Southwark Council

When Southwark Council set out on their digital transformation journey, it wasn't just about upgrading technology – it was about people. 

Under the “A well-run council” pillar of their digital strategy, they commit to developing training programmes and resources that promote digital literacy and professional growth for every member of staff. Beyond skills, they aim to embed a true digital culture. 

Our partnership with Southwark Council brings this vision to life. By bringing together several different initiatives to modernise tools, empower their people, and unlock new ways of working, for everyone. 

Building the foundations

We started by laying the groundwork for secure, flexible collaboration, by upskilling the thousands of users who were moving to OneDrive.  

Our Learning Discovery found there was some confusion about when to use OneDrive, Teams, or SharePoint, along with a need for better understanding of features like Version History, sharing links by email, and external file sharing. So, we developed and delivered a learning plan that would address these barriers.  

Through the webinars and coaching sessions, Southwark staff quickly gained confidence in using these digital tools.  

Building on the success of the OneDrive training and the momentum of our growing partnership, we then implemented a Digital Maturity Assessment (DMA). Designed to provide deeper insights into how staff were currently working, highlight capabilities and gaps, and inform future decisions about technology and learning needs.  

We found that over 50% of staff were confident to explore new tools and systems independently, whilst 40% preferred to have more structured support. Digital meeting tools had high maturity levels whereas information management, task management and creating content all showed room for improvement.  

“I really value our partnership with Hable. Their expertise has helped us build confidence and digital capability across the organisation. From OneDrive training to our Digital Maturity Assessment, we’ve seen real benefits for staff in their day-to-day work. As we move into Windows 11 training and Copilot profiling, I’ve been consistently impressed by the team at Hable and the impact they’ve made.” 

- Isaac Kong, Head of Technology Programmes, Southwark Council 

Upskilling and adoption

Throughout the DMA work, Southwark were also embarking on an equally ambitious project to equip their thousands of staff with brand new Windows 11 devices. They chose Microsoft Surface, ensuring everyone had access to modern, reliable technology that would support their evolving ways of working.  

But Southwark shared one of Hable’s key beliefs: that technology alone doesn’t drive change.  

So to support this device rollout, we ran tailored Windows 11 onboarding sessions and hands-on support, to help staff get comfortable with the new Windows 11 operating system and make the most of its features. After years of deeply understanding working practices, opportunities and the people across Southwark, we are now supporting the council with a more comprehensive rollout.  

AI, innovation, and the future  

With the latest technology in place – and Microsoft Copilot now embedded into that tech - Southwark were faced with another big question: how do we ensure people use the AI tools effectively, and get the most out of them? 

Working through our Copilot Adoption Framework, we have worked together build Copilot personas, and identify the most impactful use cases for Copilot across Southwark. Underpinned by an engaging internal comms campaign to help inform people about the possibilities of Copilot and inspire them to use it.  

This will culminate in the delivery of a dedicated Copilot learning programme, ensuring every member of staff is equipped with the skills and confidence needed to harness the full potential of this transformative technology. We will also work with Southwark's change agents to build their skills and capabilities, enabling the council to fully leverage Copilot and become proficient in AI. 

Throughout every piece of work, Southwark and Hable have maintained a people-first approach to digital transformation. Together, we have ensured that every individual at the council feels empowered, confident, and ready to thrive in a modern workplace.