I love an explore. Ticked Stockton off the list today, discovering more about their regen plans and how health is front and centre (involves a CDC, innovation zone, tech investment, med school, public realm, housing etc). Thanks to the council for inviting me up and showing me around.

Very much looking forward to the 4th webinar in our series with Michael @nhslocalgrowth.bsky.social.

Really interesting visit to a prison today to understand better their manufacturing capability. Lots of opportunities and plenty to ponder…

Want to know how to work better with partners in education to advance the goals of the NHS, particularly in terms of developing a long-term talent pool? Join our webinar on 23 April, where Michael @nhslocalgrowth.bsky.social will be joined by representatives from a school, college and University.

Today is a major landmark in English devolution. Greater Manchester and the West Midlands will take control of over £1bn of funding devolved from central government on areas like transport, housing and employment support. www.gov.uk/government/p...

Really enjoyed the second @nhsconfed.org Local Growth webinar today. I get the easy task of asking the questions. We had great presentations from NHS leaders in Wolverhampton and in London. Very different places but common vision and approach. Anchor work vital in rapidly changing world.

Do come along later if you want to hear about great local NHS anchor work www.nhsconfed.org/events/your-...

It was a pleasure to be invited to speak at this webinar.

If it’s good enough for Taylor Swift then it’s good enough for me, @jonathan-werran.bsky.social and the @localis.bsky.social team.

This is a good session on @wigancouncil.bsky.social’s new strategy. Missions at the heart and useful slides showing links to the various local strategies.

Two very different visits yesterday - a primary school in Walworth and then straight to Apple’s new HQ at Battersea Power Station - yet a similar agenda. Prevention, place and partnership. Health a key issue for leaders locally and globally.

Great news across the North today with funding confirmed for projects like British Library North in Leeds and the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool as well as devolution deals starting consultation for Cheshire & Warrington and Cumbria. Consultations: www.gov.uk/government/n...

Concerned about the future of your council, and wondering about the Government's reorganisation proposals? Find out more, including details of previous reorganisations, evaluations (or lack thereof) and international research at commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

'The secretary of state calls her department the “department for opportunity”, but the evidence points to a ‘department for missed opportunities’ on her watch' feweek.co.uk/fury-as-dfe-...

The Government has written to England's authorities in two-tier areas and invited them to submit proposals for reorganisation: www.gov.uk/government/p...

Announcement on Devo Priority Programme. 6 areas stretching from Cumbria, down through Cheshire/Warrington, across to Norfolk/Suffolk and then south to Essex, Sussex and Hampshire. Lots of work to do to get Mayors running in a year. www.gov.uk/government/n...

Today marks the first integrated settlement for Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, a landmark moment in our ambitious devolution agenda to empower local leaders and bring decision making closer to communities. www.gov.uk/government/p...

West London tonight. 🤞 for a Rovers away win.

What should local Health, Work and Skills plans focus on? Big questions which every local area will be asking in coming months. Good to start the day in Stevenage as we filmed the Get Hertfordshire Working webinar. System working, aligning policy and funding, connecting communities and employers.

*Lots* of merger talk in higher ed. This article shines a light on both the strategic principles behind one and the practicalities involved. Also interesting that health played a key role in the London merger.

On 1 May voters will be heading to the polls to elect the mayors of the West of England, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Hull and East Yorkshire, and Greater Lincolnshire. At the @instituteforgov.bsky.social we have been building a picture of the candidates they will be choosing between. 🧵

Spoke at the launch of the FE and Lifelong Learning APPG yesterday about this report and the value of the college - NHS relationship. NHS leaders, give the report a read and drop your local college principal a line. 👇

Visits the best part of the job. Monday saw a tour of Lewisham courtesy of @lewishamcouncil.bsky.social Economic Dev Team. Started at @lgtnhs.bsky.social to sample amazing Gaff coffee/food. Council supported trust to bring community focused provider into unused space. Staff and local people love it.

Be sure to sign-up for our new series on Health Economic Partnerships led by our in-house expert Michael Wood @nhslocalgrowth.bsky.social Monthly webinars with space for discussion on all things to do with health, economic growth, devolution, and the role of NHS trusts.

Excited about this forthcoming @nhsconfed.bsky.social webinar series looking at all things local growth. Tailored for CEOs, Chairs and Directors of NHS trusts. Sign up and find out why this agenda matters and what you can do. First one in February! t.co/h14RJvdLTv

An inside view of how hard it is in local government atm. Well worth a read wherever you are in the country.

