No time for amateurs – why public sector leaders need professional advice on design

In the latest opinion piece we secured in LocalGov, the UK's largest dedicated local government news website, Jennifer Dixon, independent Client Adviser and co-founder of Design Thinking, outlines the challenges facing local councils commissioning built-environment projects.

Jennifer questions why local authorities, who are accustomed and willing to pay for professional advice from financial advisers, lawyers and other consultants, are often content to ‘have a go’ themselves when it comes to maximising the opportunity and value of their property portfolios through maintenance, improvement and even larger scale development decisions. In the current economic and legislative climate, this is no time for amateurs, she argues – now more than ever, local authorities and housing associations need experienced professional advice to maintain and enhance the current usefulness, long-term value and future viability of their assets. They need to be accountable for their decision making on design matters, strengthening their assurance, and creating transparency and auditability.

You can read the full article HERE

Jennifer Dixon, co-founder of DESIGN THINKING