From Strategy to Delivery - Transforming the Department for Work and Pensions
- Date: Thursday 29 January 2026, 09:30 – 16:30
- Location: Cloth Hall Court, Quebec Street, Leeds
- Type: Ideas in Practice, Seminars and lectures
- Cost: FREE
An invitation-only strategic collaboration event between the Department for Work and Pensions and Leeds University Business School as part of the Ideas in Practice seminar series.
Kindly note that this is a private, invitation-only event.
In 2024, we, Leeds University Business School, joined forces with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to deliver an internal learning conference on “The Impact of Digitalisation on Work”. Based on the success of this activity and the appointment of Vanna Aldin (DWP’s Deputy Director, Lead Analyst in Business Strategy and Co-Chief Economist) as one our of Visiting Professors of Research Impact, we are broadening our partnership with the DWP through this Ideas in Practive event, bringing senior DWP staff (ministers, directors and deputy directors) together with academics, industry experts and third-sector representatives.
In March 2025, the Prime Minister set out his vision for rewiring the state, which was supported through funding in the June 2025 Spending Review. This includes using new technology to digitise services, operating more efficiently and delivering maximum value for the taxpayer – through a lean, highly-skilled civil service that is closer to the communities it serves.
The DWP is mobilising on a mission to deliver great customer service through a modern workforce that results in value and efficiency. This means going further and faster with digitisation. The DWP has developed an internal strategy setting out where the department wants to be and what it hopes to achieve by 2030. Implementing the strategy presents a range of stratetgic challenges. As such, the DWP hopes to use this event to gather insights on how best to navigate those challenges to achieve its goals.
Together, we will answer the following questions:
- What are the key ingredients for transforming large-delivery organisations while putting customer service excellence at the centre?
- How do we realise efficiencies through the deployment of AI, automation and other technologies?
- How do we modernise our workforce and bring our people with us?
Event Programme:
|
09:30 |
Registration and Refresents |
|
10:00 |
Introduction from Leeds University Business School Niall Hayes, Deputy Dean of Leeds University Business School (to be confirmed) |
|
10:05 |
Implementation of the 2030 Strategy: DWP Presentation Alex Skinner, Strategic Finance and Business Strategy Director at the Department for Work and Pensions |
|
10:15 |
Overview of Event Themes Mark Stuart, Montague Burton Professor of Employment Relations at Leeds University Business School |
|
10:20 |
Strategic Transformation: Panel Session Chair: Yingqi Wei, Pro Dean of Research and Innovation, Leeds University Business School What are the key ingredients for transforming large-delivery organisations while putting customer service excellence at the centre? Krsto Pandza, Professor of Strategy and Innovation, Leeds University Business School Philip White, Managing Director, Audacia Omar Al-Tabbaa, Professor of International Business and Strategy, Leeds University Business School Aristeidis Theotokis, Professor of Marketing, Leeds University Business School DWP representative to be confirmed. |
|
11:15 |
Refreshment Break |
|
11:30 |
Technology: Panel Session Chair: Chee Yew Wong, Professor of Supply Chain Management, Leeds University Business School How do we realise efficiencies through the deployment of AI, automation and other technologies? Jen Robson, Head of Economics, Insight and Advice, Seafish Andy Charlwood, Professor of Management, Leeds University Business School Dr Xingjie Wei, Associate Professor in Business Analytics and Machine Learning, Leeds University Business School DWP representative to be confirmed. |
|
12:25 |
Roundtables: Strategic Transformation and Technology Same questions per themed area to be distributed amongst delegates for discussion. Facilitators: Previously featured academics. |
|
13:10 |
Networking Lunch |
| 14:00 |
Workforce: Panel Session Chair: Irena Grugulis, Director of Research Impact, Leeds University Business School How do we modernise our workforce and bring our people with us? Mark Stuart, Leeds University Business School Rob Devany, Digital Delivery Leader, Leeds Building Society Dr Esme Terry, Research Fellow, Leeds University Business School Dr Helen Hughes, Associate Professor, Leeds University Business School DWP representative to be confirmed. |
| 14:55 |
Refreshment Break |
| 15:10 |
Roundtables: Workforce and Technology Same questions per themed area to be distributed amongst delegates. Facilitators: Previously featured academics. |
| 15:55 |
Event Roundup and Next Steps Mark Stuart, Leeds University Business School |
| 16:00 |
Event Close |
If you have any questions about this event, please contact Grace Carter at Leeds University Business School.