The Improvement Service (IS) is the national improvement organisation for local government in Scotland.
Our purpose is to help councils and their partners to improve the health, quality of life and opportunities of all people in Scotland through community leadership, strong local governance and the delivery of high quality, efficient local services.
Through a series of principles, the IS works to promote improvement in local government and among its partners to support them improve outcomes and reduce the outcome gaps within populations and within areas.
The IS delivers a range of products and services that support CPPs to build their capacity to deliver the public service reform agenda.
The IS has a non-partisan role to support all elected members in Scotland.
Latest Publication
A review of the impact of 2016-17 local authority budget cuts on the provision of money advice services which are funded and/or delivered by local authorities.
As well as news from the Improvement Service other news relevant to local government improvement in Scotland. is also published. The Improvement Service welcomes contributions from Scottish local authorities and partner organisations. If you have a story you would like to share, contact us.
The Improvement Services produces a series of newsletters on a range of subjects, including myaccount, elected members, tellmescotland as well as the main IS newsletter. Subscribe on this page.
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Find out about all the events and activities organised by the Improvement Service or of interest to Scottish local authorities here. If you would like to add an event to this calendar, please contact info@improvementservice.org.uk
You can quickly browse events from the calendar opposite, or go to the events page for full details of all events.
We publish news from the Improvement Service as well as other news relevant to local government improvement in Scotland. We welcome contributions from Scottish local authorities and partner organisations. If you have a story you would like to share, contact us.
IS awarded funding to support CEDAR groups
The Improvement Service has been awarded three years funding from the Big Lottery Fund to provide strategic support to CEDAR (Children Experiencing Domestic Abuse Recovery) groups working in eight local authority areas across Scotland.
myaccount scoops award for citizen engagement
myaccount, the simple and secure sign-in service for accessing eligible online public services in Scotland, won the Citizen Award at Holyrood’s 2017 Connect ICT Awards.
First advice agencies accredited under new Scottish National Standards process
The first four advice agencies to receive accreditation under the Scottish Government’s new quality assurance model have been announced.
Money Advice Outcomes team backs #talkmoneyworries campaign
The Improvement Service’s Money Advice Outcomes Project is supporting the Money Advice Service campaign #talkmoneyworries and the call for family and friends to spot the signs that people close to them might be experiencing problem debts.
Improvement Service a winner at the Scottish Transport Awards
The National Entitlement Card (NEC) migration project was named winner of the 'Excellence in Technology and Innovation' award at this year's Scottish Transport Awards.
2017 SURF Awards open for applications
The 2017 SURF Awards are now open for applications. The annual awards recognise best practice and innovation in community regeneration.
Building a Local Government Associates Framework - information events
The Improvement Service is commissioning an Associates Framework to support change programmes in councils and community planning partnerships (CPPs).
We are now planning two information events to give out more information about the framework and the types of skills, knowledge and experience we'll be looking for. The events will take place in Edinburgh on 15 June 2017 and Glasgow on 21 June 2017.
IS projects in Connect Awards shortlist
Two IS projects have been shortlisted in this year's Connect Awards.
Barriers to community engagement in planning study published
The Scottish Government has published a study on the barriers to community engagement in the Scottish planning system.
International e-health prize for 'My Diabetes My Way'
My Diabetes My Way, an online platform for people with diabetes, has been recognised internationally, winning the eHealth Adoption Award at eHealth Week 2017 in Malta.
Nominations open for Scottish Public Service Awards
The Improvement Service (IS) is supporting this year's Scottish Public Service Awards, run by Holyrood magazine.
Associates framework to offer affordable support to councils and CPPs
An 'associates framework' is being commissioned by the IS as part of our support for councils and CPPs. The key purpose of the framework is to provide access to a wide range of expert support and resources to help the IS, CPPs and councils progress work where they need extra capacity on a flexible basis.
Award nominations for card migration project and Data Hub
The National Entitlement Card Migration Project has been shortlisted for three awards at this year’s Scottish Transport Awards.
Places, People and Planning: A consultation on the future of the Scottish planning system
The Improvement Service (IS) welcomed the recent opportunity to input into this review of the planning system. The consultation highlights the key role of planning to nurture our places, our environment and our communities, and guide future change so that it benefits everyone.
