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Procurement experts Fusion21 turns 21: How a step into the unknown became a route to social value success

Dave Neilson – Chief Executive at Fusion21

Real positive change, changes real lives.

This year, Fusion21 is marking its 21st anniversary and as the co-founder and Chief Executive I am so proud of what our team of procurement and social value specialists have achieved through work with our members, suppliers and partners.

Continue reading Procurement experts Fusion21 turns 21: How a step into the unknown became a route to social value success

Building a Practical Cyber Security Risk Awareness Strategy

Nick Denning, CEO of IT consultancy Diegesis and veteran of multiple public sector IT transformation projects shares his thoughts with GPSJ on what makes a successful risk awareness strategy

Risk management involves identifying, assessing, mitigating, and planning for potential events that could impact a business. This article explores risk management in practice and the priorities

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Step Up Stay Safe

Peoplesafe partners with Crimestoppers to tackle the growing crisis in employee safety

A NEW initiative from Peoplesafe working with the charity Crimestoppers, highlights the long overdue call to UK employers to step up and do more to protect their people, not just at work, but out of hours too.

Peoplesafe, the UK’s leading provider of

Continue reading Step Up Stay Safe

Milestone reached at affordable housing development in Cambridge

The final piece of roofing felt has been laid to officially mark the topping out of L2 Orchard Park, in Cambridge.

75 new homes, consisting of a mix of social rent and affordable rent will be delivered through Cambridge Investment Partnership and a funding agreement from Homes England.

Gerri Bird, Executive Councillor for Housing and

Continue reading Milestone reached at affordable housing development in Cambridge

Barnet Council to tackle potholes as part of £8million additional investment in road maintenance

A further £8million will be spent on road maintenance over the next two years to help deal with potholes and the maintenance of highways, as Cllrs voted it through at Barnet Council’s Cabinet meeting last night, 18 July 2023.

The new investment is in response to the 2022/23 winter period when the number of potholes

Continue reading Barnet Council to tackle potholes as part of £8million additional investment in road maintenance

Public sector contingent labour spend rises 20% post pandemic, reports Matrix

One of the UK’s leading providers of contingent labour on behalf of public sector organisations, Matrix, has seen its clients grow their investment in temporary and fixed-contract staff by a fifth since the end of the Covid pandemic.

The largest increases were seen in Qualified Social Care, where spending has risen by almost a third.

Continue reading Public sector contingent labour spend rises 20% post pandemic, reports Matrix

Hubbub announces new £200,000 fund to encourage creative solutions to tackling food waste

Environmental charity Hubbub is on the hunt for new creative solutions to food waste, which could be boosted by its new Eat It Up fund, launching today, with applications open until 21 July.

According to WRAP, 6.4 million tonnes of edible food is wasted each year in the UK retailers, manufacturers, caterers, restaurants and in

Continue reading Hubbub announces new £200,000 fund to encourage creative solutions to tackling food waste

Care leaver programme secures key funding from Matrix

Matrix funds new course helping young people transition out of childcare

Market-leading workforce technology and services platform Matrix is providing funding for a new adult education course aimed at helping young people successfully transition out of the childcare system. Certified as City and Guilds Level 5, the Young Adults Skills Development Care Leavers’ Programme has

Continue reading Care leaver programme secures key funding from Matrix

ENFIELD COUNCIL ADOPTS GROUND-BREAKING AI VIDEO TELEMATICS FOR ELECTRIC RCV AND TARGETS ROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS

Enfield Council has teamed up with VisionTrack to lead the way in road safety and stay at the forefront of fleet innovation. The London borough has worked closely with its existing video telematics partner to develop a sophisticated AI-powered vehicle camera solution for its first fully-electric refuse collection vehicle (RCV). The Renault E-Tech D Wide

Continue reading ENFIELD COUNCIL ADOPTS GROUND-BREAKING AI VIDEO TELEMATICS FOR ELECTRIC RCV AND TARGETS ROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS

Big and bold changes set for city centre as Council continues push towards sustainable transport

Final plans have been set out for the latest stage of work aimed at making Manchester city centre safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

As set out in the Council’s City Centre Transport Strategy (CCTS), a central aim is for 90% of all peak morning trips to the city centre to be made by foot,

