Post by Rebecca Godfrey, Interim CEO of the Welsh Revenue Authority and Chair of the Digital and Data Standards Board for Wales
Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg
On 24 July, I chaired the Digital and Data Standards Board for Wales and I wanted to update you on our work.
The Digital Strategy for Wales aims at driving a culture change in Wales – being open, using data to solve problems and putting people at the heart of all we do. The Digital Service Standards for Wales help us think about how we do this.
Why digital standards matter
In today’s interconnected world, digital and data standards aren’t optional extras -they’re essential foundations for public services that truly serve the people of Wales. These standards ensure our digital services are secure, interoperable, and comply with legal and ethical requirements.
But beyond compliance, they deliver tangible benefits. By reducing duplication and creating service efficiencies, they free up valuable resources. They ensure consistency in user experience across different public services. Perhaps most importantly, they future-proof our work, making services more adaptable to emerging technologies and changing needs.
Our mandate and mission
The Digital and Data Standards Board convened by the Centre for Digital Public Services, has been established with cross-Cabinet support in Welsh Government, which underscores the importance placed on our work at the highest levels of government.
Our board brings together digital leaders from across Welsh public services. We have two core responsibilities: to champion the adoption of the Digital Service Standard for Wales and to identify and endorse additional standards that support effective design and delivery of public services.
The ministerial expectation is clear – these standards should be adopted by all Welsh public bodies. This isn’t about imposing bureaucracy; it’s about creating a common language and approach that benefits everyone.
Supporting wider priorities and statutory obligations
The Digital Service Standard aligns perfectly with key strategic priorities across Welsh public services. For health and social care, it supports the vision outlined in ‘A Healthier Wales’, where digital approaches enable seamless health and care delivery.
In health and social care and in local government, it helps organisations meet their statutory obligations under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
The Digital Service Standard’s requirement to design services in both Welsh and English directly supports compliance with the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011. Similarly, its focus on ensuring everyone can use services helps organisations meet the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations.
These aren’t just boxes to tick – they’re opportunities to deliver better, more inclusive services while meeting our legal obligations efficiently.
We are here to help
However, we know it can feel daunting to try and meet the full Digital Service Standard, that’s why there’s support available to help you on your journey. Whether you pick one point of the Standard to focus on initially, or go wholeheartedly at them all, we can help you to move in the right direction.
A good place to start is on the CDPS website where you’ll find the Service Manual with practical guidance to meet the Standard. We also have a standards catalogue – a list of tried and tested standards and guidance to help you design and deliver better public services in Wales. There are also short videos available on our Standards Playlist explaining each of the endorsed standards within the catalogue.
Reflections from my own organisation – the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA)
At the WRA, we’ve been working towards becoming a service-based organisation, so we’ve been particularly focused on the ‘creating digital teams’ block of the standard. We’ve used the standard to help guide our thinking and frame our understanding of what good looks like.
We’ve been ensuring our existing services meet the Digital Service Standard, and we are pleased with the progress we are making. The standard aligns brilliantly with our broader approach as an organisation, providing services that are easy, fair and sustainable, and so they provide a really useful and practical way to think about how we can continuously improve.
It’s been invaluable to be able to use the standard to guide us as we work with the Welsh Government to develop a new Visitor Levy and National Registration service, and our teams enjoy, and share, the passion for user centred design that is at the heart of the standard.
Looking ahead
Digital transformation isn’t just about technology – it’s about people, processes, and a shared commitment to improvement. The Digital Service Standard provides a framework that helps us focus on what matters: delivering user-centred, efficient, and future-ready public services for the people of Wales.
I’m really looking forward to working with leaders across Welsh public services as we build digital capabilities that truly serve our communities.