DigitalScotland 2025: Let's talk about the messy work of real digital delivery

This post was written by Ross Ferguson in the lead up to the DigitalScotland 2025 conference on 19 November. Ross will be sharing his key takeaways and reflections from the conference in the coming weeks.

In the day-to-day, cut-and-thrust of our delivery work, it can be hard for those working with technology in the public sector to find the time to reflect, talk about their work, and learn from others.

Events like DigitalScotland create a dedicated space to hear stories and make connections. Those collaborations can go on to have real impact: joining things up, reducing friction in users’ experience of public services, and maybe even sparking transformative changes not previously possible.

Taking place in the run-up to the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2026, this year’s summit is a crucial moment to discuss the ideas and challenges that will shape the digital and public service reform agenda for the next parliamentary session.

Beyond strategy, into delivery

People in Scotland want to see and feel tangible improvements to public services, and they want to see them faster. I firmly believe digital can play a more central, observable, and routine role in achieving that goal.

So while it will be great to hear the updates on the Scottish Government’s digital strategy and forecasts about emerging technology, I am on the lookout for stories of real delivery.

I’d love to hear about outcomes, results, and progress points. But more than that, I want to hear about what’s hard, and what still needs to be figured out - the tricky, messy work as well as the wins.

As someone who grew up with - and still lives and works with - technology in Scotland, I’m passionate about keeping up with the latest developments. My recent opportunities to see things from different vantage points - working with the Scottish Government’s data advisory group, with the Scottish Parliament, and helping to organise GovCamp Scotland 2025 - have only made me keener to learn more about what others are doing and how I can help amplify and support their work.

Getting connected

I know other technologists working in and around Scotland's public sector share the desire to make connections. 

If you're attending this year’s Digital Scotland, please email me at ross@public.digital, especially if you want to talk about:

• Your own ‘messy’ stories of delivery (what’s working, what isn't, and what you've learned).

• Practical ways to deliver tangible improvements to public services, faster.

• Opportunities for collaboration and supporting each other's work.

• How we can better join up across the Scottish public sector ecosystem.

If you're not attending this year, please get in touch all the same. The conversation is bigger than any one event, and I'd still love to connect.