APSE's new report, Municipal Entrepreneurship, challenges what it says is the myth that local government is monolithic, bureaucratic and incapable of change.
APSE chief executive Paul O'Brien said its latest research demonstrated that commercial skills and business acumen were flourishing in local government and entrepreneurial managers were fostering a commercial culture among council staff.
The research report has been produced by APSE in partnership De Montfort University as part of a knowledge transfer programme.
It sets out to highlights lessons, challenges and opportunities for local authorities taking an entrepreneurial approach to delivering services.
Said O’Brien: “Local authorities have been unfairly characterised as lacking the spirit of innovation. This report challenges such preconceptions by providing clear evidence that municipal entrepreneurship is alive and well in councils across the UK.
“This is increasingly important in delivering high quality public services as budget cuts bite.
“We hope examples from local authorities, highlighted in our study, will inspire others to take managed risks that will benefit their local communities and economies.”
Among the case studies showcased in the report is Shropshire’s Shire Services, which generates £10.2m a year running the catering and cleaning services for 160 schools across the county.
As a result of actively marketing its expertise, Shire also makes more than £3m of external revenue from providing similar services to 50 schools in neighbouring Hereford and Worcester.