Local authorities have been set 10 requirements that campaigners believe they need to meet to make communities better for older people. The list has been produced by Help the Aged, which has published a survey showing that a quarter of older people believe the places where they live have changed for the worse in the last 10 years.

Read more on COUNCILS SET TEN TESTS FOR ‘ELDERLY FRIENDLY’ COMMUNITIES…

From today small and medium sized businesses will get free access to thousands of opportunities to win contacts from the public sector. Until the end of July businesses can register for contracts that are individually valued at under 100,000 pounds.

Read more on TRIAL OPENS PUBLIC SECTOR CONTRACTS TO SMALLER FIRMS…

This paper from Communities and Local Government identifies the economic reasons why place matters.

Drivers of productivity come together in places. Places offer a combination of assets which can boost the productivity of firms and attract the skilled workers they need. Place is becoming increasingly important in a globalising world of mobile investment and people.

Read more on WHY PLACE MATTERS…