Paul Kennedy joins Advice Cloud

We are pleased to welcome a new member to the Advice Cloud Team: Paul Kennedy, joining us as a Blue Light Strategic Adviser.

With over 30 years of experience in the sector, Paul is a true asset to Advice Cloud and our clients! So far over £265m has been spent on G-Cloud and £18m on Digital Outcomes and Specialists. And, Blue Light services are investing more and more in technology. For Advice Cloud, the timing was perfect to bring aboard an expert in selling to the sector, to help our clients make the most of it.

We asked Paul a few questions to see what he thinks about the sector and working with the Team.

You spent over 30 years working in policing. Tell us a bit about that?

I am hugely proud to have served as a police officer for 30 years, having served in four police forces in a variety of roles. Whilst my background centred mostly on serious crime investigation, I spent the final chapter of my service in the role of Deputy Chief Constable for North Yorkshire Police. I was the strategic lead for a number of local and national technology programmes, enjoying good relations with national stakeholders including the Home Office and Police ICT Company.

One of my greatest passions is the potential to transform and improve our blue light services through the improved use of technology. My goal is to shine a light on excellent technologies and help articulate the benefits to be gained by blue light customers by investing in the right technologies for them. I still retain an active network of contacts amongst blue light strategic leaders. Above all, I strive to see frontline staff on our emergency services equipped with the best available technologies with access to the best quality data to enable them to manage risks and do their job more effectively.

What struck you the most about the sector and how they approach tech?

I have seen a significant shift in culture and pace of working. Perhaps the most important aspect of policing is to understand how the breadth and depth of demand have increased in recent years. Areas such as terrorism and online criminality have caused an exponential rise in demand for police resources. It’s fair to say that policing is behind where the sector needs to be and is still using legacy technologies to meet these new demands. That does need to change and there is, in my view, a strong political will to make that happen.

What three pressing Blue Light Sector issues do you think can be solved by tech?

1. Improved situational awareness. Giving frontline blue light workers the devices and data which will help them to make better decisions in emergency situations.
2. Better use and management of all forms of structured and unstructured data, recognised that the ‘currency’ of blue light services lies in personal data which needs to have protections in place. Tech has much to offer the massive rise in digital data and digital evidence.
3. Overcoming organisational boundaries. We still have blue light services working in silos e.g. 43 police forces and there needs to be better sharing of information and intelligence across those silos.

How are you planning to add value to Advice Cloud clients?

By providing high-quality market insight and helping AC Clients to have much better engagement with blue light customers. That often entails working with clients on their narrative and providing clarity on the business challenges you are solving and explaining the benefits customers will see from your products.

I am able to speak with authority on all aspects of the blue light sector and in particular, I offer deep market insight into policing. I’m looking forward to sharing that knowledge and experience with Advice Cloud and their clients.

Why Advice Cloud? What attracted you to join our merry bunch?

Advice Cloud offers a much needed service, helping clients to engage with customers and understanding the challenges and opportunities of procurement. They are also a great bunch of people!

Thanks Paul and once again a very big welcome!