Very early start today but worth it for a fantastic discussion with academy trust and NHS leaders at the @winacadtrust.bsky.social offices in Halesowen. So much potential for this relationship and thanks to the wonderful @dhaywood77.bsky.social for bringing us all together.

It’s been a busy old year in 2024. About to put the out of office on but before I do here are some of the things the @nhsconfed.bsky.social Health Economic Partnerships team have been up to (and I’ve no doubt forgotten loads…)

We have published our @nhsconfed.bsky.social briefing for ICS and NHS leaders on the English Devolution White Paper. Give it a read! t.co/2AfA7pGfvV

Will be lots of briefings this weekend ahead of 12.30 Monday when the White Paper is launched. Sounds like final version will be as brave as some of the early drafts predicted. Shame about lack of tourism tax though. Will publish a briefing for NHS leaders and see what the health links are.

Grandly titled Master of Ceremonies role at Leeds Civic Hall today. Really impressive Summit on Good Work, Health and Skills with c200 people present. The Leeds Health and Social Care Hub doing great work aligning policy development and implementation.

An honorary member of the @richardstubbs.bsky.social family tonight at Hillsborough. I was very well behaved and didn’t celebrate the (inevitable) Rovers winner….

Good day at the lovely @britishacademy.bsky.social offices for the Demos Future Public Services Summit. New publication worth reading given what’s coming. More power to @georgiagould.bsky.social too, who was/is superb! demos.co.uk/research/the...

Our @nhsconfed.bsky.social Get Britain Working white paper briefing has been referenced in Amanda Pritchard’s weekly NHS England update. Read it here: www.nhsconfed.org/publications...

First meeting as a member of the London Prosperity Board this morning at UCL East. The links between health and prosperity are central to developing an economy that works for citizens. Looking forward to future work to support this agenda.

Her example is the amount of time spent centrally having discussions nationally about developing the Oxford-Cambridge corridor, without clarity over who is then responsible, motivated and empowered to deliver and convince communities - unlike success of London Olympics (“couldn’t be ignored”)

Royal Society provided a glorious sunny setting for the annual @centrepropolicy.bsky.social gathering today. Some very good and timely discussions too. Frankly in awe of @dtturner.bsky.social’s ability to maintain this thread (whilst part hosting!?)….

ICYMI earlier this week the long anticipated Get Britain Working White Paper was published. Our short sharp @nhsconfed.bsky.social briefing sets out what you need to know: www.nhsconfed.org/publications...

Health and Devolution was the main talking point today at the @nhsconfed.bsky.social ICS Network Annual Conference. Great panel from a range of ICSs and MCAs responding to my reflections on how important this relationship is for public policy and service delivery. Looking forward to the White Paper!

👇 our new report published today “Integration at place is crucial to meet the health and care needs of England’s communities… a focus on the places that matter to people and communities offers a path forward” www.nhsconfed.org/publications...

Decidedly in the median quartile age range for Embrace @ Chalk in Brighton tonight.

Good session with @niconfederation.bsky.social & @nhsconfed.bsky.social Wales members this afternoon. Carnall Farrar team and I took them through our Value in Health series and what it means for devolved nations. TLDR: very similar challenges to here in England. www.nhsconfed.org/topic/health...

A beautiful old stadium in the heart of the city. What a hugely emotional moment this must have been for the Valencianos after the last month.

Real privilege of the job is the ability to get out and about. Luton today in the sun to facilitate an exec session for the local NHS Trust and University. Two main anchors keen to work with each other and their shared community. Lots of regen work going on locally.

Times report on forthcoming local government white paper - by Christmas - emphasising more unitary authorities & elected mayors where new devolution deals can be agreed www.thetimes.com/article/4d4a...

We and @nhslocalgrowth.bsky.social definitely agree. www.nhsconfed.org/publications...

I'm hoping for national narrative aligned but local flexibility to deliver to the needs of our population without a million strings attached ;)

Skills England only set up in shadow form but already publishing reports (!). Now it’s seeking evidence on the Growth and Skills Levy. Good to see health and social care as one of 10 priority areas www.gov.uk/government/c...

Civic is more than just a movement in higher education, it’s now an expectation. Good overview of history in England and Wales from @oecdlocal.bsky.social www.oecd.org/en/publicati...