How to set up a public body
Think tank: Institute for Government
Author(s): Matthew Gill; Maddy Bishop
November 20, 2024
This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government sets out how government can set up public bodies better.
As government priorities change, particularly after a general election, there is often a need to set up new institutions to deliver on those priorities.
Public bodies can be well placed to do this. If set up poorly, however, they can consume time, money and ministerial attention while failing to achieve their goals fully or at all.
This report sets out how government can set up public bodies better. It draws on interviews with policy makers and leaders involved in creating six bodies in a range of sectors over the past two decades.
The report identifies 10 key lessons for those designing a new public body, or charged with getting one off the ground.
