Public Life was founded by James Green after more than two decades working in public life — from youth work to national housing lobbying to community development.
Through that experience, he recognised a fundamental problem: 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 on those ideas.
James designed and proved a model that addresses this: pay people a Real Living Wage salary to build businesses rooted in their lived experience, while mobilising local institutions around them.
After successful programmes demonstrated strong social returns, he founded Public Life to scale the approach nationwide as civic infrastructure.
Public Life is led by a team with deep experience in business model innovation, social entrepreneurship, and community development — backed by 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 proven 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)
