Sheffield may be known as steel city, but it is also building a reputation for the Civil Service Policy Campus and its leading role in the Government's public service reform programme.

Meanwhile, the city's seven Family Hubs and Start for Life services got a boost at the end of last year, when the council was chosen by government as one of just four locations – alongside Manchester, Essex and Liverpool – to take part in the pioneering Test, Learn and Grow Programme. Backed by a £100m fund, this concentrates on initiatives that seek to restore public services by trying new ideas at a small scale, learning quickly what works, and introducing the successful aspects into wider service delivery.