Public Sector Outsourcing Must Only Involve Ethical Companies

Recent revelations about the popular and well known high street companies Sports Direct and BHS follow an increasing litany of business failures and failure of business ethics. The economy, communities and families are still paying the price for the collapse of companies in the banking and wider financial sector in 2008. The sad reality is that there are many...

Brexit – consequences for public procurement

The narrow majority for Brexit in the recent EU Referendum could have substantial consequences for UK public procurement.

This may not have been the result that many of us voted for but given the Government feels it must now press ahead to take the UK out of the EU, it is important to take measure of and understand the potential...

Where are the revolutionary public sector leaders?

The government is pressing ahead with the privatisation of many services and outsourcing. In fact, central and local government, the NHS and wider public sector are relentlessly extending the reach, scope and volume of public service outsourcing. A change in Conservative leader could accelerate this.

In part, this is a direct result of government policy to redefine and reduce the...

Local Social Action Is More Vital Than Ever – And So Are Its Champions

If ever there was a time for bold, brave focussed leadership in the voluntary and community sector, at both national and local level, surely it is now?

And this must particularly be case in respect of the local community and small charity sector, which are the backbone of strong communities and the catalyst for local social action.

Given contemporary social and...

The EU and the Referendum Matter to Charities and VCS – They Need to Engage Positively

The outcome of the UK wide referendum on 23rd June will have significant long term implications for the country’s governance, politics, economy, environment, public services, employment rights, social mobility, migration, refugees, asylum status ... and so much more.

Indeed, whatever the outcome, the referendum will result in what is effectively a new constitutional settlement, which will have implications for many...

Keep the relationship alive

Local government is changing and faces the most severe financial test for many decades, certainly in the experience and memories of both its political and executive leaders.

After more than five years of cuts in central government support, more are planned for the remainder of this Parliament. Worse still, the axe is not falling evenly across local authorities and nor...

Let’s share the lessons from the Whitehall Shared Services programme

“The Cabinet Office’s failure to manage the risks around the move to two independent shared service centres from the outset means that the programme has not achieved the significant anticipated savings and benefits to date. The Cabinet Office has begun to find its role in leading the programme but the delays have meant that technology has moved on significantly....

The community sector must strike and strike fast, post-election

This Thursday’s council elections will inevitably result in changes of political administration and leadership across the country. Even where the same political party retains its majority, there will likely be significant changes in the membership of council cabinets and scrutiny committees.

The voluntary and community sector, on behalf of local communities, must be ready for such changes. Local leaders in...