The UK Government is introducing a new way of working, aiming to improve public services by focusing on real-world issues faced by local communities. Three cities – Darlington, Sheffield, and Leeds – will serve as testbeds for the Government’s missions.
These cities will host thematic campuses, where teams from various departments will collaborate with local workers and communities to develop innovative solutions. The initiative is part of the broader effort to create a more agile, productive state that is better connected to the people it serves.
Thematic Campuses as Testbeds
The Government’s new approach involves setting up thematic campuses in Darlington, Sheffield, and Leeds. These campuses will bring together teams from central government, local authorities, and frontline workers like teachers and NHS staff.
Rather than focusing on policy papers, the teams will directly engage with local communities to test new ideas and solutions. These areas will focus on three main missions: growth (Darlington), opportunity (Sheffield), and health (Leeds).
This initiative, which builds on the “Places for Growth” commitment, aims to move civil servants outside London and closer to the communities they serve. This shift will help ensure that the Government is more responsive to local needs and can develop more effective solutions.
Collaboration with Local Communities
The new model focuses on collaboration. Civil servants in these thematic campuses will work alongside local public service providers, such as local councils, NHS staff, and teachers. The Government’s mission is to develop and test innovative solutions for pressing local issues, which can then be scaled to other areas of the UK.
By working on the ground with those who understand local challenges best, the Government hopes to create more effective and sustainable policies.
The “community mission challenge” pilot programme is central to this new approach. The programme encourages the rapid development of solutions in collaboration with local communities, which will allow these ideas to be quickly tested and implemented.
Secondment Scheme for Shared Learning
In a significant step towards improving collaboration, the Government is launching a secondment scheme that will allow staff from central and local government to share skills and knowledge. This scheme, starting in the autumn, will initially operate in Darlington, Sheffield, Leeds, and Manchester.
It will enable local government workers, such as youth workers and social workers, to directly contribute to shaping national policy. This collaboration aims to bring the experience of local authorities and frontline workers into the policymaking process, ensuring that national policies better reflect local realities.
Local Leaders Share Their Views
Local leaders are enthusiastic about this new initiative, seeing it as an opportunity to improve services and bring about meaningful change. Councillor James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council, is excited that Leeds will focus on the health mission, aligning with the city’s local health strategy.
He believes the initiative will allow Leeds to play a significant role in shaping national policy while improving health services locally.
Similarly, Councillor Tom Hunt, Leader of Sheffield City Council, is pleased that Sheffield has been selected to focus on the opportunity mission. He sees this as a way to address local challenges, such as helping people get back to work and supporting children’s development. Sheffield’s experience with Family Hubs and Pathways to Work programmes will help guide the work in the new thematic campus.
Darlington’s Leader, Steve Harker, also views this as a great opportunity to strengthen partnerships between local authorities and the Government. He believes that closer collaboration will lead to better outcomes for the local community, particularly in the areas of growth, opportunity, and health.
The thematic campus initiative marks a significant shift in how the UK Government approaches public service delivery. By moving government teams closer to communities and encouraging direct collaboration with frontline workers, the Government aims to create more effective, innovative solutions to local challenges.
This pilot programme is just the beginning of a larger effort to rewire the state, making it more agile and responsive to the needs of people across the UK. Through shared learning and local input, these missions will shape national policy, ensuring that local voices are heard in the decision-making process.
