Case studies

Central Bedfordshire Council’s dedicated Business and Investment team offers bespoke advice and support to attract new businesses to relocate to the area. Underpinning this approach is the delivery of a holistic support service to help ensure businesses have easy access to a range of services to support their needs. This includes advice regarding commercial property, planning applications and skills needs for their workforce. In doing so, the council utilises a place-based and partnership approach to promote the location as an area for people, to live, work and invest in.

This guide has been created to provide other local authorities with information on how to set up a network of programme ambassadors.

Our 'Supporting councils with business engagement' report captured learning from councils' contact with businesses over the course of the pandemic and their plans going forward. One example was Maldon District Council, who brought together local businesses to identify where support was needed and establish networks.

Our 'Supporting councils with business engagement' report captured learning from councils' contact with businesses over the course of the pandemic and their plans going forward. Gloucestershire County Council was one example. In 2021, they adopted a new approach to engage with businesses to better understand the issues impacting the county.

In the London borough of Barnet, the NHS and council have worked together to ensure mothers get good support from their dedicated perinatal mental health pathway.  

Liverpool’s public health team identified mental wellbeing as a key priority this year amid signs of an increase in problems, including a rise in the number of suicides locally.

A project to connect local communities has been launched in North East Derbyshire and Chesterfield to provide funding and support aimed at tackling social isolation.

Shropshire Council has been working in partnership with the Samaritans to train local business staff to support their customers with their mental health.

Wokingham Borough Council has set up a free mental health and wellbeing service which offers a range of courses and workshops people can utilise to encourage them to become experts in their own self-care.

Our 'Supporting councils with business engagement' report captured learning from councils' contact with businesses over the course of the pandemic and their plans going forward. Hull City Council was one example. The pandemic changed the relationship between the council and the business community for the better.