AI is transforming the UK workforce, reshaping public sector roles and accelerating the need for large‑scale retraining. To avoid repeating the mistakes of deindustrialisation, the UK must build a national skills coalition that protects workers, strengthens local economies and prepares communities for AI‑augmented jobs. This transition is a social contract, ensuring no place and no person is left behind.

A deep dive into how local government and the public sector can optimise working from home by balancing organisational needs with workforce expectations. This evidence‑led guide explores hybrid working, productivity, wellbeing, digital transformation, leadership, and the future of public service work. Practical insights for employers and employees navigating modern flexible working models.

The four‑day working week is gaining momentum across the public sector as organisations face recruitment challenges, burnout, rising demand and pressure to improve productivity. Evidence from global trials shows improved wellbeing, stronger retention and stable service performance. With the right design, governance and engagement, shorter working weeks could offer a sustainable workforce solution.

Independent councillors face unique pressures: high visibility, low structural support, and emotionally demanding community roles. This guide explores what resilience really means for independents, how to assess your strengths and vulnerabilities, and evidence‑based strategies to stay effective, grounded, and sustainable. Strengthen your resilience to lead with clarity, purpose, and long‑term impact.

Local authorities must rethink their role in a shifting, multipolar world. Drawing on Tim Marshall’s geopolitics, councils need global partnerships, strong economic development leadership, and long‑term strategies to attract investment, build resilience, and secure future prosperity. Understanding global trends and acting confidently is now essential for place‑based growth, helping communities thrive amid rapid global change.

Governance First, Structure Second! Local government reorganisation is inevitable as SEND, adult social care, and housing costs strain budgets. But success depends on governance, not just structural charts. Strong frameworks create clarity, collaboration, and confidence. As Rowan says, “There is no price you can put on democracy.” Investing in governance design and using AI for modelling and risk analysis, may be the most cost-effective way to protect public trust.

Discover the 2026 Workforce Guide for Local Government HR Leaders: Nine Hard Questions and How to Answer Them with Data, Design and Delivery. This essential resource tackles recruitment, retention, pay strategy, legal compliance, wellbeing, AI ethics, equality, apprenticeships, IR35, and workforce analytics. Equip your council with actionable insights, metrics, and toolkits to navigate structural change and build a resilient, future-ready workforce.

Discover the 10 essential competencies every local government leader needs to thrive in 2026. From political partnership and financial resilience to data confidence, prevention, and community trust, this framework helps you assess your strengths, identify growth areas, and take action. Download your scorecard and 90-day plan to lead with impact.

English councils face rising demand, shrinking budgets, and complex challenges like climate resilience, child poverty, and health inequalities. The PLACE framework enables adaptive systems stewardship through subsidiarity, accountability, and partnership. Apply its 12 elements to devolve authority, embed mutual accountability, and build trust. Expect fewer duplications, faster learning, stronger legitimacy, and better outcomes.

Discover insights from Averil Price’s book The Legacy Coach: Your Next Chapter, Your Legacy, Your Way and our Truth About Local Government podcast. Explore why legacy isn’t about hierarchy but humanity, practical steps for navigating career transitions, and evidence on how coaching boosts resilience, performance, and wellbeing. Learn actionable strategies to clarify your control, leverage weak ties, and start small for intentional change.

Ambition vs Capacity: Why Every Council Must Do a Deliverability Check. UK councils face bold regeneration, net-zero, and digital ambitions amid financial gaps and workforce shortages. This guide explains why deliverability diagnostics are essential, outlines a seven-step framework, scoring model, and stress tests, and provides actionable next steps to align ambition with capacity, reduce risk, and protect statutory services.

Interim leadership in local government is rising amid financial crises and workforce gaps. When treated as an organisational development and design (OD&D) intervention, it accelerates transformation, embeds cultural change, and builds capability. Strategic use includes acute risk, time-bound outcomes, and diagnosed gaps. Success depends on crisp contracting, benefits assurance, and planned exit, turning interims into catalysts for sustainable performance.

Discover why governance, not structural reorganisation, will define the future of local government. Explore how strategic powers, devolution deals, and funding leverage in areas like Greater Manchester and the West Midlands unlock billions for housing, transport, and growth. Learn why democratic legitimacy, clear accountability, and integrated systems matter more than maps and mergers in shaping the next decade.

Discover why creating a City of Culture is more than a year of events, it’s a long-term strategy for economic growth, social cohesion, and public health. Learn critical success factors, how to balance ambition with sustainability, and why inclusivity matters. Explore lessons from Europe, evidence-based planning, and the role of arts in improving well-being. Culture isn’t a luxury, it’s a catalyst for transformation.

Discover why horizon scanning is essential for UK local authorities. Learn what it is, explore methods like the Three Horizons Framework, PESTLE and SWOT analysis, and understand how councils can anticipate future trends, risks, and opportunities. Includes practical steps, common pitfalls, real-world examples, and a checklist to embed foresight into governance for proactive, future-ready leadership.

Discover why evaluation is critical in local government organisational design. Learn how councils can measure success, align changes with strategic goals, and avoid common pitfalls. Explore practical steps for embedding evaluation into transformation projects, ensuring value for money, better services, and continuous improvement. A must-read for leaders driving council-wide change.

Discover the RPNA 12P Assessment, a rapid, data-driven framework for building strong digital foundations in local government. Designed for Chief Executives and Transformation Directors, it evaluates 12 critical elements from strategy alignment to user experience, enabling smarter decisions, efficiency gains, and sustainable transformation. Contact Ashley Roper to learn how RPNA 12P can unlock value and reduce risk.

Testing organisational structures before sign-off is essential for councils. Skipping this step risks costly rework and confusion. Use multiple methods, design criteria checks, realistic scenarios, operational walk-throughs, and Goold & Campbell’s nine tests, to ensure alignment and flexibility. Testing saves time, money, and credibility by preventing structural failure and guarantees your design works in practice, not just theory.

Optimise local government culture with Barrett Values Centre tools. Truth About Local Government helps councils measure culture, identify leadership gaps, and embed values into recruitment and systems. Our 12-month programme builds engagement, retention, and performance, with annual diagnostics for sustainable change. Transform culture into a strategic advantage and deliver better outcomes for staff and residents.

Business rates reform will reshape local government finance from April 2026. Councils must act now: model the 2026 revaluation impact, review Autumn Budget relief measures, engage with MHCLG’s reset methodology, strengthen NNDR forecasting and appeals contingency, and communicate multiplier changes to businesses. These steps will help manage risk, seize growth opportunities, and ensure stability during the most significant reset in over a decade.