Continue reading Big and bold changes set for city centre as Council continues push towards sustainable transport

How leasing can support local authorities’ push for a greener future

Caroline Davis

By Caroline Davis, Head of Public Sector Leasing at Triple Point

We know the green transition must involve local authorities if the UK is to meet its net zero commitments. That 78% of local authorities in England declared a climate emergency, and many local authorities have already made their own commitments

Continue reading How leasing can support local authorities’ push for a greener future

New safeguarding software to transform multi-agency collaboration between local authorities and schools

Referrals to children’s social services by schools have risen by more than 50 per cent in the last eight years 129,090 referrals were made by schools in 2022 – the highest number since reporting began in 2014 New safeguarding software to transform the way local authorities and schools identify and address safeguarding concerns

Market

Continue reading New safeguarding software to transform multi-agency collaboration between local authorities and schools

Sport England’s Moving Communities Platform Provides Critical Data to Secure New Funding for Swimming Pools in England

Moving Communities participation, financial and social value data offered key evidence to unlock new £63 million fund for leisure centres with pools Data shows pool usage highest among older adults, women and under 16s and contributed to more than £833 million in social value in 2022 – 85% of the total for the sector

Continue reading Sport England’s Moving Communities Platform Provides Critical Data to Secure New Funding for Swimming Pools in England

HUGGG LAUNCHES NEW INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT HSF PAYMENTS

Following the announcement that the Household Support Fund has been extended again, Huggg, the specialist platform which allows organisations to send and manage retail vouchers at scale to those in need, has launched a number of new initiatives. These are designed to help local authorities and their Third Party partner organisations (TPOs) get these vital

Continue reading HUGGG LAUNCHES NEW INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT HSF PAYMENTS

Pay rates on the rise amid social care worker exodus, finds Matrix data

Julian Panter

The number of active social care work placements have reached an all-time high, with average pay rates on the rise in an effort from businesses and councils to attract more candidates into vital roles, according to data from market-leading workforce technology and services platform Matrix.

Despite the rising need for

Continue reading Pay rates on the rise amid social care worker exodus, finds Matrix data

Ipswich volunteers help improve biodiversity at local park

Tree Warden hedge planting – photo: Ipswich Borough Council (Andy Pink, Tree Warden)

An Ipswich park is improving its biodiversity after volunteers planted 2,000 plants creating 400 metres of hedge in the town’s Chantry Park, all thanks to funding from the Tree Council’s Branching Out Fund.

The new section of hedge – planted

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£5 MILLION INNOVATION FUND TO REDUCE DRUG USE

Five projects will receive part of £5 million innovation fund to test new ways to reduce use of so-called recreational drugs On-the-ground projects include skills development and education for young people Supports strategy to reduce drug use to a 30-year low and build a world-class knowledge base

Five projects aimed at reducing drug use

Continue reading £5 MILLION INNOVATION FUND TO REDUCE DRUG USE

Four local authorities receive funds to boost recycling on-the-go near waterways

In The Loop

Areas surrounding waterways in Bury, Derby, Adur & Worthing and Bristol will soon be adorned with colourful and eye-catching bins to help residents and visitors recycle when out and about. The news comes as environmental charity Hubbub and Coca-Cola announce the winners of the In The Loop grant fund that

Continue reading Four local authorities receive funds to boost recycling on-the-go near waterways

Vodafone: Helping local government make the most of the digital future

By Claire Harris – Head of regional business Vodafone UK

When is your next bus due? How full are your local litter bins? How clean is the air where you live? How many parking spaces are available in this part of town right now? If a council can measure something, it can improve it with

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NEW GOUPIL G4 CAGE TIPPER HELPS DUNSTABLE TOWN COUNCIL RANGERS IN THEIR ROLES

Goupil G4 Cage Tipper

A new Goupil G4 cage tipper from electric vehicle specialist Bradshaw has helped improve the working lives of Dunstable Town Council’s rangers.

The vehicle was acquired through Grounds Operations Manager Dmitriz Sopiaz who had been aware of its benefits through a previous role.

“I’d had experience of the G4,

Continue reading NEW GOUPIL G4 CAGE TIPPER HELPS DUNSTABLE TOWN COUNCIL RANGERS IN THEIR ROLES