GOV.UK Notify messaging service to save taxpayer £175m

A system designed to make it easier for people to communicate with the government has sent out more than half a billion messages since it was launched less than four years ago, and is predicted to save taxpayers £35 million a year.

The GOV.UK Notify system allows public sector bodies and local authorities to send people important messages, ranging from council tax reminders to details of doctors appointments.

According to the government, by reaching out directly with important information and cutting out the need for people to phone call centres or chase up information, it is set to produce savings of £175 million over the next five years.

“Notify is a great example of how the government is using technology to make people’s lives easier and save money,” said the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Oliver Dowden.

More than 1,200 services across central government, local government and the wider public sector use the Notify service.

The organisations with the highest number of services using Notify are the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Justice, Home Office, Ministry of Defence, Department for Education, Department for Work and Pensions, and the HM Court and Tribunals Service.