Case studies

Following the completion of the LGA Digital Connectivity Programme Evaluation report, Superfast Essex has upgraded almost 24,000 homes and businesses to ultrafast, gigabit-capable speeds up to 1,000Mbps as of November 2021.

Over the summer of 2021, Darlington Borough Council’s very own vaccine bus hit the roads across Darlington to encourage more people to get their COVID-19 vaccines.

Agencia were commissioned through the LGA's Economic Growth Advisers programme to support Hull City Council in understanding the challenges faced by young people together with the cost of economic inactivity.

New Forest District Council commissioned social research agency Social Engine to work with them to develop a new approach to tackle littering in the New Forest. By displaying novel communications on advertising trailers at three sites, and dispensing rubbish bags, the intervention reduced litter by 10.8 tonnes (29 per cent) in one month and saved an estimated £10,000 in waste collection costs.

The environmental health team at Rushmoor Borough Council made it their priority to support local shop owners and kept them up to date with the ever changing guidance and went the extra mile to deliver lateral flow tests.

At Warrington Borough Council a joint environmental and public health team was quickly set up to help businesses to adopt COVID-19 secure working practices and to deal with any outbreaks.   

The Essex and Herts Digital Innovation Zone (DIZ), co-founded and led by Epping Forest District Council, is a cross-sector, cross-border partnership seeking to explore the opportunities of digital infrastructure, applications and innovations to future-proof local economies and the provision of health and social care. The DIZ is delivered in partnership with Essex County Council and Hertfordshire County Council as well as five district councils (Broxbourne, East Herts, Epping Forest, Harlow, and Uttlesford), and partners from the health, higher and further education, voluntary and community sectors and the private sector. The DIZ has an ambition to be recognised as a ‘beacon’ area for place-based digital innovation. applications and innovations, to future proof local economies and the provision of health and social care.

A women-only vaccination clinic was set up in a local area in Leeds experiencing lower vaccine uptake rates in order to provide a safe space for women to access the vaccine.

To help tackle the low vaccine uptake in Newcastle's working age men, Newcastle City Council and the local NHS worked closely with the city’s football club to help increase vaccination rates.

Wigan Council's Collections team used behavioural insights to encourage tenants who were in arrears and who had not been in contact with the Collections team to get in touch and access support. The team sent a one-page letter to tenants – written with an empathetic tone emphasising support rather than arrears and rent collection, and featuring a single call-to-action. Laura Melling of Wigan Council reflects on the project.