Jessica Studdert
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jesstud.bsky.social
Jessica Studdert
@jesstud.bsky.social
CEO, @wearenewlocal.bsky.social

Politics, policy, local government, devolution, place, community power, public service reform and feminism. Always searching for good coffee.
Reposted by Jessica Studdert
How can technology support place-based public services?

We'll be kicking off our next #Lab25 event in Clyde Room, Arena Floor at 12:00 – join us to hear from John Denham, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, @pwc-uk.bsky.social @jesstud.bsky.social zurl.co/CbUyF
September 29, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Reposted by Jessica Studdert
How can technology support place-based public services?

Another IfG fringe event at the Labour Party Conference, with Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe
@pwc-uk.bsky.social
@jesstud.bsky.social @wearenewlocal.bsky.social
@stuarthoddinott.bsky.social

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/ifg-la...
September 12, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Reposted by Jessica Studdert
Here we go…

@jesstud.bsky.social & @vibrantkatiekelly.bsky.social open #StrongerThings 2025 🌟

“We gather at a time when the outlines of change have been drawn, but now it’s time for us all to bring some colour to the canvas.”
June 3, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Reposted by Jessica Studdert
“There is one policy option open to the Government which would lay the groundwork for a deep shift in how public investment secures better outcomes”.

@jydenham.bsky.social‬ & @jesstud.bsky.social‬ set out 5 reasons the Government should launch Total Place 2.0.
Five reasons the Government should launch Total Place 2.0 - New Local
John Denham and Jessica Studdert make the case for Total Place 2.0 - to shift public investment for better outcomes.
buff.ly
May 29, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Reposted by Jessica Studdert
Great summary of the case for Total Place. As the article says, there's a wide coaltion of organisations who support this.

This was @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's contribution from earlier this month: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
May 29, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Reposted by Jessica Studdert
It’s a very big day for me – @wearenewlocal.bsky.social launches Where People Meet: Where People Meet: How We Celebrate, Sustain and Reimagine Community Centres.

www.newlocal.org.uk/publications...
May 7, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Returning from unintended mini bluesky hiatus to make the niche but relevant point that the mayors of North Tyneside and Doncaster are *not the same* as the other mayors up for election on Thursday.
April 29, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Reposted by Jessica Studdert
This looks v. interesting.

This isn’t rocket science but far too few neighbourhoods do it well:

“The humble bench – improved with armrests, numbered to aid in a medical emergency, or placed strategically for wellbeing and intergenerational conversation – can be transformative…”
The radical plan for a futuristic age-friendly neighbourhood in Manchester
£1.5bn of funding has been granted to transform a hospital into a neighbourhood designed for people to thrive as they age
www.theguardian.com
April 18, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Reposted by Jessica Studdert
"Those in leadership positions are required to work in ways which don’t have a clear rulebook."

@jesstud.bsky.social writes about a new leadership model emerging in the public sector.
A new leadership model is transforming local government - New Local
Jessica Studdert shares four fundamental shifts that are taking local government leadership into new territory and explains why the changing sector landscape demands a common understanding of…
buff.ly
March 31, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Reposted by Jessica Studdert
"The problems councils face are deeply interconnected. Traditional hierarchical structures don’t work well for solving these complex issues"

@benunsworth.co.uk @tpximpact.com on the revolution in local gov leadership (+ design thinking & digital transformation).
Design Thinking, Digital Divides and Radical Decision Makers: An Interview with Ben Unsworth - New Local
In a career spanning councils, digital agencies and central government, TPXimpact’s Ben Unsworth has been at the forefront of reshaping local government. We speak to him about why councils are ripe…
buff.ly
March 27, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Reposted by Jessica Studdert
Q: What can England learn from the approaches in devolved nations?

@jesstud.bsky.social: lots to learn in England e.g. Welsh future generations act and Scottish empowerment of communities act. The scale creates better system working. Would like to see more of this at sub-regional level in England.
March 28, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Reposted by Jessica Studdert
Q&A

- @jesstud.bsky.social funding local govt properly leads to investment in things that matter to people – the fabric of community life
- @rodriguez-pose.bsky.social economic success stories do not always come from biggest cities
- T. Walker: need an environment that incentivises long-termism
March 28, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Reposted by Jessica Studdert
@jesstud.bsky.social says that there is an opportunity with the devolution agenda to shift to a different way of governing.

