Council, law firm and university launch LA company best practice network

Wiltshire Council, Browne Jacobson and Christ Church Canterbury University have launched a new group - the Council Company Best Practice and Innovation Network - to share best practice in relation to council-owned companies.

The group aims to combine academic knowledge with practical experience and to highlight the importance of reducing risk and maximising the additional new capital and revenue streams that could be delivered to local government as a result.

Perry Holmes, Director of Legal and Governance at Wiltshire Council, said: “I have seen at first-hand how council companies can leverage value in their locality. That can be through efficient, well-run services or strategically held land or buildings to deliver profitable activity to benefit the community and local taxpayers, but also social value, regeneration and market stimulation. There is a science to this success and through the Best Practice Network we want to ensure that science is widely understood and informs the governance and performance of council companies nationally.”

Browne Jacobson partner Peter Ware said: “The network will provide local authority senior leaders with a supportive environment where they can access and utilise cutting edge academic expertise and openly discuss successful entrepreneurship, innovation and commercial activity in the public sector. It also presents its members with an opportunity to strengthen connections with other local authorities and work together to share experience, ideas and challenges that will influence the future governance and performance of council companies.”

Dr Ping Zheng, Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Canterbury Christchurch Business School, said: “I am delighted to bring my expertise and the resources of Christ Church Business School to this exciting new venture. I look forward to showcasing how cutting-edge research on entrepreneurship and innovation can help Council Companies solving problems and improving their competitive edge. The partnership with Wiltshire Council and others is significant and meaningful to orchestrating regional networks and promoting collective actions and projects among Network stakeholders & local communities.”

Anyone interested in further information should contact Peter Ware, head of the government practice at Browne Jacobson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..