ITN Productions and APSE present ‘Promoting Excellence’

In a unique communications partnership, the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) and ITN Productions are producing a news and current affairs-style programme which will explore the future of frontline local government services and examine the role that local authorities play in building sustainable communities. Local authorities are at the heart of communities across the country and bind local communities together, but the way in which services are funded and delivered is constantly changing. With the continuous objective to support local councils to do more with less, APSE wants to look towards the new initiatives that are relevant to current legislation, and promote innovation and excellence across their members. You can watch a video of Natasha Kaplinsky interviewing APSE’s Chief Executive Paul O’Brien below.

Drawing upon ITN’s 60 year heritage and expertise in storytelling, ‘Promoting Excellence’ will look at the extraordinary breadth of the sector and how it affects the people in it. It will aim to create a greater understanding of the processes, problems and solutions within services such as housing, refuse, waste and recycling, public realm, streetscene, health, well-being and community leisure, highways, street lighting, local economic regeneration and the growing trend towards the delivery of renewable energy initiatives at a local level. The objective is to heighten awareness among policy makers, politicians and the wider sector about the forward thinking initiatives across the UK which help shape the future of local government and the communities it serves.

‘Promoting Excellence’ will be an in-depth, online programme providing a unique platform to stimulate debate. It will champion collaboration, celebrate innovation and encourage an exchange of ideas. The news-style piece will combine key interviews and news-style reports with sponsored editorial profiles of some of the leading organisations who are working closely with APSE and government in order to provide a better future for local public services. Premiered at a specially scheduled event, ‘Promoting Excellence’ will be screened on Thursday 8th September 2016 at the APSE Annual Seminar. The programme will form part of an extensive communications campaign featuring APSE members, professional partners, influential individuals within the government, as well as journalists, writers and bloggers.

Paul O’Brien, Chief Executive, APSE, said: “At a time when local government faces continuing financial pressures I hope that ‘Promoting Excellence’ will be an opportunity for local government to showcase innovation and excellence in service delivery. Collaboration is critical to how we deliver effective services and exploit the latest tools, techniques and technologies to ensure effective and efficient local services that go beyond the basics and help deliver world class local public services that really make a positive difference to our local communities’. Simon Shelley, Head of Industry News, ITN Productions, said: “ITN Productions is delighted to be partnering with APSE, in examining the way in which local authorities are evolving to deliver frontline services. We’re excited to embark on this project and engage with key organisations and people dedicated to shaping a sustainable future for communities.” For more information, or to participate in the programme, please contact Dominic Slonecki, Programming Director at ITN Productions on 0207 430 4818 or [email protected]