The Prime Minister today called for action to strengthen and support leadership across the whole public sector.
Welcoming the publication of a research paper from the Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU), Tony Blair said:
“Leadership is a key factor in any large organisation. This is especially true in the public sector – where leaders are being asked to deliver more modern, efficient and dynamic services at a time of great social and technological change. I value the tremendous job being done by leaders in our hospitals and schools, local authoritiesand elsewhere. But I want to see more being done to develop and support effective leadership across the public sector as a whole.”
The PIU research paper, Strengthening Leadership in the Public Sector, highlights the need for action to:
- Improve the environment in which public service leaders operate by ensuring that clear accountability for performance is matched by greater freedom to lead.
- Improve the ways in which public service leaders are recruited and retained – in particular by setting out and recognising a better deal for public service leaders.
- Improve the way in which leadership is developed from within the public sector, drawing on public and private sector best practice.
Commenting on the paper, sponsor minister for the project, Estelle Morris said:
“The Government is committed to working with the public sector to drive up the quality of service delivery. The time is now right for an informed debate on the role of that leadership plays in this process. I hope that the PIU research paper will be widely read across the whole of the public sector and used as a tool for developing and supporting current and future leaders.”
