Strategy Development Case Studies

The West of England Digital Plan

Buckman Associates supported the development of the West of England Digital Plan — a region-wide strategic framework designed to accelerate digital transformation, strengthen digital inclusion, and guide future investment across the West of England. Working with partners across the region, we helped shape a practical and ambitious digital vision focused on delivering better outcomes for residents, businesses, and public services.

The Challenge

The West of England Combined Authority and regional partners recognised the need for a coordinated digital strategy that could respond to rapidly evolving technological change, increasing digital inequality, and growing demand for modern digital infrastructure and services.

The challenge was not simply technical. The region required a shared strategic direction capable of aligning local authorities, economic priorities, infrastructure planning, skills development, and innovation ambitions into a single coherent framework.

Key considerations included:

• Addressing digital exclusion and unequal access to services
• Supporting economic growth through digital innovation
• Improving regional digital infrastructure and connectivity
• Enabling more effective digital public services
• Ensuring digital transformation delivered tangible social and economic value for communities

The work required balancing long-term strategic ambition with practical, deliverable priorities across multiple organisations and stakeholders.

Our role

Buckman Associates provided strategic consultancy support to help inform and shape the development of the West of England Digital Plan.

This included:

• Gathering evidence to inform our understanding of strengths and weaknesses
• Facilitating strategic thinking around regional digital transformation priorities
• Supporting stakeholder engagement and alignment across partner organisations
• Contributing to the development of a clear and actionable strategic framework
• Helping define priority themes including digital infrastructure, inclusion, skills, public services, and innovation

A key focus was on ensuring the strategy remained both ambitious and practical — capable of guiding future investment decisions while remaining grounded in the real needs of residents, businesses, and local authorities.

Outcomes & Impact

The resulting West of England Digital Plan established a shared regional framework for digital transformation and future collaboration.
The work contributed to positioning the West of England as a region committed to people-centred, ethical, and inclusive digital transformation — supporting both economic growth and improved public outcomes.

Strategy Case Studies