Water footprints are emerging as the next step for public and social sector organisations looking to address their environmental risk profile. Undertaking an assessment allows organisations to start to understand their water use across their value chain, identify hotspots and take action to increase their climate resilience.
Our Forvis Mazars experts, CIPFA CEO, and a leading S151 Officer will unpack the biggest risks shaping local government in 2026 - and what they mean for governance, assurance and forward planning.
Local government is operating in one of the most challenging environments in decades.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming an integral part of how local governments operate. With budgets under pressure and demand for services rising, AI can offer practical solutions to improve efficiency, free up staff time, and support to deliver better outcomes for communities.
The recent cyber-attack on local authorities in November 2025 serves as a stark reminder of the evolving threats facing the public sector. As cyber risks grow in scale and sophistication, councils must adopt robust cybersecurity practices to safeguard essential services and sensitive data.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, widely known as Martyn's Law, signifies a pivotal shift in UK public safety legislation and security, impacting public and social sector organisations significantly.
The introduction of the new Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS) and the accompanying CIPFA Application Note is set to transform the landscape of internal auditing for the UK public sector.
Recent industrial action by Birmingham City Council's waste collection contractors highlights how relying on third-party services can disrupt operations.
Are you ready for the new Failure to Prevent Fraud Offence? Watch our webinar to understand how the Failure to Prevent Fraud Offence will impact the public sector and what you can do now to prepare for its implementation on 1 September 2025.
As climate-related reporting becomes more prevalent, driven by UK government requirements and heightened stakeholder expectations, it’s crucial for public sector organisations to understand what this means for them. We answer some of the key questions around TCFD disclosures, unpicking what they are, the challenges they present, and how they can add value.
The public and social sector is grappling with a perfect storm of economic pressures, workforce shortages, and rising demand for services. As a result, many are feeling the weight of uncertainty.
Our experts provide an overview of the known and emerging risks for Local Authorities in 2025/26.
As local authorities continue to grapple with risks exacerbated by financial challenges, the pressure facing the public sector as a whole is becoming more pronounced. The role of internal audit in holding organisations accountable and challenging risk management practices is more crucial than ever as local authorities strive to navigate new risks, including those tied to data, AI, and ongoing recruitment...
In the risk management landscape, public sector organisations increasingly recognise the need to adapt their strategies to address emerging challenges. One of these challenges is risk velocity, a relatively unused term in most organisations which assesses the speed at which risks can impact an organisation.
Based on survey data, the 'Beyond efficiency report' looks to understand Councils' approaches to financial sustainability and risk. The annual 'local government internal audit planning report' analyses common causes for issues being identified, and makes suggestions for areas internal auditors may want to include in their annual plan to gain assurance that the root causes are being addressed.
Insights from over 170 individuals across the UK public and social sector highlighted that the UK is on the cusp of a recruitment and retention crisis. Amid ongoing social and economic instability, how can we improve efforts to support our public sector workforce and effectively attract new talent?
Over 300 individuals from across the UK public and social sector told us that the UK is at a critical juncture. Amid on going social and economic turmoil, decisive action is needed now to support those most in need.
In today’s interconnected world, global digital connectivity is more pervasive than ever before. With technology developing at a rapid pace, and organisations embracing new digital solutions at an unprecedented rate, we are also witnessing a simultaneous rise in the scale and impact of cyber threats and attacks.
Against a backdrop of political uncertainty, unprecedented strike action and the prevailing cost of living crisis ‒ itself a consequence of the conflict in Ukraine among other factors ‒ many of the UK’s most vulnerable communities are at risk of becoming more marginalised and face more hardship.
A time of transformation.
Based on insight from more than 800 executives from 27 countries, we uncover what business leaders across the globe really think amidst a backdrop of inflation and economic instability, increasingly complex rules and regulations, growing energy prices and geopolitical tensions in our latest C-suite barometer 2023.
The extent to which an organisation’s culture supports the execution of its strategy, the management of risk and the treatment of its service users is increasingly under the spotlight, and weaknesses in culture are now frequently blamed for failings in these areas.
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