tackle fresh challenges, and invest in growth through training and qualifications. We’ll learn new systems, share knowledge across teams, and build capability and confidence together, creating a culture of continuous development.
- strengthen connections to drive collaboration and change – we’ll deepen existing networks, create new ones and embrace collaboration across teams. From forming multidisciplinary groups around problems and improving cross-team working, to sharing knowledge and building deeper relationships with stakeholders and ECC colleagues, we’ll work together to deliver meaningful change.
- support and shape Local Government Reform – we’ll seek to understand its impact, turn uncertainty into opportunity, and play an active role in shaping its direction.
- celebrate personal milestones and embrace new adventures – we’ll enjoy the moments beyond work. From house moves and financial goals to paddleboarding, motocross, and trips to Japan, we’ll embrace opportunities to recharge, connect, and make memories that matter.
Looking ahead together
Change is never easy, and we know the impact it has on people. We know that we’re moving ahead without several members of our previous teams, and that’s a difficult thing to do, for everyone involved. But nevertheless, that morning, the room at Hylands House was filled by a team that cares deeply about what we do and the difference we make. A team that’s proud of its achievements and excited about the future.
As we step into 2026, we’ll keep building on that optimism, together.
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