Innovation and public entrepreneurship in English city government: what is the role of philanthropic organisations?

This research aims to understand the role of philanthropic organisations in stimulating innovation (introduction of new elements into a public service - in the form of new knowledge, new organisation, and/or new management of processes or skills) and public entrepreneurship in UK city government. Few studies have evaluated the impacts on innovation by philanthropic institutions collaborating with government in the UK. By deploying qualitative methods, the nature of the relationship between government and philanthropic actors will be analysed in Newcastle, Bristol, and Manchester. These cities face similar levels of budget cuts, but differing degrees of devolution, enabling us to analyse the impacts of these new devolved powers. This study draws on the geographic literature on policy mobility, political science literatures on institutional dynamics, the political actor motivations, and policy transfer, and the interdisciplinary literature of the Third Sector. The thesis will have the objectives of informing debates around experimentation in government, and how government innovation can be effectively supported to improve services. The study will also feed into policy on devolution, and draw out the implications of philanthropy's power to effect change in government, and the implications this has for democracy. Nesta, an independent charity working on innovation with UK state and society as well as globally, is the chosen (and confirmed) philanthropic foundation to partner due to its extensive networks which will facilitate access for the study. For example, the collaboration will provide unparalleled access to interview Nesta staff, and its wider network of academics, experts and contacts to triangulate and discuss research. The aim is to understand the capacity in urban governance for public innovation and entrepreneurship, and the role of philanthropic organisations in stimulating and influencing it. To fulfil this aim, the project addresses the following questions: 1. How do philanthropic organisations seek to influence innovation and decision-making in city government? 2. What role do philanthropic organisations play in changing the practice and modes of urban governance? 3. How do differing degrees of devolution, including institutional, policy and economic factors, impact on city government's ability and capacity to engage with philanthropic organisations? 4. Does the involvement of philanthropic organisations affect the democracy of city government decision-making? To answer these questions, the study conducts a multiple case study approach of city government. Using the lenses of comparative urbanism, it investigates political processes across three cities: Bristol, Manchester and Newcastle. A methodological focus on cities allows us to analyse the intervening impacts of UK devolution, the ongoing trends of austerity which is disrupting delivery, and the reform of local government funding settlements. Bristol, Manchester and Newcastle have been selected to compare differing degrees of devolution. Analysis of primary documents including government papers and nongovernmental documents will enable the analysis to assess the structures, governance models and cultures, and the motivations and approaches of the philanthropic organisations. Semi-structured interviews with city government officials and staff in philanthropic organisations will explore, in greater depth, these insights, including the role of philanthropic institutions in changing urban governance, and investigate the impact of institutional, policy and economic factors in city government. The qualitative data from the secondary documents and interviews will be analysed using NVivo software. Transcripts will be coded and analysed to identify themes and patterns within and between the three cities.