Lagged behind other major economies in embracing the Internet - not least because it was one of the most expensive places in the world for Internet accessHad a non-existent broadband market - ranking 24 out of 32 amongst OECD countries, with take up at just 0.1%Ranked 6th amongst the G7 for business use of IT â with a mere 7% of Board Directors seeing the Internet as a strategic issue for their businessHad only a third of Government services available online - none of which were transactional
Prime Minister Blair gave the OEE three very public challenges at its 1999 inception:Establish the UK as the best environment in the world for e-commerce by 2002Provide Internet access for all who want it by 2005Make all Government services available online by 2005The OOE took a radical decision It is not enough to merely âput government services online.â it was necessary to put the whole society online.
UK Online â the Front OfficeCentral government portal to make online services more accessible, convenient and easy to useBased on âLife EpisodesâMarketed via a national campaignSupported by over 6,000 centres
Saw a five-fold growth in home Internet access - driven by competition policies which made the country one of the cheapest places in the world to use the InternetAchieved one of the most dynamic broadband markets in the in the world - with a 15,000% increase in home connectionsAchieved pervasive business use of ICTPlaced 75% of Government services online â millions of which were transactionalOvercame severe digital polarisation â from near bottom to top
Commitment from the Top:Labour Partyâs 1997 Manifesto Prime Minister Tony Blain and Peter Mandelson 1998/9 publication of the Knowledge Economy White Paper Subsequent decision to create an Office of the e-Envoy
Ian Watmore eGov Unit 2004-2006John Suffolkd CIO 2006Andrew Stott 2009
Focus on technocratic policy and budget, not impactPalpable lack of leadership and visionBelief the job was done!