2024

Three-quarters of local councils expect the level of funding in their budgets to decrease by more than 5% in the next five years: A new survey on the state of local authority parks and greenspace services finds 74% are expecting budget cuts of over 5% in the coming five years, with 40% expecting cuts of over 10%.

Call for entries: APSE Cemeteries and Crematoria Innovation Award 2024: These awards are to recognise the excellent work that is happening in cemeteries and crematoria across the UK.

Announcing the finalists of the Highways Innovation Award 2024: APSE is delighted to announce the finalists of the 2024 Highways Innovation Award. This award celebrates outstanding local councils that use innovative ideas and solutions to tackle the current challenges facing their frontline services.

Almost half of councillors have had a serious incident of abuse - Early findings from APSE's research on elected members: Early findings from APSE and De Montfort University's latest research on elected members.

Call for entries: Annual Service Awards 2024: These prestigious awards are for all local authorities and their public-sector partners across the United Kingdom recognising your frontline services teams as well as your special initiatives.

Announcing the winners of the APPG and Soft FM Innovation Awards 2023/24: Announcing the winners of the APPG Excellence in School Food Awards and the APSE Soft Facilities Management Innovation Awards 2023/24!

APSE's response to the local government funding announcement: The Association for Public Service Excellence has responded to the announcements made by Levelling Up Secretary, Michael Gove MP, on 24 January 2024

No Mow May - Local Authority Registration: This year Plantlife is inviting you to sign-up to No Mow May – the blossoming movement towards wilder green spaces.

Stop reacting. Proactively prevent and save with Predictor: Digital tool Predictor, part of the Brightly Software suite, is helping councils to predict problems before they arise; prioritise where to place funds, and make strategic, data-driven decisions to implement processes and solutions.

How do we strike the right balance in public sector workforce training?: Shailen Popat, Assistant Professor in Public Policy and Management, Birmingham University, explores whether current training practices are suited to the realities of the public sector in 2023.

Promoting excellence in public services

APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) is a not for profit unincorporated association working with over 300 councils throughout the UK. Promoting excellence in public services, APSE is the foremost specialist in local authority frontline services, hosting a network for frontline service providers in areas such as waste and refuse collection, parks and environmental services, cemeteries and crematorium, environmental health, leisure, school meals, cleaning, housing and building maintenance.