The Innovation Zone showcased councils’ transformational projects.
Once again, the Innovation Zone (IZ) at the LGA’s 2025 annual conference was the beating heart of innovative practice from across the local government sector.
With many sessions standing room only, councils brought the energy and the audience showed their enthusiasm, creating a vibrant atmosphere throughout the three-day event.
I was delighted to launch this year’s programme with an opening session from conference hosts Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Liverpool City Council, along with Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council.
This session shared how they are transforming access to apprenticeships, training and careers across the region, with digital inclusion at the heart of their platform.
The dynamic programme included a range of topical sessions, including artificial intelligence (AI), local government reorganisation (LGR), and experiences of transformation and change.
Westmorland and Furness delivered a ‘Spotlight on’ session about its staff expo and creating a positive culture post-LGR, with Wyre Council sharing how it adapted its transformation approach to harness LGR opportunities.
From high street regeneration and workforce challenges to service-specific innovations and creative uses of data, there was truly something for everyone. Delegates left the IZ buzzing with new ideas and scalable learning, and hopefully an appetite to present their own innovations next year.
This year, we introduced some new ‘In conversation’ sessions, showcasing closely aligned projects. I was pleased to chair the ‘In conversation’ on tech-enabled care, featuring St Helens Borough Council, and the Society for Innovation, Technology and Modernisation, with Hampshire County Council.
Another first for the zone this year saw two sessions feature as a panel and workshop in the wider conference programme.
In the main auditorium, Cllr David Thomas (Con), Leader of Torbay Council, chaired the ‘How AI is transforming council services’ panel, exploring the use of AI to improve services, increase efficiency and reduce burdens on staff. This showcased work from North Yorkshire, Torbay, Basildon, and North Somerset councils.
An IZ workshop on ‘Prisoners building homes: an innovative approach to delivering affordable housing’ – introduced by Cllr Amanda Serjeant (Lab), Deputy Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, with Bristol City Council, Dragonheart Homes, and Devon and Cornwall Police – provided a powerful exploration of affordable housing, including hearing from those with lived experience.
Our sponsor Newton Europe was once again a highlight of the IZ, providing a steady stream of coffee and hosting popular sessions including a ‘Spotlight on working in partnership to tackle the homelessness and temporary accommodation challenge across London’, chaired by Epsom & Ewell’s Cllr Alex Coley (Ind); and sessions on transformation through innovation, and supporting disabled children and young people into adulthood.
Our sincere gratitude goes to the incredible LGA team and member-led working group who shaped the wide-ranging programme and chaired sessions, making the IZ such a success.
For those who missed out or want to revisit the good practice shared, presentation slides will soon be available on the LGA website.
We will also be launching a new Innovation Zone publication, capturing case studies and learning from this year’s programme.
- You can read more about the LGA’s sector support offer and contact your LGA regional principal adviser via the LGA’s support offer pages on our website.