5.5 — weeknotes — Google and Hounslow Gets Digital!
What a week. I thought this week may have been a little bit quieter it being half term, a number of colleagues were away, so a number of meetings cancelled. How wrong I was. Monday to Wednesday at home this week, which was good but very hectic — lots of 30 minute catch up / mini meets! Then Thursday and Friday in Hounslow.
Actually it was even worse this week as managed to squeeze in some 15 minute meetings — good for being focussed and moving things along but having so many short meetings in a day doesn’t feel very productive. Tuesday had 9 meetings! But it does move things along…
Thursday bought my management team together for a 2023/24 service planning session. Made it really clear that this was not going to be a day admiring the problem, but a head’s down and decisive day, getting to the bottom of some of the challenges that we have and making the decisions that we need to. It was a very productive day — we managed to get through a lot of topics — with some clear decisions and actions.
A new set of governance for Digital, new sets of meetings, focus on delivery, consistency on approach and focus on colleagues as well as a clear plan (emerging at least). Felt a good day! Ended the day with a lemonade or two supporting the local economy.
Friday was an awesome day! The MP for Heston and Feltham, Seema Malhotra, had arranged for a Google skills day to be in Hounslow House — this is a day aimed at local businesses and an opportunity to learn new skills. We had been involved in the planning of the day so was on hand to make sure things went smoothly. Day kicked off with some great speeches from Seema and the Leader — there were over a hundred people in the room and a fantastic atmosphere.
The room looked great as well having been ‘googled’ — I always knew that a room looks better with bunting. Seriously, some really good ideas for how we want to use the ground floor for our market place events.
On the ground floor we also organised the first Hounslow Gets Digital day! Bringing Digital to the community of Hounslow, with colleagues and partners manning stalls. I have to say I was so proud of the team (with other colleagues in the Council) getting the event organised. It really was actually making a difference to the lives of our community — not just an IT department thinking about wires and Wi-Fi — but really bringing the Digital Inclusion Commitment that the council signed off in October to life.
We worked with partners to give out laptops, Community Fibre were there talking about connectivity, our network team were there giving advice about cyber security, Digital Ambassadors were there talking about skills and worked alongside Heath and Community Solutions as well — and many many more — there was a real buzz on the ground floor!
Tune of the week: (thank you for your suggestion :-)) It was valentines this week too — LISSETTE — Eclipse Total Del Amor (Collage Video)
PS Washing machine broke again…
