The Local Government Commercialisation Conference 2025
Past and Present Supporters Include:
Overview
Local authority debt has nearly doubled since 2010 (NIESH) making commercialisation and revenue growth a pressing issue for local councils. While the government provides core spending powers, councils need to increasingly diversify their revenue streams and avenues for income generation. Section 93 of the Local Government Act (2003) gives local authorities the power to charge for services which they have means, rather than the duty, to provide.
Agenda
Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Keynote: Understanding the Scale of Local Council Debt
- Outlining the scale and drivers of local government debt, including historic borrowing trends and capital investment pressures
- Examining the long-term impact of debt repayments on service delivery and financial sustainability
- Highlighting the limitations of traditional funding streams and the shift away from reliance on central government grants
- Exploring the role of commercialisation in generating income, reducing deficits and supporting local priorities
Cllr. Max Mosley, Senior Economist at the New Economics Foundation and Councillor for Brentford East (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: Latest Guidance on Forming Commercial Partnerships
- Key tips for improving outreach and communications to all types of local businesses
- Measures to ensure relevant governance arrangements include representatives from a range of business audiences
- Overcoming future barriers to business engagement such as short-term funding and council capacity
Senior Representative, Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) (invited)
Case Study: Pop-Up Businesses as a Method for Local Government Financial Growth
- Exploring how councils are activating parks and open spaces through temporary trading concessions to create new income streams
- Explaining the operating model: trading hours restricted, no permanent structures and pitch locations selected for visibility and public appeal
- Detailing cross-departmental coordination, structured tender assessments and scoring systems that prioritise sustainability and community benefit
- Highlighting lessons learned around payment models, vendor selection and opportunities to expand into longer-term uses
Senior Representative, Buckingham County Council (invited)
Questions & Answers
Comfort Break
Breakout Networking
This session will provide you with the opportunity to discuss budgeting challenges you face and learn more about innovative solutions peers have trialed to diversify funding sources. Share your experiences and take away new ideas to continue delivering high-quality local council services.
Keynote: Understanding the Strategic Value of Procurement
- Explore how procurement supports council objectives like sustainability, economic growth, and community outcomes
- Recognise the implications of the Procurement Act 2023 for local authorities, and how this new regime will lead to simplification and greater accountability
- Define the role councillors play in overseeing procurement governance and strategy
Senior Representative, Surrey County Council (invited)
Keynote: Building an Effective Spending Model for Local Councils
- Defining what effective spending models look like in a modern, financially constrained local government environment
- Identifying opportunities to align spending decisions with income generation and long-term value creation
- Embedding commercial principles into budgeting, procurement and service design processes
- Balancing risk and return by building flexible, evidence-based investment strategies
- Strengthening internal capabilities to design, deliver and monitor income-focused initiatives
Senior Representative, LGA (invited)
Case Study: Generating Income through Housebuilding
- Exploring how local authorities can use trading powers and asset-backed vehicles to deliver housebuilding projects that generate sustainable income
- Demonstrating the role of business case preparation, risk assessment, and cost recovery in establishing successful council-owned companies
- Highlighting opportunities to invest in service infrastructure and recover costs through strategic use of charging powers and flexible pricing models
Senior Representative, Sheffield City Council (invited)
Questions & Answers
Chair#s Closing Remarks
Conference Close
Get in Touch
Previous Speakers
Jonathan Werran
Chief Executive
Localis
Abdool Kara
Executive Director
National Audit Office
Abi Brown
Non Executive Director
Local Government Association
Daniel Mather
Head of Corporate Finance
Warrington Borough Council
Cecilie Booth
Executive Director
Peterborough Council
Lloyd Clark
Managing Director
CAN
Testimonials
A useful event with open discussion on commercialisation in local government with considerations to be made and case study examples to support
I found this event inspiring. The topics covered gave me food for thought and motivated me to work more collaboratively with a view to benefit all parties involved to achieve the best outcome for our residents
Very informative, highly professional event
Why You Should Attend?
- High-level keynotes from leading experts on policies and support measures to improve local government commercialisation
- Case studies showcasing best practice income generation strategies and efficient use of resources
- Networking opportunities with colleagues from across a range of local councils
- 4 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota
Who Should Attend?
| Job Title Example | Organisation Example |
| Procurement Manager | Local Councils |
| Commercial Manager | LGA |
| Head of Finance | Civil Servants |
| Sustainability Manager | Local Partnerships |
| Business Developers | Private Businesses |
Pricing Options
Public Sector
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Sponsorship
Raise your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact us using the enquiry form below.
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access (coming soon)
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below:
