We are delighted to see MHCLG Local Digital announce new investment to test and scale the Scalable Approach to Vulnerability via Interoperability (SAVVI) and Open Referral UK (ORUK) data standards across Greater Manchester and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council. This marks a significant milestone for the local government sector, and for the maturing ecosystem of shared data standards that enable earlier, more consistent and more connected support for residents.
For several years, iStandUK has worked with councils, government partners and service organisations to promote standards‑based approaches to data sharing. SAVVI, developed by iStandUK with extensive sector involvement, provides a structured method to help councils identify potential vulnerability earlier by recognising indicators such as housing instability, health pressures or social isolation.
ORUK complements this by enabling frontline teams to access high‑quality, structured service information, ensuring residents can be matched with the right support at the right time.
Bringing these two standards together in practice, and at scale, is an important moment. The new £1.1m programme will test how councils can adopt both SAVVI and ORUK in real operational environments, generating valuable learning about what it takes to embed consistent data practices across places, partners and systems.
From April, iStandUK will take on responsibility for managing and evolving both SAVVI and ORUK, providing:
- a single point of expertise for councils and suppliers
- aligned governance and guidance
- coordinated development across both standards
- reduced duplication and clearer pathways for adoption
We’re proud to provide a home for both standards and to help them evolve together as part of the same coherent data‑sharing network. This alignment means councils won’t just be implementing individual standards, they’ll be adopting a shared, interoperable approach that supports prevention, improves outcomes and reduces pressure on services.
The pilots in Greater Manchester and BCP Council will generate a rich set of insights for the sector, including:
- the practical steps councils need to take to adopt both standards
- the resourcing, skills and change activity involved
- the governance, cultural and technical barriers councils encounter
- how structured service data (ORUK) and indicators of vulnerability (SAVVI) work together in real workflows
- how new technologies, including AI, can amplify the value of open, structured data
Greater Manchester’s cross‑council approach offers a rare opportunity to explore regional interoperability, while BCP’s work provides a testbed for digital social prescribing and AI‑enabled matching. We are excited to support both pilots and to help ensure the learning is shared widely and accessibly.
Why does this matter? Prevention is only possible when councils and partners have:
- earlier visibility of emerging risks
- a common language and structure for the data they share
- high‑quality information about the services available locally
- the ability to work across organisational and geographic boundaries
SAVVI and ORUK were designed to meet these needs. Used together, they provide a practical, standards‑based foundation for prevention that can reduce crisis demand, improve resident outcomes and make local systems more sustainable.
As the pilots progress, iStandUK will be working closely with MHCLG Local Digital, GMCA, BCP and partners across the sector to:
- support implementation
- capture and share practical learning
- update guidance and artefacts based on real‑world experience
- help councils and suppliers adopt interoperable approaches more easily
We look forward to engaging with the wider community as the work develops. If you’d like to stay informed or get involved, we encourage you to follow updates from MHCLG Local Digital and from iStandUK as we continue to support this important agenda.
You can email the iStandUK team at: iStandUK@Tameside.gov.uk