The Improvement Service is focussed on improving the efficiency, quality and accountability of public services in Scotland through learning, sharing knowledge and delivering improvement solutions.

It aims to support continuous improvement by building on the expertise within local authorities and working in partnership with stakeholders in the public, private and voluntary sectors. It provides advice and support in the following areas: Best Value, efficient government and performance management, elected members' development, knowledge management, capacity building and management development, partnership and joint working, Shared Services and the Customer First programme. The core objectives are to:

• promote a learning culture and support collaborative working across local authorities and their partners;
• build capacity within local government to improve the skills of officers and elected members;
• promote good practice across Scottish local government;
• promote the use of knowledge management within local authorities to support sharing and learning, e-governance and business re-design;
• identify good practice and learning from outside Scotland and other areas of the public, private and voluntary sector to share with Scottish local government.

The Improvement Service is governed by a Board and is established as a partnership between the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE). It is a Company limited by guarantee.

Related documents

 Improvement Service Business Plan 2007-2008
 Improvement Service Business Achievements 2006/2007
 Improvement Service Annual Report 2006-2007