Share, reuse and collaborate
Avoid duplicating effort and unnecessary costs by collaborating across government and sharing and reusing technology, data, and services.
To meet Point 8 of the Technology Code of Practice (TCoP) your plans must show you’ve considered whether your project or programme can share and reuse technology.
If you’re going through the spend control process you must explain how you’re trying to meet point 8.
Benefits of sharing and reusing
Before you start your technology project or programme, consider whether sharing your work could benefit other teams in your organisation, or other government organisations.
By sharing your work you can benefit from:
- easier collaboration with other organisations
- a larger pool of experts who can help you find solutions to any issues more quickly
- more integration between government technologies
By reusing existing technology you can benefit from:
- avoiding duplication and unnecessary spending
- speeding up initial project or programme phases
- better value for money
How to share technology and collaborate across government
It’s easier and cheaper to plan how you will share your technology solution from the start of your project or programme. Clear documentation will help your project or programme, and make it easier for you to share your work.
There are several ways you can work in the open and share your technology, data, and services.
Communities
There are communities in a variety of channels, such as Google Groups and Slack. You will need to create a free account to join. Examples of the cross-government communities you can join include the:
- technology communities listed in the Service Manual
- API community (email address for Google group)
- Design System community - where you can share and contribute service design patterns
You can join these communities to explore which emerging and mature technologies other organisations are using before you commit resources to a project or programme.
Government APIs
The API technical and data standards and API design guidance can help your organisation provide data for government services in a consistent and shareable way. You can also use or contribute to the government’s API catalogue.
Combine requirements with other government organisations
Crown Commercial Service (CCS) provides information about current and future opportunities to combine buying requirements when purchasing technology.
This service is free and you:
- could increase your savings
- can use the customer team for support and advice
- can join procurements run by CCS that combine buying requirements for everyday items such as audio conferencing and WAN connectivity
How you can reuse technology
There are several technology resources and common government platforms available to all government organisations. These will help you to reuse government services, information, data and software components.
Government platforms
Consider using common government platforms and services where appropriate. These include:
- GOV.UK Notify for user notifications
- GOV.UK Pay for payments
Common technology
Common technology guidance and services include:
- Securing government email
- Set up government email services securely
- Protect domains that do not send email
- Sharing workplace wireless networks
- How to install network infrastructure in shared buildings
- Connect to GovWifi
- Set up GovWifi in your organisation
Government code
You should publish your code in the open and use open source technology. Some examples of open government code include:
- the Ministry of Justice’s GitHub page
- the Government Digital Service’s GOV.UK Frontend
- the Home Office Design System repository which includes forms for reuse
- the Government Digital Service’s source code
- the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs GitHub account
- GCHQ’s GitHub account which includes tools for data storage, processing and analysis
Next: Technology Code of Practice point 9 - Integrate and adapt technology
Related guides
Updates to this page
Last updated 24 July 2023 + show all updates
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Remove GOV PaaS and update communities
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Addition of a temporary research survey to get user feedback on the Technology Code of Practice.
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Restructure and clarification of content. Some link updates and changes.
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First published.