Public Intelligence

Public Intelligence provides advice, analysis and insight to those seeking to understand recent developments and future trends in UK local government and the public services. We also provide strategic change consultancy to councils, public bodies, government departments and devolved administrations. PI was set up in 2011 by Mike Bennett to offer a... range of consultancy and research services to the public, private, financial and voluntary sectors. In recent months PI has worked for a number of metropolitan authorities, the major local government associations (LGA, CIPFA, APSE and SOLACE) as well as for Welsh Government and the European Council of Municipalities and Regions. In addition, PI provides strategic advice to improvement and productivity specialists Newton Europe and to financial investors, private sector service providers and to large and small charities. Before setting up Public Intelligence, Mike spent 12 years working for SOLACE, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers, in senior policy roles before becoming Managing Director. During his time at SOLACE he directed the Society's policy development and influencing activities, including the Commission on Managing in a Political Environment, and was involved in numerous sector and government-led working groups. Mike also designed and delivered a groundbreaking programme of networking and learning events for senior people, including the SOLACE Summit, and was the founding Editorial Director of the SOLACE Foundation Imprint. Before SOLACE, Mike worked as a consultant and research fellow at the Scottish Local Authorities Management Centre in the University of Strathclyde where clients included Scottish ministers, the Scottish Parliament as well as local authorities and a wide range of other public bodies. Throughout this time Mike has remained an active researcher publishing in peer-reviewed journals on issues of public policy, management theory and the politics of research.Read More