Attention digital, data and planning professionals! Join the mission to kickstart economic growth through planning reform. Come together with practitioners from local and central government to rethink and modernise planning processes using digital, AI and data science and access to a wealth of newly unlocked planning data.

The Government Digital Service and the Incubator for AI - in partnership with Digital Planning in MHCLG and Open Digital Planning - are excited to invite you to their first local government hackathon as part of the blueprint for a modern digital government.

The blueprint for modern digital government sets the mission for a new era of public sector digital delivery: one which improves lives for citizens and those who serve them. Local government innovation, data and digital delivery is central to this vision.

Join us on the 30th April & 1st May 2025 for a two-day hackathon in Leeds, where you’ll get the opportunity to work directly with engineers from the Incubator for AI and experts from across the sector. Over the course of 48 hours, teams will collaborate to tackle real-world challenges across the planning sector, brought to life by Open Digital Planning practitioners, exploring innovative digital solutions to enhance efficiency, accessibility, and experience for users of local government services.

Please complete this short form by Thursday 3 April for your chance to take part.

Here’s how it works

After signing up, you will receive a link to a short skills survey to help us better understand your expertise and interests. If you know of a challenging planning issue which might benefit from AI or data science, please make sure to include it on your skills survey.

At the hackathon, we will put you in a team with colleagues from local government, central government and our private sector partners: teams will include digital and AI practitioners as well as planning experts.

Places for this event are limited, but we're keen to welcome participants from across different specialisms and experience levels. Whether you're a product manager, service designer, planners, Geographic Information System officer, developer, policy expert or delivery lead, your perspective will add value to the discussion.

Why attend?

Collaborate with i.AI engineers, data scientists and other local government practitioners to innovate new solutions.
Work on impactful challenges that could shape the future of public services.
Network with experts from government, digital services, and the wider tech and ODP communities.
Get expert guidance and feedback on your ideas.
Pitch to a panel of senior officials and experts who will be judging the event.
Make a difference - your work could lead to a pilot developed by the Incubator for AI and influence service design.
Contribute to the modernisation of planning processes which will support economic growth.

Who should attend?

This hackathon is open to all skill levels and backgrounds, including:

Data Scientists & Analysts
Central & Local Government Professionals
UX/UI Designers
Developers & Engineers
Policy makers
Planners
Digital innovators
Anyone passionate about digital innovation in public services

What should you expect?

A fast-paced, collaborative environment
A chance to showcase your skills and ideas
Lots of fun and networking opportunities

What problems will you be working on?

We want you to bring the challenges! After you sign up, you can suggest problem statements within the planning arena as part of the skills survey we’ll send out. Feel free to also get in touch with us at local-government@digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk.

What happens next?

Complete the sign up form on Eventbrite by 3 April using your work email address. We will send you a short skills survey which needs to be completed following sign up.
We will get in touch to confirm your place as soon as we can after we have received your skills survey, and by 11 April at the latest.

Ready to make a real impact? Sign up now and be part of the change!

If you're not able to join us this time round, please feel free to submit your details on this form, and we will include you on comms about any future hackathons: https://forms.gle/H5gEjjvRo4dpTTWw8

GDS and the Incubator for AI - Local Government Innovation Hackathon