Signal Over Noise

Sign in Subscribe

Strategic Alignment for Place-Based Prosperity: Integrating Local Growth Plans, Spatial Strategies, and Pension Fund Investment

Strategic Alignment for Place-Based Prosperity: Integrating Local Growth Plans, Spatial Strategies, and Pension Fund Investment

A New Paradigm for Local Growth and Investment A rare and time-sensitive confluence of government reforms spanning devolution, pension fund investment, and strategic planning has created an unparalleled opportunity to reshape local economic development in England. Landmark legislation, including the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill ii, alongside the government&

The Missing Link: Local Authorities as Catalysts for Pension Investment in Communities

The Missing Link: Local Authorities as Catalysts for Pension Investment in Communities

Introduction: What if Your Pension Could Build a Better World? As I talked about in my previous post about the quiet pension fund reform Most of us think of a pension fund as a giant savings pot, a pool of money from thousands of people that is carefully invested to

Unlocking Industrial Futures: Why Digital Strategy and Place-Based Governance Are the New Infrastructure for Private Capital

Unlocking Industrial Futures: Why Digital Strategy and Place-Based Governance Are the New Infrastructure for Private Capital

By Paul Frainer, Olive Branch Consulting Next week at the Last Mile Conference, I’ll be joining a panel alongside Paul Weston (Prologis), Jonathan Holland (Legal & General), and others to explore a critical question: How can the UK’s industrial strategy unlock institutional capital to deliver the modern, flexible

The Business Case for Your Council’s Reorganisation is Probably Wrong. Here are Four Reasons Why.

The Business Case for Your Council’s Reorganisation is Probably Wrong. Here are Four Reasons Why.

Over the next few weeks, UK Citizens will (if they haven’t already) see a steady stream of updates from councils about Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). Most of it will sound confusing or irrelevant, and honestly, that’s not the fault of councils comms teams. Far from it, they’ve

The Business Case for Your Council’s Reorganisation is Probably Wrong. Here are Four Reasons Why.

The Business Case for Your Council’s Reorganisation is Probably Wrong. Here are Four Reasons Why.

Over the next few weeks, UK Citizens will (if they haven’t already) see a steady stream of updates from councils about Local Government…

Coming soon

This is Signal Over Noise, a brand new site by Paul Frainer that's just getting started. Things will be up and running here shortly, but you can subscribe in the meantime if you'd like to stay up to date and receive emails when new content is

Your Pension Fund Has a New Mission: Rebuilding Your Town. Here’s What You Need to Know.

Your Pension Fund Has a New Mission: Rebuilding Your Town. Here’s What You Need to Know.

Your Pension Isn’t Just a Number Anymore

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), Devolution, Strategic Planning, Growth and Investment

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), Devolution, Strategic Planning, Growth and Investment

The English Devolution White Paper sets out a new devolution architecture for England, centered around Strategic Authorities. These…

Weeknote 24th Jan 2025: Strategic Planning Group (SPG) week and UK Innovation

Session 6, Topic 5 of the SPG SDS examinations, Local Growth Plans, old friends and colleagues and Family Forum time.

Labour have actually got their ducks in a row on growth….

Labour have actually got their ducks in a row on growth….

The elusive positive growth narrative is already in the hands of the new government, they just need to frame it…

Strategic Planning Part 2.1: Integrated Data — Transport

Strategic Planning Part 2.1: Integrated Data — Transport

Very tardy part 2 (despite my best efforts). Its been a very busy few weeks second guessing and preparing what the next few months will…

Strategic Planning Part 1: Will open data be the foundation for super-charging Planning Reform

Strategic Planning Part 1: Will open data be the foundation for super-charging Planning Reform

What do we even mean by strategic planning and why is data so important

The ‘Devolution Revolution’

The ‘Devolution Revolution’

Some personal musings on the new paper from Reform Think Tank on reimagining local government structures built for the 21st century…

Transport Planning in the UK: Part 1 A Refresh, Organisations, Infrastructure, Policy, and Housing

Transport Planning in the UK: Part 1 A Refresh, Organisations, Infrastructure, Policy, and Housing

I thought I’d pick up another light topic that has been sat in my blog backlog. This is the first in a series so stay tuned….

How many houses are we actually building?

How many houses are we actually building?

An insight into how we are currently monitoring housing delivery and how modern approaches to better collection, management and use of data…

Weeknotes Series 5, Eps 5: Projects, Planning and Puppies

Weeknotes Series 5, Eps 5: Projects, Planning and Puppies

Back to some Weeknotes, maybe the imminent spring sunshine will give me a bit of consistency in these.

Some Thoughts on Engagement

Some Thoughts on Engagement

I’ve been involved (to a very tiny percent) in some work we are doing with the LGA and New Local on innovative community engagement and was…

Solace in togetherness, recombination and collaboration. Weeknotes S5, Eps 4

Solace in togetherness, recombination and collaboration. Weeknotes S5, Eps 4

LocalGov Camp 2022; Systems, SEND and Social Care

LocalGov Camp 2022; Systems, SEND and Social Care

My week was really punctuated by #LocalGov Camp22 and my first LocalCamp, as having come from the slightly more traditional side of local…

Good Growth? A return to 1980s economic policy: a reflection on the mini budget

Good Growth? A return to 1980s economic policy: a reflection on the mini budget

Earlier this summer I chaired an IED webinar, “Good growth — how do we look beyond GDP to support the charge to net zero?”

Weeknotes S5; Eps 3 Vlognotes, LGA, Climate, Multiplied and Integration

Weeknotes S5; Eps 3 Vlognotes, LGA, Climate, Multiplied and Integration

Deets for the LGA conference programme retrospective (obvs) LGA Conference 2022

Weeknotes S5, Eps2 Growth, Devolution and Bookclub

Weeknotes S5, Eps2 Growth, Devolution and Bookclub

A couple of things I wanted to reflect on this week; one of them was that it’s really tricky at the moment to get time to get these…

Weeknotes S5:Eps 1 Hello from the other side…

Weeknotes S5:Eps 1 Hello from the other side…

Hey, thanks for coming…

Building Waste; Carbon Net Zero and Circular Economy Principles

Building Waste; Carbon Net Zero and Circular Economy Principles

Blog Post Topic 29.11.21

A man walked into a bar…

A man walked into a bar…

(Not my story… credits to https://www.facebook.com/AspergerSyndromeAwareness/)