In 2014, the combined backing of sponsors and volunteers meant Leeds GovJam could deliver a two-day, 40-person event for less than £700. The estimated commercial cost of running something at that scale was at least £15,000.
Seven team members gave their time for free, ODI Leeds provided the venue, and every sponsor contribution — whether space, expertise, or cake — helped keep the event accessible and community-driven.
Leeds GovJam brought together people from across the public sector and beyond for an intense forty-eight hour burst of creative collaboration. Participants from local government, community organisations, design backgrounds, and the wider civic community gathered to tackle real challenges facing public services. The event was built on the principle that anyone can contribute to improving how services work for the people who use them. Through hands-on activities, teams worked quickly to question assumptions, explore ideas, and build rough prototypes. The energy in the room was driven by a shared belief that small, focused efforts can lead to meaningful change, and that the best solutions often emerge when diverse perspectives come together around a common purpose.
A key ingredient of the jam was the supportive environment created by volunteers, mentors, and sponsors who believed in the power of collaborative problem-solving. Experienced practitioners from design, technology, and service innovation offered guidance to teams navigating the fast-paced process. This culture of sharing skills and knowledge meant that even those new to service design could jump in and contribute from the start. The emphasis was on learning by doing, with participants encouraged to test their ideas with real people and refine their thinking based on feedback. The result was a weekend of genuine experimentation, where the focus remained firmly on people and the services that affect their daily lives.
The impact of Leeds GovJam extended well beyond the two days of the event itself. Teams often continued developing their projects after the jam, applying the techniques they had learned to their everyday work. The connections made between participants from different organisations sparked ongoing conversations and collaborations across the local public sector community. The event also helped build a lasting appetite for user-centred approaches, with many attendees carrying forward the methods and mindsets into their own teams and projects. By creating a space where people could step away from their usual routines and think differently, the jam planted seeds that continued to grow long after the final presentations were over.
