Croydon Council — Building a Data-Driven Future
Croydon Council has embarked on a major transformation journey through the Future Croydon Transformation Plan (2024–2029) — a commitment to deliver cost-effective services, strengthen trust, and empower communities. At the heart of this renewal sits an ambitious idea: turning data into a force for transformation.
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The Croydon Data Strategy was created to make information a living asset — used intelligently, ethically, and transparently to improve lives. What began as a technical exercise has grown into a cultural movement to reshape how the Council makes decisions, designs services, and measures success. The Impera team worked hand in hand with our co-founding organisation, SOCITM to deliver this project.
The Challenge
Croydon knew that data was being collected but needed to ascertain how well it was being used. We conducted a Data Maturity Assessment across six directorates which confirmed the scale of the issue. Some key themes emerged:
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Whilst the council’s data use was excellent in pockets, in general the findings confirmed that data existed, but the council could extract more value from insight. Without shared standards, skills, or strategy, the Council couldn’t fully understand residents’ needs or make confident, evidence-based choices.
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The Turning Point: A Strategy for Change
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Determined to break this cycle, we worked with Croydon to develop a comprehensive Data Strategy aligned with the wider transformation agenda. Its message was simple but powerful — data is a strategic asset, not an administrative by-product.
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The strategy set five pillars of change
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Leadership & Governance: Strong oversight through a Data Governance Board, clear accountability, and ethical standards.
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Data Literacy & Culture: A Data Academy to build confidence and make evidence central to decision-making.
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Technology & Integration: A unified Microsoft Azure architecture and a “Single View of the Citizen” for joined-up services.
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Ethics, Security & Transparency: Robust GDPR compliance, a Data Ethics framework, and open-data dashboards to strengthen trust.
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Insight & Innovation: Predictive analytics and cross-agency collaboration to anticipate needs and improve lives.
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Early Impact
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Croydon’s transformation is already taking shape. The Croydon Observatory is making local data public, fuelling evidence-based projects. The Data Academy is nurturing a confident, data-literate workforce, while stronger governance standards ensure clarity and consistency. Tools like Power BI are turning reports into real-time intelligence — signalling a cultural shift where data now sits at the heart of how Croydon delivers value.
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What We Learned
Looking Ahead
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Croydon’s Data Strategy is more than a document; it’s the story of a council learning to see its community through an enhanced lens. As it continues to move towards a higher data maturity, the goal is clear: a borough where every policy, service, and partnership is shaped by insight rather than instinct.
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“Our vision is to make Croydon a truly data-driven council — one that uses information ethically, effectively, and transparently to deliver better services and outcomes for every resident.” — Croydon Council Data Strategy, 2025