The Cabinet Office has launched a leadership development scheme for middle managers in the Civil Service, National Health Service, police service and local government. It will help the leaders of tomorrow to work across organisational boundaries to deliver better public services and to develop their leadership skills.The programme will include formal learning sessions involving skills workshops and cross-sector case studies and simulations. 

Liverpool City Council and BT have set up a company to deliver a wide range of council services. The new company Citizen First, in which the City Council will have a 19.9% stake, will provide the first point of caller contact through an expanded call centre as well as through, mail, internet, fax, e-mail, interactive TV or kiosks. Later the company will take on revenue collection, benefit payments, payroll and human resource management.