Digital Office

What Digital Office does

The Digital Office for Scottish Local Government is a digital transformation partnership body established in 2016 and hosted by COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities), serving all 32 Scottish local authorities under a 'Once for Scotland' collaborative approach. It acts as the trusted coordinator of digital capability, procurement, and policy for Scotland's council sector, working through Boards, Forums, and Working Groups with partners including SOLACE, Scotland Excel, the Scottish Government, NHS Scotland, and the Improvement Service. Its portfolio spans the Digital Telecare Programme (anchored by the Shared Alarm Receiving Centre Platform with 19 adopters driving the UK's analogue-to-digital transition ahead of the 2027 deadline), the Digital Office Resource Centre (a Microsoft Teams-authenticated content hub), Digital Maturity Assessment, the M365 Foundations Programme, CHI in Local Government (£590,000 Scottish Government-funded), Scotland-Wide Data Agreement with CACI (23 councils), the Energy Invest to Save Programme (IoT building performance with Aireavu), the Data Literacy Academy, and an emerging AI Policy Framework.

The organisation operates with a team of approximately 21 named staff (CXOs, enterprise architects, programme/project managers, and a service designer) led by Chief Digital Officer Martyn Wallace and Chief Technology Officer Colin Birchenall (who splits time with Glasgow City Council). It is not a commercial enterprise: services are provided free of charge to Digital Partnership members, and the operating model is grant- and partnership-funded via the Scottish Government (e.g., £590,000 CHI project, Public Service Reform Invest to Save fund), collaborative procurement commissions with Scotland Excel and Crown Commercial Services (delivering 3.5-3.6% Microsoft cost avoidances), and co-funded programmes with Public Health Scotland, the Scottish AI Alliance, and others. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the legal entity is COSLA. The organisation's competitive position rests on its first-mover status as the UK's only local-government digital partnership body, its embedded relationships across all 32 councils, and recognition including the TSA ITEC Partnership Award and CIO 100 UK listing.

Name

Digital Office

Legal name

COSLA

Website

https://digitaloffice.scot

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Digital Office for Scottish Local Government, established in 2016 and hosted by COSLA, is a digital transformation partnership coordinating shared services, procurement, and capability building across all 32 Scottish local authorities through a 'Once for Scotland' approach.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Sector Digital Transformation Services

NAICS

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Government Digital Service & eGovernment (Service Delivery, IDs, Portals) (BPAIAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Workplace & Collaboration Consulting (BPAHAEAH), Assistive Technology & Accessible Digital Skills (EDAAAIAK), Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL), Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good) (BPAGALAK)

Keywords

• Local government digital transformation
• Digital telecare services
• Shared public sector platforms
• Collaborative procurement services
• Public sector data literacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Livingston

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Scottish Government Grant Funding: The Digital Office receives funding from Scottish Government grants including the Public Service Reform (PSR) Invest to Save fund for specific projects such as the CHI in Local Government project (£590,000) and IoT Energy Monitoring projects.
2. Partnership Services: Free services provided to members of the Digital Partnership, which includes Scottish local authorities. The Digital Office is hosted at COSLA and serves as the trusted digital transformation partner for Scottish Local Government.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Digital Office for Scottish Local Government is a public sector partnership body hosted by COSLA that drives collective digital transformation across all 32 Scottish local authorities through a 'Once for Scotland' approach. It coordinates shared programmes and platforms including the Digital Telecare Programme (with the Shared ARC Platform), the Digital Office Resource Centre, Digital Maturity Assessment, M365 Foundations, Data Literacy Academy, and collaborative procurement for Microsoft licensing. Services are provided free of charge to members of the Digital Partnership, with funding primarily from Scottish Government grants.

Product overview

Digital Office for Scottish Local Government is a digital transformation partnership for Scottish councils offering a comprehensive portfolio of services across multiple domains. The core offering includes the Digital Telecare Programme (including the Shared Alarm Receiving Centre Platform) driving Scotland's analogue-to-digital telecare transition; the Digital Office Resource Centre as a central technology hub accessible via Microsoft Teams; and the Digital Maturity Assessment providing transformation baselining. The portfolio spans digital leadership and skills (including the National Training Platform, Data Literacy Academy, and Digital and Data Capability Framework), data services (CHI in Local Government, Data Programme, Scotland-Wide Data Agreement with CACI), cyber security, AI policy and literacy (AI Policy Framework, Living with AI course), M365 Foundations Programme with Information Governance Hub, Internet of Things initiatives (Energy Invest to Save Programme), and Service Design support. The 'Once for Scotland' approach enables councils to share infrastructure, reduce duplication, and achieve collective outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Digital Telecare: A programme within the Digital Office focused on Scotland's transition from analogue to digital telecare services, supporting health and social care transformation.
• Digital Office Resource Centre
• Digital Telecare Playbook

