Radical Reformers ep.109: Relational Public Services x Academia with Prof. Hannah Hesselgreaves and Prof. Chris Fox, Policy Evaluation Research Unit at Manchester Metropolitan University

All the buzz is about relational public services – and rightly so.

In this week’s Radical Reformers, I welcome not one, but two experts in the subject, Professor Hannah Hesselgreaves and Professor Chris Fox from the Policy Evaluation Research Unit at Manchester Metropolitan University.

They explore the role academia plays in the development of public service reform and public policy, and how it should play a deeper, more relational role in public service reform, far beyond traditional evaluation.

A key theme is the value of involving academics early on as learning partners who help test assumptions, shape interventions, and co‑create knowledge alongside practitioners and people with lived experience.

This episode coincides with the publication of a research paper on “Policy Priorities to Support Relational Public Services”. You can access the full report here - Relational Public Services Policy.

Hannah and Chris are leading lights in relational public services, and this episode is for anyone working in public service reform, systems change, evaluation, or place‑based leadership.

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