Commercialisation in English local government

Voytenko, Vitaly (2025). Commercialisation in English local government. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This thesis explores commercialisation in English local government from the perspective of councils as suppliers of commercial products and services. It argues that the neo-liberalisation of public policy and, in particular, the austerity measures of the 2010s have removed the optionality of conducting new commercial activities for local authorities and made these activities compelled in the environment of chronic underfunding of perma-austerity.

By examining the range of internal and external influences that impact the behaviour of commercial actors in councils and linking these influences to the organisational approach to commercial activity, the thesis presents a typology of compelled entrepreneurism in local government. The findings of this research point to broader implications of council commercialisation for policy and practice and provide an insight into English local government through the lens of compelled entrepreneurs as its key actors in an era of austerity.

The thesis also examines the conflict of commercial decision-making preferences that underpins commercialisation in local government as an inherent contradiction between corporate and social values. It presents a theoretical framework that challenges the zero-sum view of this tension by acknowledging social value as the ultimate outcome of councils’ commercialisation approaches. This approach to analysing and negotiating the conflict of values as part of the commercialisation process has potential cross-sector application.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):