Whitehall Innovation Hub report says Place Based Innovation could become a ‘pull lever’ for radical transformation in government
9th February 2010
The Whitehall Innovation Hub launched its latest report, Place Based Innovation, at Communities and Local Government (CLG) on 8th February 2010.
The reports key message is that department officials need to be more involved in the regions as active partners in horizontal partnerships; not as gatekeepers, auditors or performance managers.
The launch was facilitated by Irene Lucas, Director General Local Government and Regeneration Group, CLG, who welcomed the report and its timeliness:
“Demands are ever increasing to achieve more for less through innovation - and the drive for meeting this challenge must come through partnership working at local level… we need to ensure that the space exists to provide sustainable improvement using creative solutions. CLG has a unique role in maintaining the policy framework within which local partners can innovate…
Total Place lies at the heart of our thinking and adds real impetus to the challenge of looking differently at shared priorities. I am pleased to see that this report recognises and encourages that approach. There are exciting times ahead.”
Place Based Innovation is authored by Su Maddock and Ben Robinson from the Whitehall Innovation Hub, a unit within the National School of Government’s Sunningdale Institute. The Whitehall Innovation Hub has been funded over the last two years by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to generate an enthusiasm for public service innovation in central government.
Rod Clark, Principal and Chief Executive of the National School of Government, said:
“We are very grateful to Business, Innovation and Skills for their support and funding for this work, and we believe that this paper will help Whitehall officials to see the possibilities for innovation which arise from a place-based approach.”
Notes to Editors:
- The Whitehall Innovation Hub’s Placed Based Innovation report is available at http://www.nationalschool.gov.uk/downloads/210035PlaceBased2.pdf
- On secondment from Manchester Business School, Dr Su Maddock is the National School Lead on innovation. Dr Su Maddock can be contacted on su.maddock@nationalschool.gsi.gov.uk or 07739 102489
- For media enquiries please contact Ann Hall, ann.hall@nationalschool.gsi.gov.uk, tel: 01344 634 818