Innovation is an essential tool to develop more effective and cheaper services that deliver better outcomes. Particularly in tough times, there is a need for innovation to increase productivity, and deliver "more for less".

There is wide spread awareness that the scale of budget cuts needed is beyond the domain of what can be delivered by traditional efficiency programmes. Our work to date focuses on productivity and efficiency across the public sector, highlighting innovative approaches that save money, while delivering key outcomes.

Key Reading:

• Innovation and value: new tools for local government in tough times (March 2010) - There is widespread awareness that the scale of budget cuts needed is beyond the domain of what can be delivered by traditional efficiency programmes. The key question is how to manage the approach to efficiency?

• Productivity in UK public services- what went wrong? What could go right? (August 2011) - this report analyses productivity trends and performance in the UK compared to international competitors - and draws on case studies in education and health to highlight lessons for reform.
  

Blogs:

• What we need to improve productivity in the public sector - This blog entry for the Guardian by Neil Reeder argues that productivity in public services is about being more responsive to clients, supporting staff and harnessing the power of knowledge.