Phillip Wodley, Head of Public Sector Consulting

CCN is a key strategic partner for Grant Thornton, allowing us to engage with senior leaders from county authorities to debate the challenges and opportunities being faced outside London and other metropolitan areas and to test our concepts and our thinking.

Grant Thornton UK LLP is part of a global network of independent audit, tax, and advisory firms, made up of some 62,000 people in over 140 countries. We’re a team of independent thinkers who put quality, inclusion, and integrity first.

Our wide-ranging work across the UK, supporting over 70% of local authorities, gives us an unparalleled understanding of local places – their aspirations, challenges, and the interventions required to deliver meaningful change. We also have a deep understanding of the private sector with our client base of mid-market businesses (companies turning over £50-500m), the engine room of the UK economy.

Combining our position as the leading auditor and advisor to local government and our expertise and insights from the UK mid-market means we are uniquely placed to support policies that unlock growth and opportunities. We believe modern public services should be sustainable, people-centred, data-driven, and digitally enabled.

Our priority for the coming year continues to focus on supporting councils in managing change and building the resilience of the places they shape and lead. We look forward to working with CCN and member councils on how they ensure ongoing financial sustainability, realise sustainable economic growth, ensure effective management of demand-led services, and in responding to public sector reform, in particular maximising the opportunities presented by county deals. We also want to continue to support sector-led development in improving leadership and governance, where this is required.

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