Collaborative Working
Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Place Fellowship
The LPIP Place Fellows program brings together leaders and changemakers from across different regions, industries, and areas of expertise. As part of the Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP), the program supports local efforts to create smarter, fairer policies that truly reflect the needs of communities.
The fellows work in areas such as economic growth, social equity, and environmental sustainability, building a diverse and collaborative network to share ideas and drive meaningful change at the local level.
Interview with HDRC co-Investigator
To find out more about the fellowship and how it will benefit relationships between communities and local authorities, read our interview with HDRC co-Investigator, Sophie Cloutterbuck from London Metropolitan University.
- Answer:
- My current role is Director of London Engagement at London Metropolitan University, and no two days are the same! My work is centred on translating the university's civic mission into real-world impact. This means a day could involve anything from developing a new strategy for the London Met Lab to meeting with one of our council partners. I might also be found facilitating workshops, connecting academics with community projects, or helping our students find placements that benefit both their learning and the city. It's a role that's all about building and nurturing relationships.
- Answer:
- My career has not followed a linear path, but has always been driven by a desire for purpose. I began in the finance sector, where I worked on a trading floor, focusing on training people. However, I made a conscious decision to change careers to focus on civic and community work. I started out as a youth worker on the ground, which taught me the power of building genuine, trust-based relationships and truly listening to people's needs. This led me to a career in higher education, where I spent many years as the Head of Widening Participation and Outreach, focusing on breaking down barriers to education. All of these experiences have culminated in my current civic engagement role, where I work to lead strategic partnerships and community-facing work. For more than 20 years, I've been focused on bridging the gap between institutions and the communities they serve.
- Answer:
- The HDRC is a perfect fit for my passion for collaborative, place-based work that addresses real-world challenges. What drew me specifically to Tower Hamlets is the incredible potential of this partnership to address health inequalities in one of London's most vibrant and diverse boroughs. The university's decision to name Tower Hamlets as one of our "in-place" boroughs was strategic, given our campus presence there. This means we have a unique opportunity to embed ourselves in the community.
About the LPIP Fellowship
- Answer:
- I'm incredibly excited about the LPIP Fellowship. This is a unique opportunity to formalise the lessons we are learning and share them with a national audience. My celebration was quite simple: a moment of reflection on the privilege of this opportunity and a renewed focus on ensuring my work is successful.
- Answer:
- Any new challenge comes with a healthy dose of nerves! I am looking forward to working with the other LPIP fellows and other partners. My primary focus is to ensure that my projects are as impactful and insightful as possible. I'm confident that by collaborating, we can navigate any challenges and produce something truly valuable.
- Answer:
- The programme is the Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Place Fellowship. It's not a formal course, but a research and knowledge exchange partnership. The experience needed is a practical, on-the-ground understanding of local policy, which is exactly what my day-to-day work entails. A strong track record of collaborative work and a passion for sharing those insights are also essential.
- Answer:
- Being a part of this program means everything because it gives me a platform to showcase the fantastic work being done. It's an opportunity to translate our practical experiences into a scholarly body of work that can be shared and replicated by others across the country. It allows me to contribute our learnings to the national conversation around local policy.
- Answer:
I'm excited about both of my projects for the LPIP, which are separate but complementary. The first is a comparative analysis of public engagement within Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs) across London. I am especially looking forward to comparing the Tower Hamlets model of public engagement and partnership with others across London.
My second project is a deep dive into the "Trust Deficit" between local government and communities. While this project will also use Tower Hamlets as a key case study, it is a broader exploration of how we can build more relational, co-creative approaches. This is a foundational issue for all civic work, and the chance to explore it in-depth feels incredibly timely and important.
Goals and Impact
- Answer:
- My inspiration was twofold. Firstly, I wanted to formalise the lessons my work has taught me and share them with a wider audience. Secondly, I was drawn to the LPIP’s focus on bridging the gap between academia and policy, which is exactly what we are doing. The insights from our HDRC model can offer a great deal to other local authorities, and the LPIP is the perfect platform to facilitate that knowledge exchange.
- Answer:
- I'm hoping to sharpen my research skills and learn new methodologies for comparative analysis. I also want to gain a deeper understanding of the national policy landscape so I can better champion the work we do in national discussions.
- Answer:
- Ultimately, I want my work to provide a practical guide for local councils and communities alike. I hope to provide recommendations that help councils move away from a transactional approach to a more relational one, fostering genuine co-creation. I want to help local authorities build stronger, more effective relationships with communities, leading to more equitable and sustainable outcomes for everyone—a mission that is perfectly embodied by the Tower Hamlets HDRC.
- Answer:
- My advice is simple: Be passionate, and be specific. A fellowship isn't just about a project; it's about a person's journey and why that person is uniquely suited to tackle a particular issue. Be clear about the problem you want to solve, and show how your work will benefit the wider community. And, of course, don't be afraid to ask for help—a good fellowship is about collaboration, not working in isolation.