When:

6th July 2006, 06:15PM

Where:

The Council Room, 1 Great George Street

From cleaning the streets to checkouts, from looking after our elderly parents to selling us holidays, more than 20 million people in the UK work in the service sector. The so-called ‘service economy’ now makes up 72% of our GDP. And while most of us work in service; all of us depend on it for many aspects of our existence. The giving and receiving of service has become an unmistakable part of everyday life. But this expansion of the service sector has not heralded a service revolution. Too often people’s day to day experiences are alienating and frustrating.

Drawing on over 50 interviews with service innovators from the public, private and voluntary sectors The Journey to the Interface: how public service design can connect users to reform makes the case for a fresh approach to public service reform – an approach that is less about competition and contestability, and more about closing the gap between what people want and need, and what service organisations do.

This  launch event will bring together key stakeholders from the service economy to share knowledge, experience and best practice.  Alongside the Minister’s speech, the lessons of the report will be reflected on by its author, Demos Deputy Director Sophia Parker, and Demos Trustee and PWC Partner Ed Straw.

The launch will be followed by a drinks reception.

Demos are grateful to PWC for supporting the pamphlet and this event.

This event is now full, please email servicedesign@demos.co.uk if you would like to be placed on a waiting list in case of extra places becoming available.