Delegates gather for Scottish Financial Education Conference
Around 150 delegates gathered in Edinburgh for the first financial education conference held in Scotland since 2012.
National accreditation now available for advice providers
Funding for a new accreditation model for the not-for-profit advice sector has been secured from the Scottish Government. The Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers (SNSIAP) accreditation model is available for housing, welfare benefits and money/debt advice, managed by the Scottish Legal Aid Board.
First Financial Education Week, 20-24 March 2017
Scotland's first Financial Education Week runs from the 20-24 March, organised by Education Scotland and the Money Advice Service, in partnership with the Scottish Financial Capability Partnership.
Innovation Exchange shows councils’ inventive and creative approaches to services
SOLACE Scotland and the Improvement Service have launched the Local Government Innovation Exchange (www.innovationexchange.scot), a website showcasing work by Scottish local authorities.
More councils publishing more notices on tellmescotland
Thirty-one of Scotland's 32 councils are now using tellmescotland to publish public information notices (PINs) as Aberdeenshire Council becomes the latest to join the portal.
Councils continue to deliver despite financial pressures, new report shows
Total current spending by Scottish councils has reduced by 11% in real terms from £17.18 billion to £15.30 billion in the last six years according to a new report. The report also highlights that despite this 11% reduction across the period, the vast majority of productivity, output and outcome measures within councils have improved.
Councillor induction materials now available
Three induction notebooks for intended for councillors due to be elected in May have been published by the IS. The notebooks make up the first of a series of seven that will be available to new councillors.
Health centre-based advisors improve outcomes and offer value for money
Locating advice workers in health centres and allowing them access to individual medical records (with consent) results in positive outcomes for vulnerable people and represents good value for money, finds a new report.
Tackling economic challenges at joint conference
Brexit, City Region Deals and budget challenges were among the topics under discussion at the first joint conference of EDAS (Economic Development Association Scotland) and SLAED (Scottish Local Authorities Economic Development) in December.
Conference sets the stage for community empowerment
Delegates from across Scotland gathered in Kilmarnock last week for a national conference on community empowerment.
The event, entitled 'Our journey to people-powered transformation', was jointly held by East Ayrshire Council and the Improvement Service and it attracted representation from public sector agencies and local authorities from across Scotland.
IS support for Place Standard tool
The Improvement Service is offering support to Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) in using and applying the Place Standard tool.
The Place Standard tool is being welcomed as a way of finding out what communities think of their place. It provides a valuable input into any place-based, collaborative working.
First Financial Capability Week highlights UK money concerns
The UK’s first Financial Capability Week is taking place from 14–20 November, aiming to raise awareness about what financial capability means, its importance, and the organisations involved in making a difference.
Enhanced change management support for councils
Councils undergoing change can look forward to more support from the Improvement Service (IS).
The IS has expanded its change management team and is developing an enhanced programme of work in this area. The focus will be on providing support to councils and partnerships to deliver transformational and operational level change.
myaccount-supported website commended at national awards
A NHS Scotland website that helps diabetes patients and their carers manage their condition has been commended at the National Quality in Care Diabetes Awards 2016.
Chief Digital Officer and Chief Technology Officer for local government appointed
Two senior officers have been appointed to the newly created local government digital office to help a group of Scottish councils drive change across local services.
Martyn Wallace and Dr Colin Birchenall will take up their new posts as Chief Digital Officer and Chief Technology Officer in the coming weeks.
East Ayrshire & West Lothian councils extend their use of tellmescotland
East Ayrshire and West Lothian councils are widening their use of tellmescotland, publishing new types of public notices to the portal.
Transformation essential to offset budget cuts to money advice services
Local authorities will need to implement wide-ranging transformation in order to maintain advice services in the face of budget cuts, according to a review by the Money Advice Outcomes Project.
Community planning support portal launched
A new web portal signposting the support available for Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) has been launched.
Developed by the Improvement Service, the Community Planning in Scotland portal brings together information about the support available from national improvement agencies (Improvement Service, Education Scotland, NHS Health Scotland and NHS National Services Scotland) and national programmes such as Workforce Scotland.
Aberdeenshire Council launches new Alerts Service using myaccount
In a move to further encourage take-up of online services, Aberdeenshire Council has launched a new Alerts Service using myaccount - the first time the sign-in service has been used in this way.
