Transport & Infrastructure

Youth Culture vs. Gang Anthems: Drill Music and its Role in Youth Representation

David Kingsley, an Associate at Criminology Services Limited, recently took the stage at our National Tackling Gang Crime, Violence and Weapon Crime Conference 2026, where he delivered an insightful keynote on Drill music. “Today's session is not about music appreciation. It is not about defending violence. It's not about suggesting that music causes violence or crime. It's about understanding how drill music  operates within certain environments, how it sometimes intersects with real world dynamics, and why it has become increasingly relevant to policing, safeguarding, and the courts.” - David Kingsley

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From Buying to Belonging: Rethinking the Purpose of Our Town Centres

Where do high streets sit in the modern world? They aren’t the shopping hub they used to be, with the dominance of online shopping. Too many high streets are falling into disuse, with shops opening and then falling under. Work needs to be done to restore high streets up and down the country. This will drive the economy, knit communities and support local businesses. We recently hosted The Restoring the High Street Conference 2025, which explored the ways in which we can restore high streets to be the community hubs they once were. One of the incredible speakers in attendance was Rowenna Davis, a councillor from Croydon Council, who delivered a compelling case study which we have summarised below. Rowenna believes that the key to restoring high streets is to transform them into social hubs, places where people can connect and rebuild a sense of community. Find out more below!

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Building Resilience in the Age of AI: Lessons from Industry Experts

We recently hosted the Cyber and AI Preparedness Free Webinar, which brought together 3 incredible speakers from different industries. The webinar saw a lively discussion between Isabel Scavetta, a multi-award-winning cyber and diversity advocate; Matthew Forshaw, a senior advisor for skills at The Alan Turing Institute and AI researcher at Newcastle University; and James Tumbridge, an intellectual property and data regulation lawyer at Keystone Law who also chairs digital services for the City of London Corporation. As AI rapidly reshapes every industry, the UK’s public sector faces a critical moment. How can public bodies embrace innovation without exposing themselves to new risks? AI offers incredible potential, but how do we ensure that the workforce is prepared for this revolution?

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Practical Cyber Security Checklist for SMEs

Cyber security is no longer just a concern for large corporations. In the UK, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly targeted by cyber criminals precisely because they are often less protected. From phishing emails to ransomware attacks, the risks are growing - but the good news is that strong cyber security doesn’t have to be complex or expensive. This practical cyber security checklist, brought to you by the Public Sector Cyber Security Conference, is designed to help UK SMEs strengthen their defences, reduce risk, and build a more resilient organisation.

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Embedding Biodiversity and Community Into the Heart of Development: Lessons from The Land Trust

As the climate crisis deepens, sustainability has shifted from a niche concern to a core pillar of business strategy, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is redefining how the UK thinks about land use, planning and community development. Yet while legislation and metrics can guide the what of environmental policy, it’s the people and organisations behind implementation that bring the how to life. BNG is an approach to development that makes sure that habitats for wildlife are left in a measurably better state than they were before the development. It requires developments to result in at least a 10% increase in biodiversity compared to the pre-development state. This can be achieved on-site, through green infrastructure, off-site or a combination of both. Importantly, BNG is a mandatory requirement for most planning permissions in England.

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The Asks Around Social Housing: Tackling the UK Housing Crisis

In the time it takes you to read this article (around 4 or 5 minutes), at least one household will become homeless in England. The struggles to stay afloat with rent, to find social housing and the issues of temporary accommodation impact hundreds of thousands of people in the UK daily. It costs local councils […]

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Supporting Disadvantaged Students: ‘IntoUniversity’ and the Challenges of getting into Higher Education

How can we truly level the playing field for disadvantaged students? At our Supporting Disadvantaged Students in Higher Education Conference, Dr Emily Magrath from IntoUniversity shared powerful stories and practical solutions for breaking cycles of disadvantage. From early intervention to local collaboration, her insights reveal what’s working, where challenges remain, and how universities, charities and […]

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Interview Series: Meet the Chair, Michael Sanders

We recently held the Local Government Technology Conference, in Westminster, London. It was an exciting day of learning, networking and interesting conversation. As most of our conferences are online, when we do get to meet people face-to-face, and host speakers in a physical space, it is a wonderful feeling. Seeing all of the conversations, the […]

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Interview Series: Sitting Down With Mandy Sanghera

We recently held the Local Government Technology Conference, in Westminster, London. It was an exciting day of learning, networking and interesting conversation. As most of our conferences are online, when we do get to meet people face-to-face, and host speakers in a physical space, it is a wonderful feeling. Seeing all of the conversations, the […]

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Coventry’s Leading Digital Inclusion Program: COV Connects

Laura Waller, the Digital Services and Inclusion Lead for Coventry City Council, joined us at our Digital Inclusion Conference 2024. Laura spearheads the COV Connects program which has made significant strides in addressing digital exclusion in Coventry.

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Net Zero: 5 Key Climate Action Areas for Local Governments

Local governments in the United Kingdom are essential in tackling climate change and promoting sustainability. With the UK committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, local authorities must lead by example and implement effective policies and initiatives. This article outlines key areas for action, supported by UK-specific statistics and case studies of successful local government initiatives.

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6 Key Strategies to Improve UK Transport for Local Governments

With the cost of living crisis and train tickets more expensive than ever, local authorities face the challenge of enhancing transportation systems to be more efficient, sustainable, and accessible. This article explores key strategies for local councils to contribute and help improve this crisis.

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