Submit.com at the Socitm Presidents’ Conference 2026

Last week, Kevin Ivers and Shane from the Submit.com team joined digital and technology leaders from across local government at the Socitm Presidents’ Conference in London. It was a packed two days, and one we will not forget in a hurry.

What was the main theme at Socitm Presidents’ Conference 2026?

The conversation across the conference reflected where the sector is right now. Local government reorganisation (LGR) dominated the agenda, arguably more than AI, and rightly so. This matched the wider coverage of the event, which reported that the conference heard even more discussion of LGR than of artificial intelligence, although both were considered at length (PublicTechnology).

With decision time approaching and councils in various stages of reorganisation, the pressure on digital and transformation teams is real and growing. What came through clearly from the sessions is that the decisions being made now about systems, data and digital foundations will shape local government for the next decade.

Leading and operating in a new era of local public service

A personal highlight was the panel session “Leading and operating in a new era of local public service”, chaired by Madi Hoskins, which brought together Jens Gemmel, Nathan Pierce from Essex County Council and Rehana Ramesh from Hackney Council for a genuinely honest conversation about what it means to lead through this level of change.

The debate around the difference between transformation and stabilisation was particularly striking, and one that resonated strongly with the conversations we were having throughout the conference about grant management and the systems that need to be in place before the ground moves.

Why grant management matters during reorganisation

It was also great to catch up with Kevin Taylor, Vice President of Socitm and Senior IT Manager at Suffolk County Council, who presented alongside us at our joint Socitm webinar in February on grant management within digital transformation. The webinar attracted over 120 registrants from across the sector, and the conversations at the conference made clear that appetite has only grown since.

For councils facing reorganisation, the practical question is simple: when boundaries, teams and systems change, what happens to the grant and funding programmes residents rely on? A no-code grant management platform lets teams keep programmes running, consolidate multiple schemes into one place, and carry processes across an organisational change without rebuilding from scratch. Submit.com already supports councils across Ireland and the UK with exactly this kind of work, including Cork City Council, Suffolk County Council and Meath County Council.

A community that learns together

The President’s Dinner was a highlight in its own right. The 80s theme brought plenty of energy and more than a few questionable outfit choices, and it was a good reminder that even the most serious sector conversations are better when there is a bit of fun involved. Congratulations to all the award winners on the night, a well-deserved recognition of some outstanding work across the sector.

A huge thank you to the Socitm team for putting together such a well-organised and genuinely thought-provoking event: Rachel Stronach, Aimee Francis, Dave Sanderson, Nadira Hussain and the entire Socitm team. Your hard work made it what it was.

Finally, a very warm congratulations and best of luck to incoming President Yogita Popat, who took over the presidency from Kurt Frary at the conference (Socitm). Your ambition to support and learn from each other through this period of change is exactly the kind of leadership the community needs right now. We look forward to working with Socitm throughout your presidency.

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