Products and services

• Digital Telecare Programme Scotland's coordinated programme driving the transition from analogue to fully digital telecare services, supporting local authorities, Health & Social Care Partnerships, and housing providers with a 'Once for Scotland' approach to deliver resilient, future-proofed telecare services.
• Shared Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) Platform A scalable, shared digital telecare infrastructure enabling alarm monitoring across Scottish councils. Platform adopters include Angus, Perth and Kinross, Bield, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Stirling and Clackmannanshire. Won the TSA ITEC Partnership Award.
• Digital Office Resource Centre A central hub for the Digital Partnership providing access to resources, guides, videos, event recordings, newsletters, and initiatives to help councils accelerate digital transformation. Accessible via Microsoft Teams authentication.
• Digital Maturity Assessment A free assessment tool for members of the Digital Partnership that provides local authorities with a baseline on their digital transformation journey, capturing workforce views and identifying opportunities for improvement aligned with the Digital Strategy for Scotland.
• Data Literacy Academy Delivered in partnership with the Scottish Digital Academy and Data Literacy Academy, this programme supports learners across local government to strengthen data confidence, interpret information effectively, and apply practical analytical skills including Power BI consumer skills.
• Local Government M365 Foundations Programme A national programme helping councils build on their M365 investment, share expertise, and develop consistent approaches to using the Microsoft 365 platform. Includes information governance resources, labelling and classification guidance, and product assessments.
• Scotland-Wide Data Agreement with CACI A five-year initiative providing councils with demographic and financial insights through CACI's Acorn and Paycheck products. 23 councils participated in the first year, using data for targeted interventions such as affordable housing policies and child poverty reduction.
• National Training Platform Exploration of a shared National Training Platform/Learning Management System (LMS) for Scottish councils, developed in collaboration with SPDS, COSLA, and National Education Scotland. Discovery phase includes mapping of current LMS usage across councils.
• CHI in Local Government A £590,000 Scottish Government-funded project led by COSLA and the Digital Office to use the Community Health Index (CHI) number to improve data quality across health, social work, and social care services, reducing duplication and improving service integration.
• AI Policy Framework A co-developed, unified AI policy for Scottish local government based on core principles of ethical use, human oversight, transparency, accountability, data protection, fairness, vendor neutrality, mandatory training, and sustainability. Working toward a 'Once for Scotland' approach.
• Energy Invest to Save Programme Explores innovative Internet of Things (IoT) energy monitoring solutions across local government properties. Funded by Scottish Government's Public Service Reform Invest to Save fund, with Aireavu selected as delivery partner to deploy non-intrusive energy monitoring sensors.
• Living with AI Course An online AI literacy course created by the Scottish AI Alliance, made available on the Digital Office Resource Centre. Designed to introduce learners to AI's impact on society, basic AI concepts, ethical issues, and critical evaluation of AI developments.
• Service Design Supports Scottish local authorities to adopt the Scottish Approach to Service Design to transform public services. In collaboration with the Local Government Service Design Group, accelerating adoption of user-centered design across the public sector.
• Internet of Things (IoT) Portfolio Portfolio area helping the Digital Partnership accelerate IoT transformation by sharing knowledge and best practice for rapid adoption of IoT technology within local government. Uses the Scottish Government Internet of Things Dynamic Purchasing System.
• M365 Information Governance Hub A hub on the Digital Office Resource Centre providing information governance guidance documents including Acceptable Use Guidance, Recording and Transcription, Remote Work Geolocation, Labelling and Classification, and Retention and Deletion.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3.5 to 3.6% cost avoidance through collaborative Microsoft procurement
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability6 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• COSLAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016The Digital Office is hosted at COSLA, which is the voice of local government and champions councils' vital work to secure resources and powers. COSLA provides the organizational framework and the official registered company name is COSLA.
• SOLACEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe UK leading membership network for public sector and local government professionals. The Digital Office role was agreed by SOLACE in April 2021.
• Scotland ExcelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe centre of procurement excellence for local government. Partners on collaborative Microsoft procurement exercises delivering cost avoidances for Scottish councils.
• Scottish GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe devolved government for Scotland. Co-wrote the Digital Strategy for Scotland Vision Statement with COSLA and the Digital Office. Provides grant funding including £590,000 for CHI in Local Government project.
• Improvement ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExperts in Local Government improvement in Scotland. Part of the Digital Partnership working to transform local government services.
• SEEMiScoreTechnology or IntegrationA leading Education Management Information System (MIS) provider. Partner in the Digital Partnership.
• SOCITMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSociety for innovation, technology and modernisation. Partner in the Digital Partnership.
• Data Literacy AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Data Literacy Academy and Scottish Digital Academy to drive societal change across Scotland by equipping teams with data skills needed for effective public services.
• Scottish AI AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Scottish AI Alliance to make the 'Living with AI' course available on the Digital Office Resource Centre, promoting AI literacy for public sector workers.
• CACIcoreTechnology or IntegrationCOSLA secured access to CACI's Acorn and Paycheck products for councils through a Scotland-Wide Data Agreement. Acorn categorises communities based on socio-demographic factors; Paycheck offers statistical household income data.
• AireavucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward winning AI-powered building performance system selected as delivery partner for IoT Energy Monitoring Project. Partnership aims to deploy non-intrusive energy monitoring sensors across council properties.
• NHS Scotland / NHS Education for ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on M365 Cross-Organisation Collaboration Programme and National Training Platform (aligning with Turas platform). Partnership on health and social care digital integration.
• The Data LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-sectoral expert partner in the Digital Partnership focused on data innovation and analytics.
• CENSISminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-sectoral expert partner in the Digital Partnership focused on IoT and sensor technology innovation.
• Digital Health and Care Institute (DHI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-sectoral expert partner in the Digital Partnership focused on digital health and care innovation.
• The Scotland 5G CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-sectoral expert partner in the Digital Partnership focused on 5G innovation for public services.
• Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-sectoral expert partner in the Digital Partnership focused on construction and infrastructure innovation.
• Society of Personnel and Development Scotland (SPDS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with SPDS on National Training Platform discovery and digital capability development across Scottish councils.
• Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-sectoral expert partner in the Digital Partnership representing the voluntary sector.
• CyberScotland PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Digital Office is a proud member of the CyberScotland Partnership, supporting Cyber Scotland Week and promoting cyber security awareness and resilience.
• Crown Commercial Services (CCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on collaborative procurement exercises for Microsoft Enterprise Agreements, delivering cost avoidances of 3.5 to 3.6% for participating Scottish councils.
• Perth and Kinross CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChair of Digital Office Board and partner in IoT Energy Project. Partnership support in procurement and energy management for the project.
• Scottish Energy Officers Network (SEON)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Expression of Interest process for IoT Energy Monitoring Project, resulting in 10 councils submitting diverse project proposals.
• Scottish Heads of Property Services (SHoPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Expression of Interest process for IoT Energy Monitoring Project across Scottish councils.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Local Government Association (LGA): National membership body for English and Welsh local authorities. Comparable in representing local government interests and convening councils on shared initiatives, but operating at a broader geographic scale and without the Digital Office's focused digital transformation mandate.
• Government Digital Service (GDS): UK Cabinet Office unit driving digital transformation of central government services. Comparable to the Digital Office in providing shared digital platforms, service standards, and cross-departmental coordination for public sector digital transformation, but operates at UK central government level rather than Scottish local government.

