This report from the Chartered Management Institute shows that ‘who you know’ and ‘what you know’ is no longer enough to get a job in local government. It reveals that job prospects in the sector are increasingly being influenced by an individual’s commitment to their long-term professional development. It also uncovers major barriers preventing significant numbers from improving their skills.

Read more on THE VALUE OF MANAGEMENT QUALIFICATIONS…

A new approach has been devised by English Partnerships, the national regeneration agency, to speed up the development of large scale planning applications. In a parallel move the Housing Corporation will adopt new approaches to support investment in developments. The proposals are set out in a report ‘Cascades: improving certainty in the delivery of affordable housing’.

Read more on SPEEDING UP LARGE SCALE DEVELOPMENTS OF AFFORDABLE HOMES…

A project is being launched to build the capacity of social enterprises to compete for 2012 contracts and to deliver a dramatic change in the procurement policies of stakeholders.

The Office of the Third Sector is funding the project to help social enterprises access procurement opportunities for 2012. Social Enterprise London will run the project in partnership with the Social Enterprise Coalition, and will work to ensure that Olympic stakeholders and private sector bidders are aware of the value that social enterprises can add to the Olympic legacy.

Read more on HELP FOR SOCIAL ENTERPRISES TO GET 2012 CONTRACTS…