Powering Public Service Reform: Making the centre work to liberate people and places

Last month’s Spending Review signalled a notable shift in government priorities. Among its commitments were three core principles for public service reform: integrating services around people’s lives, prioritising prevention over crisis response, and devolving power to local areas in partnership with communities and civil society. While these ideas are not new, their inclusion in a Treasury document signals growing recognition of the need for change at the heart of government.

Today, Demos is launching a new programme of work – Powering Public Service Reform – to understand and dismantle the cultural and systemic blockers that hold back progress. This briefing paper outlines the problems we’re trying to solve and sets the agenda for the programme. We’ll focus on understanding these barriers in depth and identifying how to create an enabling, preventative and people‑centred state – turning the government’s principles into lasting, system‑wide transformation.

If you’re interested in this work, have ideas to share, or want to collaborate, we’d love to hear from you. Contact Anna Garrod, Director of Policy and Impact, or Amy Gandon, Fellow.