FACTFILE: MILTON KEYNES COUNCIL


Musrat Zaman, head of HR, and Michael Bracey, chief executive, with Bee Lewis, head of property and facilities (joining on the TV)


A new telephone-led hub was set up to


help customers who would usually visit MK Council’s main office building the Civic, and a planned rollout of Microsoft Teams was fast tracked, enabling office-based staff to work from home and stay in touch via virtual meetings. Many changes will continue beyond the pandemic because they’ve added value to how the council works; not least its increased use of video to communicate with staff, stakeholders and residents. A former meeting room at the Civic has been turned into a studio, where formal council meetings can be livestreamed, virtual events held for customers, and video messages recorded with a greenscreen backdrop that’s recently stood in as a fake QVC set (to promote shop local messages) and even outer space (as part of the council’s Make Space social distancing campaign).


Michael said: “Around 70,000 people


now follow our updates, and if our material is compelling, it’s spread more widely. Our stakeholder videos are now watched by more than 800 people, far more than would have read a newsletter all the way through.” “Everyone is busy and has distracting demands on their time. Video is memorable and concise, so can cut through the noise. You can also show things that most people wouldn’t get to see themselves, such as behind the scenes at our rapid test centre. “It helps to bring what we’re doing to life, as well as showing the human face of the council. “We’ll keep this momentum going through MK’s economic recovery and beyond.”


If your business needs information or support due to the pandemic, visit www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/coronavirus


COMPANY BACKGROUND: A product of the new towns movement in 1967, today Milton Keynes is one of Britain’s fastest growing places, with a global reputation for smart city projects from delivery robots to electric cars. Milton Keynes Council has served as MK’s unitary authority since 1997, when it took on services previously run by Buckinghamshire County Council.


COMPANY DESCRIPTION: The council runs more than 250 services from waste collection to highways maintenance. Around two thirds of the council’s £200m budget goes into care and support for vulnerable adults and children.


JOINING THE CHAMBER: MK Council has been a member of the Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce for five years. Intelligence from its members helps to shape local policy. Recently, the Chamber has been a key partner in framing MK Council’s £2.25m Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan.


TALKING BUSINESS


PHOTOS BY JANE RUSSELL PHOTOGRAPHY APRIL/MAY 2021 inbusiness 15


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