Simon is a Senior Researcher at the Centre for Local Economies (CLES) with extensive experience in public procurement, local government policy, and progressive economic development. Much of his work focuses on transforming procurement practices to deliver public value and support community wealth building. He has advised councils and anchor institutions across the UK on embedding inclusive, place-based approaches that strengthen local economies and reduce inequality.
We need to talk about procurement
03/04/2026
Cliff Mills and Simon Grove-White explain why local government’s dependence on contracts is undermining public value and public purpose. Local government in England is once again being reshaped through structural