The Public Policy and Management (PPM) research cluster brings together the work of 34 academics, Visiting Professors and Fellows and Associates, together with a large group of PhD/DBAs. This Research Cluster now has the largest complement of public policy and management scholars in the UK and members hold significant national and international roles on key learned societies, research networks and other public policy forums for teaching and research.

Northumbria University has a long-standing reputation for excellence in public administration including strategic leadership for public services. Our academic and research staff have published extensively in top academic journals and collaborate widely with regional, national and international public service organisations. Research includes public sector leadership and reform, partnerships and networks, comparison of different governance arrangements, performance based and relational contracting, a systems approach to complex questions, the effectiveness of regional networks and digital connectivity between public bodies and clients.

Since 2018 this Group has incorporated the inter-disciplinary operations research of the Living Laboratory. The Lab is part of a wider European network (ENOLL) and represents a creative approach to addressing complex problems for businesses and communities through collaboration and partnership building. This group has particular interest in exploring design principles, organisational performance, leadership and decision-making as they apply to public services.

Both Liddle and Shutt have international profiles for their work on public service reform and city and regional development, and critical mass and external standing has been achieved through strategic recruitment of new colleagues with specialisms coalescing around the public sector (in particular the NHS, Local and regional policy development, Leadership, Partnerships and Entrepreneurship, Liddle, Johnston, Shutt) and its overall policy direction and management. Other colleagues are researching telecommunications policy and regulation (Whalley), the NHS and Local government (Blenkinsopp and Hesselgreaves), Public Leadership, Partnerships and Entrepreneurship (Liddle, Shutt, Johnston), Public Administration and Strategic Management (Elliott), Public Policy and Regional Development (Liddle, Cabras, Shutt) , Complex Public Commissioning (Lowe, French, Hawkins, Martin, Jamieson), Mutuality and the Third and Public Sectors (Myers), Strategy (Bowden) , Ageing (Egdell), Refugees and Asylums seekers and Migration and the labour market (Fitzgerald), Higher Education futures (Jones), Sustainability (Hope), Policing and Vulnerability (X Jian Wu). Recent appointments Mackenzie, Wagner, Corduneanu and Yeoman have added to research capacity on work/organisations and motivations, climate policy and networks, and transformation of Meaningful Cities.

Impact with local organisations, contract research, and partnership working are the foundations of how this cluster works. PPM colleagues work across the University and other Faculties with colleagues from the School of Nursing, the Built Environment and Property, Geography, and Social Sciences, as well as with the AUAS Campus, Amsterdam and other UK and international HEI partnerships. Members of this cluster are also members of INcITE and Responsible Business Research Clusters

The public sector is hugely important for the North East and the North, so it is imperative to position the region more effectively internationally, nationally and within the Northern Powerhouse in the coming decade. There is a widespread need for increased research and development on the public sector, and on new public policies over the long term. Local government has been at the sharp end of austerity cuts and faces a bleak round of increased restructuring, as well as further staff and service reductions. Beyond the difficulties of the next two years researchers are developing a new more comprehensive 2030 agenda for the region to deal with local government devolution and changes to the eco-system of public governance and services. There is an expanded remit to respond to the needs of a broader range of public, private, voluntary sector and social enterprises within a changing public governance framework. A higher quality evidence-based research and co-operative working with all sectoral agencies is at the heart of our approach, together with a focus on the need for a new public sector entrepreneurialism to motivate city and regional development thereby attempting to overcome the continuing North- South divide. It is also vital that Big Data, GIS and evidence-based evaluations are at the heart of policy development and appraisals, as new opportunities are created by the Smart Cities, Big Data and 5G initiatives.

Currently colleagues are working on issues affecting Mayoral CAs, central funding regimes & impacts of Brexit on the NE, and experimentation with systems working, regulation, public leadership, public policy and regional development, sustainable work futures, sustainability, and policing and multi-agency approaches to vulnerability.

Our links and networks

Researchers are embedded in international, national and regional academic, policy and practice networks, think tanks and professional associations, and have strong links to the Local Government Association, Local Government Information Unit, Chartered Institute of Public Finance, Association of PS Excellence, Centre for Local Economic Strategies, Institute for Economic Development, and many other local government and public management/governance connections. We are also part of wider research networks, as colleagues have worked together on directly funded Institute for LG Projects (University of Durham), related projects through FUSE, Public Health Networks, NERIN, Crime Partnerships, HAs, Social enterprises, LG, CAs, LEPs etc. Through its existing work with academic networks like the national JUC/PAC (Joint University Council/Public Administration Committee) and the RSA (Regional Studies Association), LARIA (Local Authority Research Network), Northumbria is reaching forward to bring fresh innovation and ideas into the public sector.

The University also hosts an active Police Research and Education Network, aimed at informing policy and practice in numerous areas, include policing leadership and organization. Public Policy and Management researchers are active members of this network and can draw on additional expertise from it. Additionally, the Coach Lane campus houses Blue Light and Emergency Service training course and research facilities dealing with combined police, fire and rescue and ambulance services.

Areas of Specialism

Public Sector Leadership, Partnership and Entrepreneurship

Regional Development and Public Policy

Complex Commissioning and Contracting

The Living Lab

3PM (Public Policy and Management) Research Interest Group

Education and professional development

An MSc Strategic Leadership for Public Services recruited its first cohort of students in September 2019, and the programme is designed to support the development of senior leaders. The MSc in Strategic Leadership for Public Services capitalizes on our growing faculty with experience in translating research and practice expertise into improvements for the public and third sectors. There is also a long history of working in partnership with public and voluntary service organisations and is well regarded as a provider of Degree Apprenticeships, specific bespoke high-quality healthcare programmes, and research. ADSS (Arts, Design and Social Sciences) is leading on a cross- Faculty Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship scheme for teaching 200 officers per annum across Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland Forces (commencing March 2019). Furthermore, the Northern Women in Leadership 2019 programme and conference involved many senior public sector managers, as the existing and successful MBA Programme continues to do so.

All CPD (Continuous Professional Development) programmes are evidence-based and research rich, thus informed by the latest legislation, standards and also industry requirements, ensuring relevance. Clients include Northumbrian Water, Gateshead City Council, Northumberland County Council, Nexus Transport, NHS North of Tyne, South of Tyne, Durham and Darlington, North East Probation Service and Northumbria Police. We also run a flagship programme for the NHS, in partnership with Mersey Care, on Restorative Just Culture (Brown), which is now in demand internationally.

The Faculty of Business and Law is engaged in several international partnerships with overseas governments, both local and central and have long established knowledge exchange partnerships with numerous Universities across the globe.