Public/Private Partnership

Councils no longer work in isolation. Increasingly they work with private firms or voluntary sector organisations to devise better, more efficient services. This award is open to partnerships centred around the joint work of a council/several councils and a private sector firm or a voluntary sector organisation. Partnerships featuring several firms or voluntary sector bodies are eligible. Entries should demonstrate that the partnership has brought about service improvements and/or improved efficiency.

Submissions should focus on:

• Which bodies are involved in the partnership and what services are covered;
• Details of the scale of the partnership, for instance in number of people involved and value of the work it undertakes;
• A summary of governance and financial arrangements (although judges are asked to note that commercial confidentiality may mean there are limits to the information available);
• The objectives of the partnership and the extent to which they have been achieved;
• Evidence of a comprehensive buy-in from the partners;
• Evidence of the success of the partnership, especially in terms of measurable improvements to services, reduced costs and impact on residents.

Award entries will be judged on:

• Evidence that partnerships have the potential to be long-lasting, with the partnership structured to work whatever challenges participants face;
• The extent to which the partnership is improving services and/or reducing costs;
• The extent to which the partnership has added real value to the outcomes for local communities;
• The innovative nature of both the partnership itself and the work it is undertaking.