GovCamp Scotland 2025 information

Date: Thursday 19 June 2025.

Venue: Edinburgh Futures Institute.

Attending: GovCamp Scotland is free but a ticket is required.

Overview: Expect a day of discussions (not presentations). So come with ideas to discuss, questions to answer and interactive workshops you’d like to run about the public sector and public service delivery in Scotland.

What GovCamp Scotland is about

The people who would get the most out of participating in GovCamp Scotland would be those who work in or with the Scottish public sector.

The main thing is an interest in exploring what is working well, what more could be done, what could be done differently, and who might be able to collaborate in making it happen.

There will no doubt be a lot on digital and data as enablers, but this isn’t a tech conference, it’s about better outcomes for users of public services.

And it’s about connections with a broad community of practice, on the day at the event itself but hopefully beyond.

What to expect on the day

We want people to have an engaging, energising, and enjoyable time when they attend the event.

It’s the first time a GovCamp has been run in Scotland for many years, and we’re aiming for it to be as inclusive and accessible as possible. However we’re always open to feedback on how to improve things next time around.

Edinburgh Futures Institute is a large building, and can be difficult to navigate. EFI has a few different entrances, but we’d advise arriving via the main entrance on Lauriston Place. CampMakers will be there to greet you and show you where to go. There’ll be signage in place on the day, and our CampMakers will be on hand to help direct people and answer questions.

Edinburgh Futures Insitute building

Sessions

There’ll be 16 sessions over the course of the day. Each will last 45 minutes with a break in between, as well as a longer break for lunch. 

Sessions will be group discussions centred around the selected topics. The aim of each session will be to share knowledge and insights and point to possible ways to approach opportunities and challenges. 

Each group will have a session chair to provoke discussion and a notetaker to capture insights and moments of inspiration. 

Find out more about what sessions are taking place and how to pitch.

Running order

The running order for the day is:

  • 09.30 - Arrivals and coffee

  • 10.00 - Welcome and orientation

  • 10.15 - Start session pitches

  • 10.45 - 11.00 - Close pitches and organise into tracks

  • 11.15 - 12.00 - Session 1 starts

  • 12.00 - 12:15 - Break/change rooms

  • 12.15 - 13.00 - Session 2 starts

  • 13.00 - Lunch and free time

  • 14.00 - 14.45 - Session 3 starts

  • 14.45 - 15.00 - Break/change rooms

  • 15.00 - 15.45  - Session 4 starts

  • 16.00 - 16.30 - Reconvene for thanks and goodbyes

  • 16.30 - After-event social (George IV Bar on George IV Bridge)

Practicalities

Tea, coffee and pastries will be available on arrival and lunch is also provided, with options for vegetarian, vegan and gluten free diets available. 

We’d suggest bringing a refillable water bottle as there are plenty of water stations around EFI. 

The building has open access to most areas so there are plenty of spaces if you need a moment away from the main event. If you need access to a quiet space, please speak to a CampMaker or organiser. 

Wifi will be available through the VisitEd wifi network.

Who the organisers are

GovCamp Scotland is an event that is nonpartisan, free of any sales agenda, and low bureaucracy to organise and attend. It is organised by people with a personal and professional interest, volunteering their time and effort.

The GovCamp Scotland 2025 organisers are:

  • Jonathan Waldheim-Ross, NHS Education for Scotland

  • Rob Cawston, National Library of Scotland

  • Jen Campbell and Hugh Wallace, Research Data Scotland

  • Joe Silverman, Pete Chamberlin and Ross Ferguson, Public Digital

Supporting the event

We are very grateful for the advice, encouragement and grant funding from our colleagues at UKGovCamp and GovCamp Cymru.

With thanks to Ike Robb from IDAC Media for volunteering website advice and logo design support.

Big thanks to our volunteers who have agreed to be Campmakers and help with the build up and activities on the day.

We are looking into ways in which other organisations can contribute or sponsor the event to help make it a welcoming, inclusive and purposeful success. So feedback and offers of support for future events are most welcome.