GovNet Makes History With Two Flagship Events in Record-Breaking Week
GovNet, the UK’s leading provider of public sector events, has hailed its "outstanding team" after successfully delivering the busiest week in the company’s 27-year history. The organisation hosted the two-day Healthcare Excellence Through Technology (HETT Show) and DigiGov Expo simultaneously at ExCeL London on Tuesday 24th and Wednesday 25th of September – a first for GovNet in terms of scale and logistics.
This marked the first time GovNet has run two flagship expos concurrently, welcoming more than 8,000 attendees across the two days. GovNet’s award-winning events provide a vital platform for the public sector to connect with solution providers across education, healthcare, and technology. By offering opportunities to learn, collaborate, and grow, GovNet supports public sector professionals in their mission to deliver world-class public services and drive real change.
Originally planned for May, the inaugural DigiGov Expo was rescheduled due to industrial action across the UK rail network. Despite this setback, the event saw a fantastic turnout, with delegates hearing from an impressive speaker line-up, including The Rt Hon Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Kamal Bal, Digital Director, Ministry of Justice, David Knott, Chief Technology Officer for UK Government, Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO), and broadcaster and journalist Matthew Syed.
Over recent years, HETT Show has established itself as the leading event for the healthcare technology community, winning a string of industry awards in the process. A distinguished line-up of speakers included Vin Diwakar, Medical Director for Transformation and Secondary Care, NHS England, Ben Goldacre, Director, Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, and Claire Harrison, Chief Digital & Technology Officer, MHRA.
Across the two events, delegates benefited from nine theatres of expert content, offering practical insights and strategies for tackling key challenges in digital transformation across the health and public sectors. Both expos attracted leading names from across the industry, with sponsors including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Dell Technologies, Pfizer, KPMG, Adobe, Microsoft, Crown Commercial Service, and Government Digital Service (GDS).
Commenting on the success of the week, James Tucker, CEO of GovNet, said: "I couldn’t be prouder of our colleagues – delivering two events of this scale simultaneously for the first time in our history has been a true 'all hands on deck' effort. Every team played an integral role, from Marketing and Sales, to Content, Operations, and Customer Experience. After the rail strikes were announced, we made the bold decision to run these events concurrently, pushing ourselves as a business. It’s incredibly rewarding to see that hard work pay off. We are going to use this experience as a springboard to think even bigger and better for 2025 and beyond.”
"I’d also like to extend my sincere thanks to all the delegates, sponsors, and speakers who made these events such a success. We couldn’t do it without you. GovNet is wholeheartedly committed to providing platforms where the public and private sectors can engage, discuss, and collaborate. These events are key in helping to foster the connections and conversations that can lead to real, lasting change.”