In the latest episode of the Radical Reformers podcast, I'm joined by Zina Etheridge, recently appointed Chief Executive of Buckinghamshire Council, to explore her relatively unique experience of leading in central government, in a council and in the NHS. Zina highlights that place matters more than ever, and the conversation centres on a powerful idea we truly believe in here at Mutual Ventures: councils are more than service providers. At their best, they are place-makers a

With the announcement of funding for a further 40 areas, the Pride in Place Programme is fast becoming the government’s most optimistic and positive agenda item. The Pride in Place Programme is the government’s flagship communities programme, providing long-term support to nearly 300 of the most in-need communities. The programme builds on the model that underpins the Plan for Neighbourhood Programme announced in March 2025, in which 75 places were awarded £20 million over 10

Join our webinar on AI adoption in public services , 12th March, 11AM-12PM. This webinar marks the launch of Mutual Ventures’ new AI research paper, ‘ AI Adoption in Public Services: What’s Working, What Isn’t, and Why It Matters’ .  The promise of AI often feels disconnected from the day-to-day realities of local government. While the "hype" suggests instant solutions, the actual implementation involves navigating complex data landscapes, legacy systems, and essential ethica