The government's recent updates to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the growing emphasis on local innovation highlight a clear trend: local growth strategies must deliver both prosperity and sustainability. Yet, many councils lack the specialist expertise, networks, and business expertise needed to turn policy into practice at pace.
This is where public-private partnerships come into their own. By working together with experienced partners, councils can tap into thriving networks of innovation, investment, and business talent. The result? More green jobs, higher business survival rates, and a stronger, more resilient local economy.
In this landscape, the question isn't whether to work with the private sector, but how to do it in a way that delivers real, measurable impact. Our recent partnership with Lambeth Council, championed by Councillor Claire Holland, offers a compelling case study - but the lessons go far beyond Lambeth, demonstrating how local leaders can tackle climate change together and unlock local economic growth to accelerate the transition to thriving places powered by clean energy.
You can watch the full conversation between Claire Holland and our CEO and Managing Partner Andrew Wordsworth below.
Our Partnership with Lambeth: A blueprint for local growth
When Lambeth Council set out to accelerate its local green economy, our partnership began not with a rigid, off-the-shelf solution, but with a conversation. We sought to understand Lambeth's unique economic landscape and its vision for thriving, inclusive places powered by clean energy.
As a trusted growth partner, we co-designed and delivered high-impact programmes, including the Lambeth Innovation Challenge, that directly supported Lambeth's economic development goals. Lambeth Council funding also contributed towards the creation of our London hub for climate innovators which is now home to over 150 climate startups and scaleups.
At the top level, this partnership has enabled the council to:
- Nurture local talent by providing specialist business support to entrepreneurs, including training for Lambeth SMEs and tailored 1:1 business support for 50 local climate startups.
- Attract inward investment by connecting local startups to our national and international funding networks, as well as large corporates looking to work with climate innovators, with 13 partnerships established between startups and larger organisations based in Lambeth.
- Create lasting green jobs by embedding a vibrant community of innovators in Lambeth, retaining and developing talent and creating high-value opportunities for residents.
By combining commercial expertise with local insight, this partnership continues to deliver a tangible return on investment, building a resilient local economy with a strong competitive advantage. We believe that councils can create the most impact when they work together across party lines, using public-private partnerships as a key strategic component in building and maintaining local economic prosperity.
A call to action for local leaders
The journey to thriving places and green economies looks different for every local authority. The lesson from Lambeth is not about simple replication; it's about the power of a bespoke approach that leverages a region's unique strengths.
As local leaders driving economic development, you bring the local knowledge and ambition for your community. Partners like Sustainable Ventures bring the commercial expertise, investor connections, and, in our case, an unparalleled network of climate tech innovators.
This is what collaborative climate action looks like - local, sector and business leaders working together to tackle climate change and create thriving places with fresh air to breathe, warm homes to live in, and a healthy natural environment.
For more information about partnership opportunities that could help your community tackle climate change together, or to discuss your council's specific goals, contact me at joseph.seal-driver@sustainableventures.co.uk.
