Innovation is about novelty, but it is more than just generating new ideas – it is about taking action to do new things or to do things differently. Reform, on the other hand, involves broader systemic, structural and process changes to improve how systems function. While innovation can drive reform and reform can foster innovation, the two are not the same.

Understandably, the Government seeks both innovation and reform, typically pursuing them through departmental change initiatives in areas like health, education, defence and justice, as well as through Cabinet Office programmes. In practice, the most effective local councils tend to be better at innovating corporately. Their smaller scale allows them to respond more quickly to frontline feedback and secure organisational buy-in for change.