The focus over the coming years will be both to get better value out of the public sector and to come up with innovative ideas. Mike Britch and Karen Knight report on how commercial trading could hold the key to improving residential care assets.

Our workshop at The MJ Future Forum looked at commercial trading; specifically what makes it work and how it works for residential care. Some may argue that certain public services cannot be commercialised; the problem might be too complex and, instead, the best solution would be to stop providing the services altogether or integrate them with other public services. However, others may argue that commercial trading is a self-generating solution, offering pace and scope; it can be a cost-effective answer allowing for strategic control and flexibility.