Welcome to APSE

APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) is a not for profit local government body working with over 300 councils throughout the UK. Promoting excellence in public services, APSE is the foremost specialist in local authority front line services, hosting a network for front line service providers in areas such as waste and refuse collection, parks and environmental services, leisure, school meals, cleaning, housing and building maintenance. We hope you enjoy our website.

The Ensuring Council; A new model for governance, neighbourhoods and service delivery

An ‘ensuring council’ can balance tensions between neighbourhoods and strategic priorities. Councils need to find a balance between demands at the neighbourhood and the strategic level in order to manage current economic and environmental challenges, and this concept is explored in APSE’s latest research report 'The Ensuring Council; governance neighbourhoods and service delivery'.

An ‘ensuring council’ is one that is able to balance macro imperatives against micro dynamics that exist in local neighbourhoods. This research report explores models of neighbourhood delivery and governance through both an analysis of the different methods and structures available and best practice case study authorities. Read the press release here and order here.

Charging around

APSE has a new web portal available to members as a resource for information and case studies on using charging and trading powers. Click here to access this new service free to APSE members

Scotland takes the double!

Fife Council and Scottish Borders Council made it a double win for Scotland in a UK wide award for apprenticeships. Pamela Marnie, of Fife Council was named the APSE Horticulture Apprentice of the Year whilst Gary Lothian of Scottish Borders Council won the Transport Apprentice of the Year Award. Read the full press release here and more information about the apprentice awards here.

Apprentice award winners

Building blocks for better public services

Four young apprentices, and their local council employers, have been honoured by a leading local government think tank for their work in encouraging young people to take up trained apprenticeships in much needed construction skills. Read the full press release here and more information about the apprentice awards here.

The MJ Offer for APSE members

The MJ is a leading journal offering local authorities up-to-date information on all aspects of local government from policy through to service delivery, covering articles, information and reports, to keep you and your service area bang up to date with all the latest news. Issued every Thursday The MJ usually costs £140 per year but APSE has negotiated a special offer on behalf of our contacts that currently do not subscribe to The MJ, which is a reduced subscription of £77 for the year. If you would like to take advantage of this offer please click here to download the special offer form and return to APSE.