The Coalition Government announced in May 2010 that groups of teachers, parents, organisations and charities enjoy the right to apply to the Department for Education to set up free schools.  Free schools are Government-funded, state schools, but outside...

What is the programme? Following the scrapping of the Building for Schools programme last July and the James Review which was published earlier this year, the Government have introduced a new programme which will provide funding to a number of schools...

One of the first “how to” guides for schools leaders keen to explore converting their school into an Academy has been launched by a law firm which has advised some of the first wave of new academy schools. While the new academies have been among...

Local authorities now facing up to the realities of reduced budgets are giving serious thought to both re-scoping of services and new models for service delivery. The potential of mutual organisations to deliver services with more flexibility, good workforce...

We aim to be your trusted partner in navigating the myriad of commercial, legal and regulatory issues which arise during the process of initiating change and creating new market conditions. Our team of specialist lawyers is focused on delivering...

We work with care providers, charities, local authorities and social enterprises to create innovative structures for the commissioning and delivery of social care services. We aim to be your trusted partner in navigating the myriad of options, commercial,...

We advise on a variety of models in the leisure services sector. Our clients include many local authorities, leisure trusts and a leading private sector provider. We also regularly assist leading consultancies in the field of sports and leisure,...

We work with NHS bodies, social enterprises, service providers and not-for-profits to create innovative structures for the commissioning and delivery of health and social care services. We aim to be your trusted partner in navigating the myriad of options,...

Local Government is at the heart of pubic service reform. Local Authorities are key strategic ‘place-shapers’ and leaders in critical policy areas, such as housing and regeneration, education, and social care, both as commissioners and providers...

TPP Law works with local authorities, charities, social enterprises, NHSbodies and service providers to create innovative structures for thecommissioning and delivery of local government, health, social care andeducation services. We aim to be your trusted...

The Coalition Government released its long-term vision forthe future of the NHS in July 2010 in the White Paper ‘Equityand Excellence: Liberating the NHS’. The Governmentannounced that, in order to shift decision-making as close aspossible to...

Asset managers in the NHS are facing one of their stiffest tests to date as a radical shake-up of health and social care services gets underway – but innovative asset management could be key to the success in this health service revolution. This is...

A revolution in adult social care must occur if issues around increasing numbers of people living longer and the yawning multi-million social care funding gap are to be reconciled. At a Westminster conference on Caring for Older People (Wednesday 8th...

With the Summer break behind us, we have an opportunity to reflect on the momentous first four months of Coalition Government. We are experiencing a seismic shift in thinking towards public services. Deficit reduction remains the overriding principle of the...

As GPs prepare to climb into the NHS commissioning driving seat some “rules of the road” have been flagged by specialist lawyers to help them negotiate the potential obstacles of contracts, competition, governance, quality standards and financial...

TPP Law has published a special report on how to set up a mutual organisation to deliver public services. The guide responds to a resurgence of interest in the use of mutuals to deliver public services ranging from education to health and social care,...

As Spring beckons and we enter election season, public services and associated spending commitments will remain a key battleground for the main parties. They face some tough choices in setting out their plans to tackle the eye-watering public sector deficit...

We are in one of the most exciting and innovative times for the development of educational thinking and practice. Academies sit right at the centre of the practical response to schools that cannot, for whatever reason, improve standards above the government...

As Government strives to bring contestability and choice in to the provision of public services, so the range of models for delivery has multiplied. To the now familiar public-private partnership and joint venture structures, we must add the social...

“There has never been a better time to be a third sector organisationseeking to provide public services,” – said Angela Smith, Minister for theThird Sector, writing in The Times, 4 September 2009. Since 2006, the Office of the Third Sector in...

Take a look at the numbers. Public sector borrowing of £175 billion this year is expected to double by 2013 to more than 79% of GDP. Public finances will not be in balance again until 2017/18. Yet optimistic Treasury growth forecasts reckon that the...

Lord Darzi’s NHS Next Stage Review encouraged the separation of PCT’s commissioning and provider functions. The review also required PCTs to support greater choice and contestability of service provision in primary and community health services...

So it’s official: the era of laissez faire government is over. With GDP down by 1.8%, unemployment close to 2 million and bank bail outs currently standing at more than £200bn, it may sometimes feel like we’re heading to hell in a handcart....

Welcome to the third edition of our concise legal guide to Building Schools for the Future (BSF). Since the second edition, there have been many significant developments in the evolution of the BSF initiative: operational Local Education Partnerships...

As the Government strives to introduce contestability, choice andpersonalisation into health and social care services, there is increasinginterest in the role that social enterprises can play in the delivery ofpublic services. The Government is committed to...