London Innovation & Improvement Alliance (LIIA)

What London Innovation & Improvement Alliance (LIIA) does

LIIA (London Innovation and Improvement Alliance) is the formal sector-led improvement partnership of the Association of London Directors of Children's Services (ALDCS), hosted by London Councils and serving as London's Regional Improvement and Innovation Alliance (RIIA) within a national network of eight RIIAs. Founded in 2018-2019 and operating with a core team of approximately 13 staff (the Meet the Team page lists around 25 individuals including consultants and project administrators), LIIA coordinates collaborative programmes across all 33 London Local Authorities in five priority areas: Adolescent Safeguarding, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), Resources and Commissioning, Workforce, and Care Leaving.

The portfolio centres on programme coordination and a handful of proprietary digital assets rather than a unified software platform. Notable products include the Safeguarding Adolescents in London (SAIL) digital resource, the Your Choice therapeutic programme, Practice Spotlight (a digital resource area with over 100 practice examples across 9 categories), the Big SEND Conversation workforce research programme, the Children's Analysis Tool (ChAT) developed in-house and now used by Ofsted and all but one English local authority, and the Making Data Speak data programme. LIIA also leads the Pan-London Secure Children's Home programme through PLVCCC Ltd, a not-for-profit commissioning company owned by London local authorities.

LIIA is publicly funded rather than commercially sold. Revenue consists of subscription contributions from London's 33 local authorities combined with grant funding from the Department for Education for specific programmes (e.g., Secure Children's Home). Distribution runs through formal ALDCS governance, the London Councils hosting relationship, and direct engagement with Directors of Children's Services; partner agencies include NHS England, Metropolitan Police, MOPAC, Ofsted, the Local Government Association, SOLACE, ADCS and eight other RIIAs. Pricing is not applicable as LIIA does not sell products commercially.

Name

London Innovation & Improvement Alliance (LIIA)

Legal name

London Innovation and Improvement Alliance

Website

https://liia.london

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LIIA is the Association of London Directors of Children's Services sector-led improvement partnership, hosted by London Councils and coordinating collaborative children's services programmes, data tools and workforce initiatives across all 33 London local authorities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Sector Children's Services Collaboration

NAICS

Public Administration (92), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Donor Coordination, Monitoring & Evaluation (MEL) Programs (BPADABAN)

Keywords

• Sector-led improvement
• Children's services
• Public sector partnership
• Local authority collaboration
• Social care programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Local Authority Subscription: LIIA is funded by local authority subscription contributions from London's 33 local authorities as part of the sector-led improvement partnership
2. Department for Education Grant: LIIA receives grant funding from the Department for Education as the main funder for specific programmes such as the Secure Children's Home initiative

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

LIIA operates as the ALDCS sector-led improvement partnership hosted by London Councils, coordinating collaborative programmes, digital resources, and networks across London's 33 local authorities' children's services. It delivers five priority programmes (Adolescent Safeguarding, SEND, Resources & Commissioning, Workforce, and Care Leaving), develops data products such as the Children's Analysis Tool (ChAT), and commissions services including the Pan-London Secure Children's Home. Its offering is funded via local authority subscriptions and Department for Education grants rather than commercial sales.

Product overview

LIIA (London Innovation and Improvement Alliance) is the Association of London Directors of Children's Services (ALDCS) sector-led improvement partnership, hosted by London Councils and serving as London's Regional Improvement and Innovation Alliance (RIIA). Rather than a unified software platform, LIIA operates as a coordination and improvement hub delivering multiple collaborative programmes, digital resources, networks, and events for London's children's services. The portfolio includes: SAIL (Safeguarding Adolescents in London) and Your Choice Programme for adolescent safeguarding; Practice Spotlight for practice sharing across 33 Local Authorities; The Big SEND Conversation for workforce research; Leadership in Colour for workforce development; the Pan-London Secure Children's Home Programme and PLV commissioning vehicle; Jobs in Children's Homes recruitment platform; Making Data Speak and Children's Analysis Tool (ChAT) for data intelligence; plus various newsletters and the annual London Children's Services Summit. LIIA works with Department for Education, Local Government Association, SOLACE, and eight other RIIAs across the country.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Safeguarding Adolescents in London (SAIL): A digital resource for adolescent safeguarding practice
• Your Choice Programme
• Practice Spotlight
• The Big SEND Conversation
• Pan-London Vehicle for Children's Complex Commissioning (PLV)
• London Accommodation Pathfinder
• Jobs in Children's Homes

