local government

BSA submission to independent HS2 review

The BSA has submitted its response to the Oakervee review in which it emphasises the benefits of continued investment in infrastructure and the importance of rebalancing the UK economy.

The BSA has long made the case for continued efforts to upgrade, extend and modernise the UK’s physical and digital infrastructure. HS2 forms a vital part of this. It represents significant commitment and investment in a modern Britain, not only in improving connectivity but also in enabling a rebalancing of the UK economy and securing the future of the construction and infrastructure sector.

We believe HS2 will bring about significant investment in local economies and help to drive truly inclusive growth, particularly in the North of England and the Midlands.

You can read the full submission here.

Case Study: Bouygues Energies & Services and Kent County Council

In 2015 Bouygues Energies & Services (BYES) partnered with Kent County Council (KCC) to reduce street lighting energy consumption.

The council wanted to reduce consumption by at least 60% whilst maintaining lighting standards in accordance with BS5489:2013.

This case study demonstrates that by working in partnership our members and county councils can share in innovation and deliver reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and costs.

You can read the full case study here.

BSA comment on latest IfG Report

The BSA has made the following statement in response to the Institute for Government’s latest report entitled ‘Government outsourcing: what’s has worked and what needs reform?‘:

‘We welcome this important contribution to the ongoing work on how to provide the most efficient and innovative partnership between the private, voluntary and public sectors in the delivery of public services. Much we agree with, some things we do not.

Much work, kicked off by the BSA commissioned report by Professor Gary Sturgess’s Just Another Paperclip, has been done by the Cabinet Office and suppliers in recent years, including the introduction of the ‘Playbook’, to improve procurement and delivery. However there is much more still to do, particularly around risk transfer.

This IfG report is a welcome contribution to that work’

Key Cities partners with the BSA

Key Cities, a collaboration of 20 mid-sized cities across the UK, has agreed a partnership with the Business Services Association (BSA) to deliver a range of initiatives to promote current and future skills development – a key driver of the UK’s economic growth.