Wales gave us a warm (and very wet) welcome as we hosted our first Welsh DisGovery Day at Maesteg Town Council this September.
The rain may have been relentless outside, but inside, the atmosphere was buzzing. Clerks, officers, and digital champions from across South Wales joined us for a day of hands-on training, shared learning, and some light-hearted lessons in resilience (both digital and electrical!).
What we covered
The morning kicked off with time-saving practical Microsoft 365 tips from Susan Austin, who gave councils small but mighty tricks to save time and reduce stress in everyday work.
From there, attendees split between two workshops:
- GovMeetings – led by Steve Walker and Tina Cunnell, showing how to leverage AI to simplify meeting processes. The session demonstrated how officers can save significant time with meeting scheduling, agenda creation, and minute-taking. Furthermore, the ability to track tasks and retrieve resolutions had many attendees in awe of the possibilities.
- Hybrid meetings – hosted by Ryan Jones, had attendees exploring how to make remote participation easier and more inclusive.
In the afternoon, we shifted focus to AI in local government. With demos of GovAssist, councils saw how AI can support a variety of council activities, from budget forecasting to risk assessment to communication planning, sparking plenty of conversation about the potential (and practicalities) of AI in council life.
Lunchtime wasn’t just about food. We welcomed Internal Auditor Claire Lingard, who shared the “good, the bad, and the ugly” of local council audits. Her stories were humorous, relatable, and a reminder that every council should be kind to their auditor!
Sometimes the tech has other ideas ….
Of course, no IT event would be complete without a few hiccups of its own. On the day, we had:
- A wifi wobble when everyone tried out the AI tools at once.
- A blown fuse mid-session.
- And a missing projector for the upstairs workshop on hybrid meetings.
Instead of causing disruption, these became part of the story, a reminder that even IT experts aren’t immune to the occasional blip. In fact, they added to the sense of shared experience: digital transformation isn’t always smooth sailing, and a little humour goes a long way!
My First DisGovery Day,
By Cara Stobart
As a new member of the CloudyIT team, I was delighted to be involved in my very first DisGovery Day. It was an opportunity to better understand our products and the benefits they bring to local councils.
What struck me most throughout the day was the clear undertone from attendees of ‘there must be a better way to do this’. Many participants were refreshingly self-aware about the limitations of their current systems and were vocal about wanting smarter, more efficient approaches. Again and again, I heard a strong desire to reduce the time spent on routine, repetitive tasks so that councils can dedicate more energy to the big things – the projects and decisions that really shape their communities.
That’s why the day was so valuable: it gave attendees the space to not only explore practical tools and smarter systems, but to also connect with peers facing the same challenges – and leave with fresh ideas, new skills, and renewed confidence in what’s possible.
A huge thank you, and congratulations
We owe a special thanks to our fantastic hosts at Maesteg Town Council, who not only provided the venue but also helped keep everyone well-fed.
Thanks also go to the CloudyIT team on the ground (and behind the scenes), who kept things running — and kept spirits high — no matter what the weather or tech threw at us.
And congratulations to our free prize draw winners. All attendees were automatically entered, and unlike our earlier fuse mishap, this draw went off without a hitch. It was a fun way to round off the day and celebrate the enthusiasm and contributions of everyone who joined us. Pictured: Gwylim Rippon from Abermule with Llandyssil Community Council, one of our prize winners. 
Why we have DisGovery Days
DisGovery Days are about much more than showcasing the latest tech. They’re about connection:
- Building confidence in digital tools.
- Sharing experiences between councils.
- Sparking fresh ideas to make governance smarter, more transparent, and more efficient.
Because while technology is important, it’s the relationships, skills, and shared resilience that really power digital transformation.
Looking Ahead
Despite the rain (and the rogue fuse), our first Welsh DisGovery Day was a brilliant success. Attendees left with new skills, stronger networks, and fresh inspiration for the months ahead.
And yes – next time we’ll be coming prepared with raincoats, spare fuses, and maybe even a back-up projector or two.
Don’t miss the next DisGovery Day
We’re already planning ahead, and the next stop on our journey will be at Costessy Town Council, Norwich, on 26 February 2026.
If you’re a council clerk, finance officer, or digital champion, join us for another day of learning, networking, and inspiration. Spaces are limited, so make sure to secure your place early.
