Government has talked about building digital capability for years, yet many departments continue to be heavily reliant on contractors. As transformation accelerates, a critical question emerges: is government building sustainable capability, or outsourcing its future? Despite growing investment, skills gaps persist, digital literacy remains uneven, and competition with the private sector continues to intensify. At the same time, expectations of the civil service are rising to build sustainable, in-house capability and foster cultures that embrace digital change. This panel explores how government can move from short-term resourcing fixes to long-term capability, aligning workforce strategy with transformation goals.

• Where should departments prioritise investment to build high-impact, in-house data and digital capability?
• How can government reduce reliance on contractors without slowing delivery?
• How do we scale meaningful digital literacy across the civil service?
• How can leaders evolve culture, career pathways, and incentives to retain talent?