Products and services

• Safeguarding Adolescents in London (SAIL) A digital resource providing guidance, tools, and practice frameworks for safeguarding adolescents across London boroughs, developed in partnership with health and other safeguarding partners. Intended for use by children's services practitioners, health partners, and safeguarding agencies across London's 33 Local Authorities.
• Your Choice Programme A therapeutic approach programme aimed at reducing risk and vulnerability for adolescents, involving implementation, oversight, coordination and quality assurance of evidence-based interventions. Aimed at London local authorities and their adolescent safeguarding partners.
• Practice Spotlight Digital Resource Area A digital resource area housing over 100 examples of practice shared by London Local Authorities across 9 categories. Enables stakeholders to engage with examples of practice and connect with practitioners leading the work. Designed for children's services staff, leaders, and partners across London's 33 Local Authorities.
• The Big SEND Conversation A London-wide workforce research programme including surveys and focus groups designed to understand realities of working in children's SEND services and inform change with the SEND workforce. Targeted at the SEND workforce across London local authorities, schools, health organisations, and partner agencies.
• Pan-London Secure Children's Home Programme A programme to deliver a new residential provision providing specialist care, education, health and wellbeing services in a secure, therapeutic environment for London's most vulnerable children. Led by LIIA on behalf of ALDCS, with PLVCCC Ltd (a not-for-profit company owned by London local authorities) overseeing the provision in partnership with NHS and specialist providers.
• Children's Analysis Tool (ChAT) A data analysis tool developed by LIIA's Strategic Intelligence Lead, now used by Ofsted and all but one of all local authorities in England for children's services analysis. Used by local authorities and regulators for children's services intelligence and decision-making.
• Making Data Speak A data programme helping London's children's services make better use of public data to inform strategy and practice. Targeted at London local authorities' children's services departments and partners.
• Jobs in Children's Homes A joint recruitment platform for the children's homes workforce across London and the South East, enabling cross-regional collaboration in workforce recruitment. Launched by LIIA and South East partners in June 2026.
• London Accommodation Pathfinder A programme supporting the recommissioning and development of accommodation services for young people across London. Aimed at London local authorities commissioning care placements for young people.
• London Children's Services Summit An annual summit bringing together stakeholders from across London's 33 Local Authorities, police and health partners, and government bodies to celebrate practice and sector-led improvement. Over 200 delegates attended the 2025 Summit.
• Leadership in Colour Programme A leadership development programme focused on supporting diverse leadership talent within London's children's services. Aimed at senior leaders and aspiring leaders across children's services in London boroughs.
• Care Leavers' Compact A compact agreement supporting care leavers, coordinated through LIIA's priority programmes. Aimed at London boroughs and their care leavers' services.
• Regional Care Cooperative (RCC) A pan-London Regional Care Cooperative (RCC) for which London's bid has been successful in securing funding. Aimed at improving care provision and outcomes for children across London.
• Big Conversation 2025 Report A report revisiting themes from Big Listen 2023, providing an updated picture of the experiences, pressures and priorities of child and family social workers and managers across London and the South East.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% improvement in outcomes for children through prevention innovations led by LIIA team members
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• London CouncilscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIIA is hosted by London Councils, which provides organizational infrastructure and administrative support. London Councils represents London's 33 local authorities and facilitates cross-borough collaboration on key issues.
• Local Government Association (LGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIIA works with the LGA to promote learning, facilitate collaboration, and share best practice solutions nationally. The LGA supports local government improvement initiatives.
• Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIIA collaborates with SOLACE to promote learning and share best practice solutions. SOLACE represents senior local government executives across the UK.
• Other Regional Improvement and Innovation Alliances (RIIAs)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIIA works with the eight other RIIAs across the country to promote learning, facilitate collaboration, and share best practice solutions for mutual benefit.
• Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIIA works in partnership with ADCS, the national membership body for Directors of Children's Services, supporting sector-led improvement at national and regional levels.
• NHS EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS England partners with LIIA on the Pan-London Secure Children's Home programme, providing healthcare services as part of the integrated care model for the facility.
• Metropolitan PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetropolitan Police participates in LIIA initiatives including the London Children's Services Summit and adolescent safeguarding programmes.
• Pan London Vehicle for Children's Complex Commissioning Ltd (PLVCCC Ltd)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA not-for-profit company wholly owned by London local authorities established to oversee and run the new Secure Children's Home in partnership with NHS and specialist providers. LIIA is leading the delivery of this programme on behalf of ALDCS.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• National Children's Bureau (NCB): A long-established charity that influences children's services policy and practice across the UK. NCB is a peer in the children's services improvement and policy space, though it operates as a broader national charity.
• Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE): Represents senior local government executives across the UK. LIIA collaborates with SOLACE on best-practice sharing, making it a peer in the local authority leadership and improvement space.
• Local Government Association (LGA): National membership body for English and Welsh councils. LIIA works with the LGA on sector-led improvement and shares best practice, making LGA a direct institutional peer in the local government improvement ecosystem.
• Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS): The national membership body for Directors of Children's Services in the UK. ADCS is the closest peer because LIIA operates as the London regional arm of sector-led improvement and works in partnership with ADCS at national level.

Direct peers

• What Works for Children's Social Care: A research and practice intermediary focused on improving children's social care outcomes. Peer to LIIA in producing data, evidence, and practice resources consumed by Directors of Children's Services and frontline practitioners.
• Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Services: An evidence-based practice and innovation centre for children's services. Closely aligned with LIIA's mission of improving outcomes through practice improvement, workforce development, and data use across local authorities.
• London Councils: The cross-party body that hosts LIIA and represents London's 33 boroughs. Functionally and structurally intertwined with LIIA, it operates the convening infrastructure LIIA relies on.

Emerging players

• Catch22: A social business delivering children's services, youth justice, and education programmes in partnership with local authorities. Catch22 is a peer in operational children's services delivery, though it operates as a service provider rather than a coordinating partnership.

Others

• NHS England: Partners with LIIA on the Pan-London Secure Children's Home programme to deliver integrated healthcare for vulnerable children. A coordinating peer in the cross-agency children's services delivery ecosystem.
• Department for Education (DfE): Primary funder of multiple LIIA programmes (including Secure Children's Home). Included as a funder/partner rather than a competitor — DfE sets the policy and funding environment LIIA operates within.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/london-innovation-improvement-alliance-liia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about London Innovation & Improvement Alliance (LIIA)