understanding us

We have been friends with Pat for over 30 years when he told us that he had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) We

On the 15th of February Britain was reported to be “officially” in a recession, although the downturn had already appeared in the last quarter of

The WhatIf Group has been working successfully with a few equitable Public & Private sectors sharing the risk and the reward, unfortunately that cannot be

https://www.placemanagement.org/news/posts/2023/july/better-public-private-partnerships-must-shape-the-future-of-levelling-up/ Photo Courtesy of altrincham.todaynews.co.uk

WHY LOCAL AUTHORITIES NEED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST LOCALLY Anyone watching Panorama on BBC on 31st July 2023 on the financial disaster at Thurrock Council

Economy and wellbeing are in the best cases closely interlinked and mutually reinforcing. Economic growth improves people’s wellbeing, whereas wellbeing and health of the population

The concept of the circular economy has the potential to benefit society and communities in addition to generating commercial benefits for retailers. Retailers that adopt

For decades, shopping centres were the lifeblood of many town centres, having represented the ‘jewel in the crown’ for numerous local authority regeneration strategies. These

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/politicians-make-decision-long-awaited-26733126 Reporter Emily Craigie – Local Democracy Reporter Photo courtesy of TeessideLive If you would like to speak to someone at the WhatIf Group to

Since Nicholas Ridley was Secretary of State in the late 80’s there has been a clamour at ministerial level for reform of the planning system.

A 15-minute city is an urban concept, in which most daily necessities can be accomplished by either walking or cycling from residents’ homes. They are places to

These 8 cities around the world are putting their focus on biking and walking — not cars Photo by Maixent-Viau

Is there a bigger opportunity when greening town centres that have fractured occupational and economic needs.  Read the full report from Savills – RE:Imagining Retail

Happy New Year to all and all the very best for 23 from WhatifGroup.io! Town Centres –Public Private Partnerships providing opportunities for the whole of

At the beginning of 2022 The WhatIf Group never fully realised all it would achieve. Building on existing relationships and creating New Friends, New Partnerships,

WISHING ALL OUR PARTNERS, AFFILIATES, COLLEAGUES, AND FRIENDS                            A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS       PICTURE COURTESY OF JESIWN THOMAS

Will the “Levelling up”programme now be possible? Local government is creaking under further austerity. Social care makes up onaverage 50% of local government spending and

At WhatifGroup we believe in doing things differently- not because we want to be awkward, but because the old way is obsolete. We want to

The Government has 3 investment priorities of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which relate to 7 of the 12 Government Levelling up Missions. These are

The Government has 3 investment priorities of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which relate to 7 of the 12 Government Levelling up Missions. These are

The Government has 3 investment priorities of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which relate to 7 of the 12 Government Levelling up Missions. These are

This fund is the replacement to the European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) which runs out in 2023. The Government has released pre-launch guidelines (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus/delivery-geographies)

As a business is it really necessary to form partnerships?  That could depend on what you are trying to achieve and how soon you want

A year on – What we have been up to? We are incredibly proud that we have been working with some fantastic Clients and we

A year on – What we have been up to? We are incredibly proud that we have been working with some fantastic Clients and we

(Main Photograph courtesy of Freepik.com) If you are a Gamer, you will have heard of “level up.”  It means advancing from one level to another.

Our very own Kevin Parkes has had an input into an article in the Big Issue North (14th – 20th feb 22) in respect of

At the click of a button, we can have anything we want, from anywhere in the world and it is this phenomenon that has changed

(Image Source: https://fernandesmakes.co.uk/pages/connecting-columns) Whatif Group are currently working with Peel, helping Quayside,MediaCity. As the first collaboration of many  with Islington Mill and local groups, we

There has been much scepticism about the outcomes COP 26 Climate Change Conference. Firstly, because senior politicians from both China and Russia failed to attend.

Building the momentum The Tees Valley is flourishing and its extraordinary transformation is set to continue. Across the sub-region there are developments springing up –

AN INVESTMENT APPROACH THAT LOOKS AT THE SUM OF THE PARTS BEFORE THE INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH In an ideal world where there is

This is at the forefront of UN Sustainable Development Goal 4. So how do we at the Whatif Group incorporate this goal into our Town

When we are ailing, we usually take a prescribed or over the counter medicine or two, and if things don’t improve, we go to see

How can we as a company effect change, or for that matter how does any public or private enterprise effect change? Well, first they each

More and more people are moving towards urbanised living, leaving the suburbs behind. The myths of city centre deprivation are long gone and people are

Dear Paul, The election of a Senior Fellow is always based upon the unanimous decision of our existing Senior Fellows. It is the highest level

The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) is a framework that can be used by businesses to work towards improving equality, health, wellbeing and sustainability

Ethical investing is investing in projects that sit in line with your values and principles both socially, morally or religiously.  The only person who can

PPP STRATEGY PAPER Jan 21 V4

The  Municipal Bonds Agency is working on a plan that allows local authorities to issue ESG bonds.  They are working on a framework which will

Over the past few years, Local authorities have been hit hard with austerity and now Covid and will have to become more innovative in their thinking

These are tumultuous times for the UK’s High Streets. The response that is needed is exceptional and at a scale that is more than any

The dirty secret of capitalism – and a new way forward. Rising inequality and growing political instability are the direct result of decades of bad

Why shopping centre owners should pursue a strategy of developing partnerships with the public sector and vice-versa. Post Covid the vast majority of UK shopping

Every week I do a quick update that explains what’s happened work wise, this past week or so. This last week feels like we’ve become