Public Life is a social business unlocking the UK's hidden entrepreneurs – paying people with lived experience of social challenges a year's salary to build businesses that solve them. It was founded by James Green after two decades working in public life – and one recurring recognition: the people closest to our most pressing social challenges often have the best ideas to solve them, but lack the economic security and institutional backing to act.
The Citizen First model grew from that recognition – built with communities and refined across three deployments: trials with housing associations across England, a year-long programme in Essex, and now the Liverpool City Region, where it has been independently evaluated at £10.43 of social and economic value for every £1 invested.Today Public Life's entrepreneurs are backed by more than fifty organisations – from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to the University of Liverpool.
The team combines deep experience in business-model innovation, social entrepreneurship and community development, with an advisory board that includes the founders of ?What If! Innovation and Moneypenny, the former CEO of Dunelm, and entrepreneurs who have built successful businesses through this approach.
"James has been working at the forefront of public-led innovation for years. His unique approach puts the public at the heart of change and creates both empowerment and activism at the heart of society. I have seen the impact of his programmes first-hand and have been blown away by him and his team."
Dave Allan, Founder, ?WhatIf! Innovation
.png)