Direct peers

• CyberScotland Partnership: Multi-stakeholder partnership coordinating cyber resilience across Scotland's public sector, charities, and businesses. Direct peer and Digital Office partner, jointly delivering cyber awareness initiatives and supporting Cyber Scotland Week.
• SOCITM (Society for Innovation and Technology in Modern Services): UK membership body for digital and technology leaders in public services. Direct peer as a partner of the Digital Office and a comparable professional/community body providing resources, benchmarking, and thought leadership for local government digital leaders.
• Scottish AI Alliance: Scottish Government and The Data Lab partnership promoting AI literacy and adoption across Scotland. Direct peer and named Digital Office partner, co-delivering the 'Living with AI' course on the Digital Office Resource Centre.
• Improvement Service: Scottish national improvement organisation for local government, working on behalf of all 32 Scottish councils on performance improvement, digital, and shared services. Direct peer as a partnership body hosted alongside COSLA serving the same Scottish council audience with cross-cutting improvement programmes.
• NHS Education for Scotland (NES): National health board providing education, training, and digital learning for the NHS in Scotland, including the Turas platform. Direct peer in delivering a national training platform/LMS that the Digital Office is exploring for councils, with overlapping digital capability programmes.
• Scotland Excel: Centre of procurement excellence for Scottish local government. Direct peer and named Digital Office partner delivering the collaborative Microsoft procurement framework that generates 3.5-3.6% cost avoidances for councils.
• Scottish Digital Academy: Scottish Government-funded programme delivering digital and data training for the Scottish public sector. Direct peer and named Digital Office partner co-delivering the Data Literacy Academy and Digital and Data Capability Framework.

Regional players

• Welsh Government Digital Service: Digital transformation function of the Welsh Government serving Welsh public sector. Regional peer operating a comparable digital partnership model for a different UK nation, providing a benchmark for how the Digital Office's model could be replicated.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/digitalofficelg

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Digital Office