Institute for Government and Public Chairs' Forum - Better Together

The Institute for Government (IfG) and the Public Chairs’ Forum (PCF) will work together to help improve effectiveness and bring about better value for money from public bodies.

The new relationship will allow Chairs of public bodies to increase focus on improving efficiencies and sharing best practice, which will be even more important in the coming months as the Arms Length Body (ALB) landscape changes.

The PCF is an entirely independent network of Chairs of Public Bodies working to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public services.  By working with an organisation like the Institute for Government, with whom there is a good strategic fit, the PCF will be able to maintain its independence, yet grow and increase its relevance and influence.

The new collaboration will:

1. Strengthen the Public Chairs’ Forum and its capacity to make a real contribution to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of public bodies as the reform of Arms Length Government continues.
2. Add a useful dimension to the work of the Institute for Government by engaging Chairs in its work programmes.
3. Enable the PCF and IfG to work together to develop contributions to policy making and practical proposals for steps that Chairs of ALBs can take to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their organisations. Further details will be available in the coming months.

Speaking about the new arrangements, Christopher N. Banks CBE, Chair of Directgov and of the Public Chairs’ Forum said:

"As the drive to improve efficiencies continues, Chairs of Arms Length Bodies (ALBs) have an increasingly important role to play. We are really pleased to be working with the Institute for Government and are confident that this new relationship will enable Chairs of public bodies to accelerate their work together in their mission to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public services."

The collaboration will allow the Institute for Government to benefit from the rich resource of knowledge and expertise of members of the Public Chairs’ Forum. Lord Bichard,  Executive Director of the Institute for Government, said:

"Whatever the result of the election, arms length government will continue to be critical to the delivery of effective government. The Institute for Government’s core purpose is to help government work better so I am delighted we’re working in partnership with the PCF to help develop and support the Chairs of public bodies in their important role."

For further information about the collaboration, please contact Amy Noonan at the Public Chairs’ Forum or Nadine Smith at the Institute for Government.

Notes to editors

1. First established in 2003, the Public Chairs’ Forum has grown steadily, receiving the endorsement of Government and Chairs alike. Through a programme of carefully tailored seminars and events, the PCF facilitates an environment for Chairs to identify best practice and work together to improve the delivery of public services.
2. Sir Gus O’Donnell, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service, has recently endorsed the Public Chairs’ Forum, identifying it as being able to make an enormous contribution to helping address the challenges that public services  will face in the future.  He has also encouraged all Chairs of Public Bodies to join the PCF if they are not already involved.
3. The Institute for Government is an independent charity with cross-party and Whitehall governance that works to increase government effectiveness. The Institute works with all the main political parties at Westminster and with civil servants in Whitehall, providing evidence-based advice that draws on the best practice from around the world.
4. For further details about this collaboration, please contact: Amy Noonan, Manager of the Public Chairs’ Forum (amy.noonan@publicchairsforum.org.uk / 0207 7470491) or Nadine Smith, Head of Communications at the Institute for Government (Nadine.smith@instituteforgovernment.org.uk / 0207 7470433).
5. More information about the Public Chairs Forum or the Institute for Government can be found  on their websites.