Insights

The simple principles of planning, appraising, and scrutinising investments in new ventures are easy to state and difficult to do. In the last few editions of The MJ my colleagues at Local Partnerships have relayed some very practical and simple principles and guidelines for creating successful new commercial ventures. This is particularly relevant at a […]

This year’s Energy Management Exhibition (EMEX) is taking place at the ExCel centre on 21 and 22 November. It’s the event for energy professionals who want to increase their organisation’s energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Rachel Toresen-Owuor and Rob McKinnon from Local Partnerships and Re:fit are speaking and exhibiting at the event.Early engagement activity and key […]

Are you clear how Brexit will impact your supply chain?  Have you started discussions with your suppliers to mitigate potential supply disruptions? With 29 March 2019 only a few months away, now is the time to appraise the impact and plan accordingly.  Local Partnerships has developed a Brexit Commercial Impact Assessment. This toolkit helps you assess your […]

For new council commercial ventures to be a success, there is a significant need to develop and deliver against a different style of commercial business plan. Business planning should focus on the objectives of the commercial venture, setting out clearly how and when these objectives will be achieved. Plans needs to be flexible enough to […]

Councils need to adjust traditional relationships and responsibilities to establish successful new ventures through commercialisation. The freedoms and flexibilities associated with newly-formed commercial organisations can create tensions when the commissioning authority is reluctant to release controls. New commercial ventures require dedicated resource from the outset. Limited access to resources, data and information will impact the […]

The road to resilience: Councils should be risk aware, not risk averse. Staff should be empowered and incentivised to be entrepreneurial, fostering and encouraging creative thinking. For some councils, the term ‘commercialisation’ is used to describe a focus on increasing revenue to balance the books. For others, it is about a broader agenda, such as […]

Councils and Combined Authorities are developing ambitious programmes for housing growth to deliver the homes that are very much needed across the country. In celebration and recognition of the hard work local government is putting in to achieve these goals, Local Partnerships is delighted to sponsor the Housing Initiative LGC Housing Award 2019. This award is […]

“Sizing the Prize” – insight session from LGA conference: A way to galvanise local leaders to take the next steps in achieving effective health and social care integration. Local leaders across local health and social care systems are often aware of the gap that exists between the current position and their ambitions for more effective […]

Achieving effective integrated health and social care services: the components of success Yesterday, on the opening day of the LGA conference, the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) report “Beyond barriers: how older people move between health and care in England” was published. Chief Executive Sir David Behan led an insightful session exploring the highlights of the […]

What does resilience mean to you as a Leader, as a politician, as a Chief Executive, as a senior officer? What does it mean for your organisation and the people who work in it, and the people you are working to serve? Local government is fast approaching a decade characterised by unprecedented funding reductions, economic […]

What do you know about the “deals” central government have agreed with local authorities? What lessons have been learned, and could a “deal” be right for you? Over the past eight years central government has used the concept of “deals” as a way of engaging with local government. Implied in this approach is the idea […]

LGA conference 2018 An integral part of overcoming the current housing challenge is for councils to build a pipeline of future housing sites to ensure homes get built. Planning Authorities have a responsibility to do all they can to meet their housing requirements and surplus public land has an important contribution to make. Join us […]

There is a strong focus on Housing at the LGA conference including sessions on tackling the housing and homelessness crises, and building the right homes in the right places. An integral part of overcoming the current housing challenge is how to work with stakeholders. Join Local Partnerships for a special session: Red Mist or Blue Spark? Engaging with […]

Where should you start with waste management? Authorities of all shapes and sizes face mounting pressure to reduce costs of collection and disposal. They also have to balance the societal and sustainability imperatives to reduce the diversion of waste to landfill, whilst maintaining effective rubbish collection services for residents and businesses alike. Reduce costs of […]

Welsh Government Waste Infrastructure Procurement Programme Wins Commercial Category at the Civil Service Awards A reception was recently held in Cardiff Bay attended by Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs and the Permanent Secretary Shan Morgan to celebrate the Welsh Government’s Waste Infrastructure Procurement Programme team winning the Commercial Award category […]