Radical Reformers ep.119: Manchesterism with Eve Holt, Head of Policy and Implementation at Greater Manchester Combined Authority

As Andy Burnham prepares to become Prime Minister, there is growing interest in what “Manchesterism” might mean for the country. The term has already come to encompass a wide range of ideas: collective self-belief; collaboration across boundaries; devolution and subsidiarity; greater social justice; and good growth rooted in people and place. 

In the latest episode of Radical Reformers, I speak to Eve Holt, Head of Policy and Implementation at Greater Manchester Combined Authority, about the ideas, culture and confidence behind Greater Manchester’s devolution journey.

Eve talks about what makes Greater Manchester distinctive: the “ten plus one” model, the long history of collaboration across councils and partners, the role of communities and the voluntary sector, and the importance of connecting policy with implementation from the get-go.

We hear a few of our pals name-dropped along the way too, including Prof. Donna Hall, Scott Darraugh and Rachel Law, as part of a wider conversation about the people, places and ideas that have helped shape this way of working.

This is a great listen for anyone thinking about devolution, place leadership, public service reform or what it really takes to move from ambition to action.

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