At the moment hasn't been holistic enough. It needs to be about community-led policymaking, not just a repatriation of a function to a different level.

#BennettInst
March 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Reposted by Jessica Studdert
"National policy has a bias towards structural reform as a tool for change. Radical leadership cannot be legislated for, but the culture change it reflects no less impactful."

@jesstud.bsky.social writes about a new leadership model emerging in the public sector.
A new leadership model is transforming local government - New Local
Jessica Studdert shares four fundamental shifts that are taking local government leadership into new territory and explains why the changing sector landscape demands a common understanding of…
buff.ly
March 24, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Fascinating discussions at #dcnconf2025- reorganisation top of agenda- but questions re purpose & outcomes at heart.

@jimmcmahon.co.uk was clear about challenges but stressed importance of imagining the future & public service reform that combines benefits of scale w/ being rooted in communities.
March 13, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Fed up with what’s going on in the world but still wanna change it? Come and work with us…
We're hiring two key leadership roles at New Local!

🌠 Director of Partnerships & Engagement – Lead our membership, events & comms.
🌠 Director of Practice & Programmes – Drive impact in consultancy, research & policy.

💰 £80K | ⏳ Apply by 14 April, 9am → www.newlocal.org.uk/about/jobs/
Jobs - New Local
Find the latest job vacancies at New Local, a think tank and network with a mission to unlock community power.
www.newlocal.org.uk
March 5, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Good to be at the launch of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods interim report launch with Alex Norris MP.

The report urges recognition of “mission-critical neighbourhoods”- most deprived areas that do worst on outcomes associated w/ Govt’s missions on growth, health, opportunity & safety.
March 5, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Really looking forward to hosting this event in Manchester with @carnegieuk.bsky.social to discuss their latest Life in the UK report and the role of collective wellbeing, with @andywestwood.bsky.social responding…
Join us on 12 March in Manchester for a roundtable on @carnegieuk.bsky.social’s Life in the UK 2024 England Report

We’ll explore how collective wellbeing can help us make better policy decisions & discuss the barriers & opportunities for action.

Register your interest 📩 events@newlocal.org.uk.
February 26, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Reposted by Jessica Studdert
Great paper by @jesstud.bsky.social, Shaheen Warren, @annarandle.bsky.social.

Four shifts in local govt leadership:

1 Community as well as organisation
2 Mobilisation as well as management
3 Compassion as well as decisiveness
4 Resilience as well as efficiency

www.newlocal.org.uk/publications...
Radical Leadership: Power, Possibility and Public Service - New Local
What does it take to lead in local government today? We’ve explored these questions alongside trusted friends in our council network. Together, we’ve identified a new model of Radical Leadership.
www.newlocal.org.uk
February 24, 2025 at 11:26 AM
New Public Management is not fit for purpose (though it is alive and well in many parts of Whitehall).

We need New Public *Mobilisation* if mission-led government is to have impact.

My latest MJ column… www.themj.co.uk/public-mobil...
New Public Mobilisation is the answer
Old habits die hard. While New Public Management (NPM) might have fallen out of fashion in the think-tank community, it is alive and well in Whitehall. Its core...
www.themj.co.uk
February 15, 2025 at 9:18 AM
The pressures facing #localgov are real and complex- different forms of leadership are required to not just survive, but thrive in this context.

Our new report Radical Leadership: Power, Possibility and Public Service sets out the shifts we are seeing…
What does it take to lead in local gov today?

What skills, mindsets & qualities are needed to navigate the choppy waters surrounding public services? And what old ways no longer serve us?

After a year of exploring with our council network, here’s what we found⬇️

www.newlocal.org.uk/publications...
Radical Leadership: Power, Possibility and Public Service - New Local
What does it take to lead in local government today? We’ve explored these questions alongside trusted friends in our council network. Together, we’ve identified a new model of Radical Leadership.
www.newlocal.org.uk
February 13, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Reposted by Jessica Studdert
This month’s Prospect has a pullout on skills which covers lots of things I’ve been blogging about of late, plus interviews with @jesstud.bsky.social and MP for St Neots & Mid-Cambs @iansollom.bsky.social
February 11, 2025 at 12:59 PM