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Programmes
Transforming & Innovating Public Services

Introduction

Welcome to the Transforming and Innovating Public Services (TIPS) Programme for 2026/2027.

As public services evolve, the TIPS Network Leadership Group (NLG) has refreshed its priorities to reflect growing financial pressures, rising user expectations, and the shift toward digital first delivery.

Public bodies must deliver efficiencies while maintaining resilient, high quality services. This requires rethinking end to end journeys, strengthening collaboration, and embedding practices that support reliability and continuous improvement. It also means empowering digital and web managers to create accessible, secure, user centred online experiences.

The TIPS Programme supports professionals and organisations at every level to drive meaningful change for communities, people, and places. Through seminars, roundtables and learning sessions, we showcase innovative, place based approaches across digital, data, technology and community focused work.

Our events offer valuable networking, open discussion, and collaborative problem solving, helping raise standards in transformation, digital delivery and service reform across the public sector.

TIPS Graphic

Priorities and Objectives for 2026-27

Communities, People and Place

This priority underscores our commitment to fostering sustainable, equitable, place-based approaches in public service delivery, ensuring appropriate levels of support for both citizens and staff.

Digital and Data

This priority is dedicated to empowering members to harness the potential of digital systems and well-managed data to drive informed decision-making and enhance service delivery to improve the customer journey.

The TIPS Network Leadership Group

Each iNetwork programme has a Network Leadership Group (NLG) which consists of iNetwork members who are leading practitioners in their field. The NLGs serve as both a programme board and a leadership forum for collaboration across the local public sector. The network leaders for the Transforming & Innovating Public Sector Programme are:

Alex Grundy
Plus Dane Housing (Deputy Chair)
Billy Webster
Cumberland Council
Cath Ritchie
North Yorkshire Council
Chris Hart
Bolton Council
Chris Jennings
Trafford Council
Chris Woodhouse
Bury Council
Claire Dubelbeis
Lancaster City Council
Craig Hughes
The Guinness Partnership
Gemma Emmett
City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Gill Lawton
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Jo Johnston
Manchester City Council
Lorena Phillips
North Yorkshire Council
Mel Mulcahy
Wigan Council
Phil Christian
Cheshire East Council
Rahna Riley
Rochdale Borough Council (Chair)
Samantha Tierney
West Lancashire Borough Council
Shoukat Ali
Oldham Council
Stephen Curtis
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Stephen Girling
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Wayne Leatherbarrow
Sefton Council
Programme Co-ordinator
Dr Sarah Day
TIPS Programme Co-ordinator
For advice, guidance and support in this area, please contact Sarah Day, Transforming & Innovating Public Services Programme Lead.
“I was really pleased to join the iNetwork Transforming & Innovating Public Services (TIPS) Network Leadership Group. We all work in such an uncertain climate and trying to make real and meaningful change is difficult at the best of times but the leadership group provides a great forum for sharing ideas, approaches, best practice and lessons learned.From the very first session I felt I’d learned something and shared my experiences in equal measure. The support from colleagues in the group has been phenomenal and I’m certain that collectively we’ll make a real difference to people lives and shaping the future of public services.”
Jo Johnston
Manchester City Council
TIPS Chair
Rahna Riley
Rochdale Borough Council
TIPS Deputy Chair
Alex Grundy
Plus Dane Housing
Related Events
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Online
Conference
IT Service Management Network: Problem Management
06/10/26
Online
This network is intended to cover day to day tasks of people in these roles in the public sector.
Support
Online
Digital Web Managers Peer Support Group
21/10/26
Online
This is a peer support group for those who work in Digital Web Mangers roles. We talk about: intranets, council websites and accessibility.
Support
Online
Digital Web Managers Peer Support Group
02/12/26
Online
This is a peer support group for those who work in Digital Web Mangers roles. We talk about: intranets, council websites and accessibility.
Contact iNetwork Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council Tameside One PO BOX 317 Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 0GS iNetwork@tameside.gov.uk  
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