Mo Baines appointed Visiting Professor to Centre for Business, Innovation, and the Regions

APSE Chief Executive Mo Baines has been appointed as a Visiting Professor at Staffordshire University.

An expert in public policy and local government, Mo will be adding to the applied research strengths of the University’s Centre for Business, Innovation and the Regions which launched last year.

Commenting on her appointment, Mo said: “APSE has always led an innovative research programme bringing together policy into local government practice. Staffordshire University is a leading institution in developing research that informs public policy development and practice-based outputs as well as demonstrating the value and benefit of research to local government and local governance.

“I am delighted to receive this appointment and look forward to continuing APSE’s remarkable collaboration with our academic colleagues and working with Professor Steven Griggs and the Staffordshire team to enhance the voice of UK local government and to strengthen the case for local governance and democracy.” 

Centre leader Professor Griggs said: “We are delighted with Mo’s appointment. Mo has considerable experience of working in public policy and local government and is passionate about delivering excellence in public services. We are confident that in her role as Visiting Professor, she will help to further the influence and impact the university has in this specialism.”

The Centre for Business, Innovation and the Regions aims to reflect the University’s civic mission and is carrying out research focused on inequalities, employment and welfare, economic development and regeneration. It has developed collaborative partnerships with a number of public and private sector organisations including central government departments, the World Health Organisation and APSE.

As part of its partnership with APSE, the Centre is soon to publish the findings of its national survey of councillors. The research, led by Professor Steven Griggs in collaboration with colleagues from De Montfort University, Leeds Beckett University and the University of Essex, is the third in a series of surveys going back to 2003.

Professor Griggs said: “The study demonstrates the challenges of being an elected councillor in the current, economic and social context. It also reveals the need to address the issues which have prevented more people from seeking election as local councillors and which risk a crisis in local political representation.”