Following our recent general election, the future of the UK’s public sector is now in the hands of a new government. Public services touch the lives of everyone, every day, from social care and schools through to bin collections and the criminal justice system.

Today, we spend approximately £12.5k per person per year on public services in England (and greater still across the other nations). Yet it has been cracking – for some time now – under the pressures associated with rising demand and higher costs, often attributed to the pandemic, Ukraine War, fiscal and inflationary pressures.

According to Dr Philip Whiteman, Programme Director for the Online Masters in Public Administration at the University of Birmingham, in order to improve the effectiveness of public services, we need to first understand what failure means, and what it looks like:

‘Failure is often determined by the media and political discourse, which determine the policy agenda and frame what has failed or not,’ highlights Whiteman. ‘However, we need to look at a range of measures, such as the impact on target groups, the significance of benefits and outcomes verses costs, the level of innovation, jurisdictional comparisons, and normative stance. That is how I define what failure truly means. We also need to be acutely aware that services may fail, away from media attention, that have corrosive impact upon society, industry and individuals.’

An example of failure is how public services in the UK have become slow and unreliable. From GP and hospital waiting lists to schools closing amid the crumbling concrete crisis: backlogs, delays, and funding challenges have become the norm.

Therefore, to improve the effectiveness of public services, we have created our six top tips:

1. Take a whole system approach to public services.

If we are looking to create a sustainable, effective, and more efficient public sector, we need to become part of a shared vision for the outcomes we want to deliver.

2. Prioritise the review of local government funding.

According to the National Audit Office, councils have seen a 52% real-terms reduction in spending power since 2010.

3. Protect capital budgets to boost long-term productivity.

A significant reduction in capital funding across public services has resulted in a deterioration in the quality and quantity of capital assets.

4. Embed robust frameworks for monitoring and evaluation.

Good public financial management requires checks and balances to ensure transparency and accountability.

5. Develop a longer-term strategic approach to public service development.

Governments should prioritise long-term planning over short-term political expediency.

6. Develop public sector workforces.

Studying for an Online Masters in Public Administration will give you, or your team, the insight and up-to-date skills needed to tackle public sector challenges, both now and in the future.

With modules on Public Management and Governance in a Changing World, Managing in a Political Environment, Leadership in Public Services and Realising International Agendas in the Public Sector, this programme will ensure you have all the tools you need to lead positive, strategic change within the public sector. With multiple pathways to completion, students also have the flexibility to study exactly what they need to succeed too.

Working in Higher Education? The University of Birmingham also offers the Online PGCert Higher Education Policy into Practice to give professionals and academics the opportunity to gain skills to influence higher education policy and change our university systems.

For more information, please fill out our request for information form or contact a member of the Admissions Team today on +44 (0)800 032 7101. Applications for the next student intake are open.

This article was sponsored by the University of Birmingham.