What New Local does

New Local is an independent think tank and membership network headquartered in London that operates a community of over 50 UK local authorities (councils) supported by a roster of corporate partners. Its mission centres on transforming public services through the concept of 'community power,' advocating for place-based, prevention-focused approaches to local service delivery, planning, and regeneration. The organisation does not develop proprietary technology; its platform is fundamentally relational, consisting of peer learning programmes, events, and a publications portfolio that establishes it as a leading voice on UK local government reform.

The organisation's core product set includes a Network Membership for councils (by application), the Next Generation Programme coaching rising council leaders, an events series (How We Did It sessions, Innovation Exchanges, the Stronger Things conference), a direct Practice Work offering providing consultancy to public sector organisations, and an active publications library covering themes such as community power, NHS transformation, planning reform, and local government leadership. Customers are UK councils across a wide range of types and political makeups, alongside corporate partners that contribute specialist expertise.

New Local generates revenue through recurring council membership subscriptions, paid events and coaching programmes, and publications. It is governed independently with no parent company, no disclosed venture or private equity funding, and operates with a lean team of approximately 15 staff under a 'work anywhere' policy. It was formerly known as New Local Government Network (NLGN) and is led by Chief Executive Jessica Studdert and Chair Katie Kelly.

Name

New Local

Legal name

New Local

Website

https://newlocal.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

New Local is an independent UK think tank and membership network of 50+ councils that publishes research, runs peer-learning programmes and events, and delivers advisory services to transform public services through community power.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Think Tank Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Institutional Capacity Building & Training (Workforce/Systems Strengthening) (BPADAEAC), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ), Local & Neighborhood Communities (BPAMABAG)

Keywords

• Public sector think tank
• Local government research
• Community power networks
• Council network membership
• Public service transformation

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, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Network Membership: Councils join as network members to access peer learning, research, and best practices. Corporate partners join to offer specialist expertise and support to the network.
2. Events and Programmes: Revenue generated from paid events, conferences (such as Stronger Things), and coaching programmes like the Next Generation Programme.
3. Publications: Research reports and publications sold or distributed to members and the public.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

New Local operates a membership network of over 50 UK local authorities and corporate partners, providing peer learning, research, policy development, events, and direct consultancy support aimed at transforming public services through community empowerment. It produces research publications and thought leadership on community power, NHS reform, climate, housing and place-based governance, and runs leadership development programmes and events for council officers and members.

Product overview

New Local is an independent think tank and network offering a portfolio of research publications, professional development programmes, events, and direct practice support focused on transforming public services through community power. The core offering consists of a council network membership providing peer learning and knowledge sharing, complemented by published research reports, the Next Generation Programme coaching initiative, and event series including How We Did It sessions and Innovation Exchanges. Publications such as 'Radical Leadership,' 'Constructing Consensus,' and 'Where People Meet' provide the intellectual foundation, while practice work and events enable direct engagement with public sector organisations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Network Membership
• Research and Publications
• Next Generation Programme
• Events and Webinars
• Practice Work

Quantifiable outcome

• Network of over 50 councils and partners united in drive for community-powered public services

Named customers9 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Bridges Outcomes PartnershipsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner offering specialist expertise and support to the New Local network of councils.
• Browne JacobsonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner offering specialist expertise and support to the New Local network of councils.
• Go VocalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner offering specialist expertise and support to the New Local network of councils.
• NorseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner offering specialist expertise and support to the New Local network of councils.
• 3niminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner offering specialist expertise and support to the New Local network of councils.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The King's Fund: Independent UK think tank focused on health and care policy, producing research and convening NHS and local-system leaders. Comparable in operating model — research-and-network with public-sector members — and adjacent in NHS-and-community focus.
• Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR): One of the UK's largest progressive think tanks with broad public-policy research across government levels. Comparable as a UK public-policy research organisation, though operating at materially larger scale and across all levels of government.

Direct peers

• Centre for Cities: Urban policy think tank focused on the economic performance of UK cities, working closely with council leaders. Comparable as a UK research-and-policy organisation with direct local-authority audiences.
• Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE): UK membership body for local authority chief executives, supporting leadership development and peer exchange. Directly comparable as a council-leader-facing network and convening organisation.
• Power to Change: Independent trust supporting community-led organisations and 'community power' across England. Closely aligned with New Local's community-powered public services thesis and operates an analogous research-plus-network-plus-funding model.
• Core Cities UK: Network of the UK's major city councils (e.g., Manchester, Sheffield) collaborating on policy and economic development. Directly comparable as a council-membership network focused on UK local government agenda-setting.
• Reform: UK public-services reform think tank producing research on government efficiency and outcomes. Directly comparable as an independent think tank whose primary customer base includes UK policymakers and public-sector leaders.
• Locality: UK membership network for community-led organisations and local community anchors. Highly comparable as a UK membership body promoting community-powered approaches to local services and neighbourhood-level impact.
• Local Government Association (LGA): Statutory peak body for UK councils, providing membership, peer learning, research, and convening for local authorities. The most direct comparable given overlap in serving UK councils with policy influence and member services.

Emerging players

• New Philanthropy Capital (NPC): UK think tank and consultancy for the social sector, working with charities and funders on impact research and strategy. Comparable as a small, mission-driven UK research-and-advisory outfit with similar revenue mix of research, advisory, and programme work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wearenewlocal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-local-think-tank
• Instagraminstagram.com/wearenewlocal_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 New Local