How do you deliver reform and results at the same time? That's the question now facing local government – and the private sector partners they'll need to make it happen. With the next phase of devolution already underway, the challenge is no longer theoretical.

The launch of the Devolution Priority Programme in February marked more than just a policy update — it signalled that the ideas set out in the December 2024 White Paper are moving from aspiration to action. Watching from ‘the other side of the fence' the scale and pace of change is significant and a far cry from the stereotypes of a glacial public sector. This could be the most significant shake-up of local governance in a generation. The only question now is: who's ready?