OK most of government isn't as sexy as (m)any of these brands, but we thought it might give you some inspiration when looking at how to build your Facebook page.

VRM Hub is a monthly gathering of people who think the web has more to offer than the classic social networking sites like Facebook, which keep your data locked up so you can never use it again (from info like your date of birth and contacts through to info like your wall posts and poking activity).
At the most recent VRM Hub meetup James Paterson gave a great presentation about how the web will change as people start to gain more control of their data.  http://www.media.... Read More

Well what a week it has been in the world of Gov20 and digital engagement.

First the UK hit us with Smarter Government, followed up with a quick one two from Australia and its Gov20 Taskforce and then (never ones to be beaten) the US with the release of their Open Government Directive (complete with live and interactive online discussion between the White House leads and the rest of the world via Facebook and other such fancy dan things).

Whatever next aye? Policy documents that the average Joe can understand? Now THAT would be engaging! ;-)

Set up by Richard Tyrie and the crew over at the hugely successful JobsGoPublic job website, Link Tank is a:

"new think tank launched at the Conservative Party Conference that highlights the need for the public sector to modernise its approach to managing talent"

As part of this work, although brought out under their GoodPeople brand, this presentation gives a nice overview of the challenges of HR and recruitment in local government in the UK.

It includes some shocking (although not entirely surprising) stats on the difficulties faced in recruiting staff, the ageing workforce and the cost of recruitment among other things (discrimination being one of them).

Worth a read. Then go do something about it (please :).

I first met Heather at this year's Personal Democracy Forum conference and have been meaning to share some of her stuff here ever since. So here you are. She also does some great political skits, so watch out for those (here's one).

And go follow her on Twitter. And Vimeo. And all the other usual suspects. And invite her to a conference near you...

Great presentation about friends of FutureGov, @govloop.

Govloop's Steve Ressler started for a variety of reasons: to bring together the government community to encourage open, honest conversations, to help people find each other and solve each others problems and to share new ideas.

With over 20,000 members and recently announcing a partnership with GovDelivery, you can only see it going from strength to strength.

FutureGov recommended :)