The future of the public sector
ResPublica should give the entire public sector food for thought
It can sometimes it can be difficult to keep up with new think tanks and quangos, but two significant coming additions to Westminster have caught my eye this week. The first, yet to be launched, will be the lobbying industry's new regulatory body, called the UK Public Affairs Council. PR Week reports that though it might not have the ability to issue formal sanctions, it will be able to withdraw its 'kite mark' from firms in response to failure to meet standards. If the PAC is able to increase transparency in the industry, it will do well.
Also awaiting official launch is ResPublica, the new think tank lead by the much vaunted Cameronite thought-leader, Philip Blond. Of immediate interest to those looking for careers in politics will be their vacancy for a localism researcher, a job sure to be at the vanguard of next year's political agenda.
Of greater significance though, particularly to anyone working in the public sector, should be Blond's new publication, 'The Ownership State'. In it he draws on the example of the John Lewis Partnership to propose that for the public sector to survive it must become unafraid of handing responsibility back to frontline employees. The language is of 'social businesses' with citizen engagement, lean management structures and greater reliance on the experience and skills of those at sharp end — ideas that will shape undoubtedly shape the thinking of any incoming Tory government.
Take note: if 'civil companies' do represent the future, then it will be demonstrable practical expertise and not experience of middle management that will be prized in the years to come. Just occasionally, think tanks give us a flavour of the future — and ResPublica should give the entire public sector food for thought.
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- by Editor 3
ResPublica's Director Phillip Blond appeared on BBC's Newsnight programme on Monday 15th February (click here to watch) to discuss Conservative leader David Cameron's radical new proposals to give public sector employees ownership of the services they deliver. As has been noted by many commentators already, this transformative approach was first outlined in ResPublica's flagship report, 'The Ownership State'.
- by kim.mandeng 0
- by Editor 7
There now exists a broad consensus on extending employee ownership throughout the public sector, driven by ResPublica's ideas in 'The Ownership State.' The Conservatives have shown that they understand the innovative and radical potential of co-operative public sector ownership to transform for the better our struggling public services. The Labour Party have also embraced the rhetoric - we await the development of the detail - of what they refer to as 'the mutual moment.' An important new centre-ground is forming; an Ownership Debate that promises to help us create better public services more efficiently - and extend the beneficial effects of ownership throughout society.
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Comments (1)
It looks as if most people still believe the public sector is the safest place to work. This report from The Ladders writes...
Whilst Britain’s most senior government minister may feel that his job prospects in 2010 are a little shaky, one in three senior executives believe government holds the best job security this year. In a study of over 3000 of Britain’s bosses by jobs site, TheLadders.co.uk, 32.5% of respondents said they felt that government held the best job security this year, followed by healthcare (30.2%) and education (20.6%).
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