Our sectors

And what we can learn from Families First With significant changes to the SEND system planned nationally, local authorities are in the process of finalising and submitting reform plans that outline how they will transform locally.  At our recent webinar, Support with the 2026 SEND Reforms, together with our co-hosts, Mime- data specialists for local government, we brought together local government leaders and officers with responsibility...

A new policy for fairness The Government’s reintroduction of a 10‑year rent convergence mechanism marks a significant moment for councils with social rent stock. While convergence policy has existed previously, the new framework creates refreshed opportunity and complex decisions for social landlords. The new policy aims to ensure fairness in the rents charged; at present...

Recent coverage in The Guardian highlights a trend local authorities and colleges have been quietly managing for several years: falling birth rates are now translating into surplus school places. In London, this is particularly acute. Rolls are declining, funding is tightening, and yet the cost of maintaining under-occupied buildings remains stubbornly high.  This is not a short-term fluctuation. Over the past 12 months,...

As councils prepare for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), attention is increasingly shifting from organisational structures to the practical foundations of the new authorities being created. Crucially this includes the combined public estate - a diverse mix of assets spanning — operational estate (offices, depots, schools), community assets, income-generating assets, infrastructure and specialist facilities such as waste, transport and crematoria.  Land and buildings are...

In 2022, reports of misogyny, racism, and bullying within UK Fire and Rescue Services reached national headlines following the Independent Cultural Review of the London Fire Brigade.  Although the review focused specifically on the London Fire Brigade, its findings resonated across the entire sector. The high-profile coverage prompted Fire and Rescue Services throughout the UK...

Following the recent SEND White Paper publication, 31ten is delighted to announce a new partnership with Mime, bringing together our combined expertise to support local authorities, Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs), and schools as they prepare for and then implement the SEND reforms. The upcoming reforms represent a major opportunity to strengthen local SEND systems, improve outcomes...

While the benefits of prevention are largely understood, with recent evidence showing a return on investment of £3.17 for every £1 invested in Early Action and Support Interventions¹, preventative services continue to make up a disproportionately small amount of local authority and NHS spend. –   Short-term care only makes up 4% of Council’s current Adult Social...

Josh MacAlister, The Minister for Children and Families, opened his speech at this years’ NCAS Conference with a powerful description of plans to “permanently reset children’s social care in England.” This bold statement set the stage for his discussion on one of the biggest reforms in the public sphere at present, the Families First Partnership...

Once the dust has settled, it will be essential to plan for regular progress reviews to ensure success. How are former LEP functions delivering against the local vision agreed in planning for integration? 

The public sector remains under pressure to deliver more with less. This challenge is coupled with a renewed focus on driving local economic growth and the potential for fiscal devolution within local government. To navigate these pressures, innovative investment approaches are emerging like Place-Based Impact Investing (PBII), helping to attract external investment and shape markets…