I’ve had so many conversations over the past couple of weeks with both clients and colleagues about the sheer complexity we’re facing in local government right now. The intersection of reorganisation, devolution, planning reform, and Place is overwhelming. How do we even get our heads above the trees,

Last week’s Solace Summit 2025 was a fantastic experience, not just for the sessions, but for the chance to reconnect with friends and colleagues across the sector. It’s always energising to share space with people who care deeply about shaping the future of local government and this event

A New Paradigm for Local Growth and Investment A rare and time-sensitive confluence of government reforms spanning devolution, pension fund investment, and strategic planning has created an unparalleled opportunity to reshape local economic development in England. Landmark legislation, including the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill ii, alongside the government&

Introduction: What if Your Pension Could Build a Better World? As I talked about in my previous post about the quiet pension fund reform Most of us think of a pension fund as a giant savings pot, a pool of money from thousands of people that is carefully invested to

By Paul Frainer, Olive Branch Consulting Next week at the Last Mile Conference, I’ll be joining a panel alongside Paul Weston (Prologis), Jonathan Holland (Legal & General), and others to explore a critical question: How can the UK’s industrial strategy unlock institutional capital to deliver the modern, flexible

Over the next few weeks, UK Citizens will (if they haven’t already) see a steady stream of updates from councils about Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). Most of it will sound confusing or irrelevant, and honestly, that’s not the fault of councils comms teams. Far from it, they’ve