Things to know about UKGovCamp 2025 (ukgc25)

UKGovCamp is an annual unconference for people who want to make the public sector better. 

This post contains things you need to know about the 2025 event.

The short version:

BRING PHOTO ID! 🪪
You must have a ticket in your name to enter the event.
You’ve got this email, which means you’ve got a ticket.
You don’t need to print your ticket, just bring photo ID.

Venue = Ministry of Justice (MOJ) 102 Petty France, London SW1H 9AJ.
Date = Saturday 18 January 2025.
Timings = 0900 doors, 1000 event starts, 1100 sessions start, 1245 lunch, 1700 doors close.
Creche = If you’ve booked a place, bring them a packed lunch and outdoor clothes.
Hashtag = #ukgc25.
Friday/Saturday evening socials = Will be in Westminster, near MOJ.

Thank you to our sponsors

UKGovCamp is supported by sponsors. They keep the event free to attend, provide catering, creché, bursaries and more. Leftover funds go into our grant fund to support similar events.

What (not) to expect

A day of discussions (not presentations). So come with ideas to discuss, questions to answer and interactive workshops you’d like to run (not slidedecks). 

At the start of the event we’ll create the agenda together. Anyone can stand up and pitch a session (or a volunteer can do it for you). Topics are then added to the session grid. 

Sessions are 45 minutes long, with a minimum 15 minute break between each. There’s 2 sessions before lunch and 3 afterwards. There’ll be at least 8 dedicated rooms, giving a potential 40 sessions throughout the day. 

We strongly encourage you to move between sessions, even when they’re running. We call this the law of mobility and it helps spread ideas between sessions. 

If you’d like to read more, we recommend: 

• What to expect at UKGovCamp by Steve Parks, 
• Sharing what I learnt at UKGovCamp by Debbie Blanchard. 

Catering

The onsite cafe provides a free lunch at 12:45 and 2 barista made hot drinks whenever you want. Please bring a reusable cup if you have one. The onsite cafe covers most dietary needs you’ve told us about. Where we can’t, we’ll order from Pret a Manger. 

There’s also a DIY drinks station downstairs, with a selection of teas and cordials. Please bring your own water bottle / flask. We have a limited number of paper cups. 

Crèche

We have a few spaces left in the creche. Email organisers+creche@ukgovcamp.com to book. 

• Crèche opens at 0900 and closes at 1700
• You must bring a pack lunch for your child(ren) 
• Please bring warm/outdoor clothes for your child (if you give consent for creche staff to take them for a walk in the park, weather permitting)

Social media

The hashtag is #ukgc25 (which is short for UKGovCamp 2025). Please use it in everything you share publicly. 

You can also tag the UKGovCamp social media accounts on BlueSky, LinkedIn, Mastodon and X (Twitter). There’s also a LinkedIn group you can post in. 

In the unlikely event that the main #ukgc25 hashtag gets spammed, you can specify a particular session using #ukgc25 +s_ (for the session number) +r_ (for the room number). So the hashtag for Session 1, Room 1 = #ukgc25s1r1

Session notes

Each session has its own collaborative document that anyone can edit. You can access the docs via the session grid at bit.ly/ukgovcamp.

Each session will have a couple of volunteers to add names and notes to the documents. But you’re welcome to add your own notes to the docs, either on the day or afterwards.

Photographs and videos

We encourage you to take photographs and videos to share publicly, except of anyone who’s wearing a yellow lanyard. They have requested not to have their likeness shared.

Swapshop

Outside conference room 1 is the swapshop. If you have stickers, books or anything else (within reason) you’d like to donate to the swapshop, please bring it with you. 

Prayer room

A prayer room is available. Please ask a volunteer for access.

Quiet room 

Conference room 10 is the designated quiet room. They’ll be colouring books or similar to help you unwind in silence. Please do not speak or take calls in this room.

Parents room

Conference room 11 is for breastfeeding or private moments with your children. 

Friday / Saturday night socials

We’re still securing a venue near MOJ and will update this page and email everyone when we know. We’re trying to avoid bars and pubs this year, so let us know if you have somewhere in mind. Both the Friday and Saturday night socials start at 5pm.

Sunday and beyond

Once you’ve recovered, please do dip into the session notes via bit.ly/ukgovcamp and share your blog posts via the #ukgc25 hashtag. Your thoughts will help make the public sector better.