Why Digital ID Could Transform Public Services - and How

When I first moved to the UK in the early 2000s, I was surprised there were no ID cards. Most countries have them, but here you needed a passport to start a job, a driving licence as collateral to hire something valuable, and until recently you could even vote without showing any identification.

Now government is preparing to introduce digital ID cards. For me, this is an exciting development: if it’s done right, it could save enormous amounts of time and money, both for the public and for government, and create the foundation for better, faster, more just and more joined-up public services.

To realise that potential, two things matter. First, the ambition has to go beyond simply streamlining right-to-work checks or replacing utility bills. A true digital identity can unlock much more - as Estonia has shown, where citizens use their digital ID to access health, education, tax, welfare, prescriptions and even everyday services like banking and travel. The key is to build in robust civil liberties and data protections so that the suspicion which derailed the last attempt in 2006 doesn’t resurface.

Second, the delivery has to be world-class. Let's be honest, the UK hasn’t always had the smoothest record in large-scale digital projects, but the lessons are clear: set up strong contract and supplier performance management structures, strike the right balance between outsourcing and internal ownership, involve stakeholders early and consistently, sequence delivery in the right order, keep the public engaged with clarity and openness, manage projects well across leadership, delivery teams and suppliers, and support the people side of change so teams stay engaged.

And yes you guessed it, this is where we at Teamshaper could provide some help and support:
➕Leadership Support for Digital Transformation – to keep leadership and delivery teams aligned, engaged and making consistent decisions throughout.
➕Plain-English Human-Centred Team Comms – to help public bodies engage citizens clearly and openly, building the trust a project like this depends on.
➕Dispersed Delivery Teams – to help hybrid and geographically spread teams deliver consistently, stay connected and avoid drift when working across multiple locations and partners.
➕Growth Mindset in Times of Change – to help teams replace fixed habits with curiosity, adaptability and constructive challenge, treating change as a chance to learn and improve.

Digital ID is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. With the right ambition, the right safeguards and the right delivery, it can become a genuine breakthrough in how the UK serves its citizens.