From 24th to 25th June, the Embridge Consulting team headed to Birmingham to attend Public Finance Live 2025, the flagship CIPFA annual conference. The event brought together public sector finance leaders, practitioners, and experts from across the UK to explore the future of public finance and public service management.
As proud exhibitors, Embridge Consulting was there to connect with delegates, share ideas, and showcase our commitment to supporting the public sector with smart, future-focused digital transformation solutions. And of course, our now famous bears were part of the experience too!
Insights and key takeaways from Public Finance Live
As always, CIPFA’s flagship conference delivered a packed programme of inspiring sessions, expert speakers, and thoughtful discussion. While the timing of the event, coming just before many public sector finance teams finalise year-end accounts, meant that some professionals were unable to attend, the quality of the sessions and the depth of engagement made it a worthwhile and productive experience.
Attendees benefited from a strong line-up of presentations and panel discussions, offering insight into both high-level public policy developments and practical updates on public finance reform and public service delivery. The conference venue itself was well organised, with an improved layout that allowed for longer, more meaningful conversations across the exhibition floor. Networking also remained a key highlight, with day one concluding with a well-attended drinks reception, providing the perfect space for colleagues to reconnect and for new professional relationships to form.
That said, one recurring theme throughout the event was a shared sense of uncertainty surrounding local government reform. While concerns remain, it was clear that events like Public Finance Live 2025 play a vital role in fostering collaboration, sharing best practice, and supporting the sector in navigating change with confidence.
Key lessons from Local Government transformation and restructuring
One particularly valuable session at the conference focused on the challenges of local government restructuring, featuring a representative from Cumberland Council (formerly Cumbria County Council). They shared reflections on their recent transition to a new unitary authority, offering honest insight into what worked, and what they would do differently next time.
The key takeaway was clear: before any major restructure, it’s essential to look closely at your systems and processes. In this case, the council found that delaying systems rationalisation until after the new authority was created made things more complex and harder to manage. With hindsight, they would have prioritised reviewing and aligning their systems earlier in the process to ensure a smoother transition and better service continuity.
It was a timely reminder of how important early planning and digital readiness are in any public sector transformation, especially when facing large-scale organisational change.
“The session on local government restructuring was one of the most insightful I attended at the conference. Hearing firsthand about the challenges the former Cumbria County Council faced when they restructured and that in hindsight, they would have tackled systems rationalisation early in the process rather than after the new Cumberland Council was created, highlighted important considerations for those currently formulating their plans.
It’s a practical lesson that will definitely inform how we support our customers and prospects with the challenges that they face now, as they restructure and transform. Perhaps systems rationalisation is something that should be tackled as part of the process, rather than left until later when it becomes much more challenging?”
– Mike White, Public Sector Sales, Embridge Consulting
Bringing delegates to the stand with our Embridge Bears
Without a doubt, one of the most talked-about features of our stand at Public Finance Live 2025 was our set of limited-edition Embridge, LEO and BTaaS branded teddy bears. These quickly became some of the most sought-after giveaways at the event, drawing steady interest from delegates (and exhibitors!) across both days.
To build excitement and encourage interaction, we ran a ‘Name the Bears’ competition, giving attendees the opportunity to win their own exclusive teddy bear. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with many visitors returning to our stand to take part and find out more about our services in the process.
Complementing this was our Teddy Bears’ Picnic prize, whereby delegates entered for the chance to win a luxury Fortnum & Mason hamper, along with all three branded bears. Engagement remained high throughout the conference, and we were thrilled to announce the lucky winner live at the event, rounding off the activity with real energy and impact.
This light-hearted campaign not only brought personality to our stand but also proved to be a powerful way to start conversations, build connections, and raise awareness of our work across the public sector.
The value of public sector finance events and conferences
For Embridge, attending events like Public Finance Live is about far more than simply showcasing our latest solutions, it’s an invaluable opportunity to listen closely, learn from sector leaders, and stay connected to the evolving needs of the public sector. These events provide a unique platform to engage directly with finance professionals, decision-makers, and innovators who are driving change across local government and wider public services.
Our focus remains on delivering finance transformation, digital innovation, and smarter technology integration that help public sector organisations operate more efficiently, reduce costs, and improve outcomes for the communities they serve. At Embridge Consulting, we specialise in supporting customers with end-to-end digital transformation, from strategic consultancy and business processes, to ERP implementations, systems optimisation, and managed services through our BTaaS (Business Transformation as a Service) offering.
By understanding the specific pressures and challenges faced by councils, central government bodies, and public service providers, we can design and deliver practical, future-ready solutions that support better decision-making, drive operational efficiency, and ensure digital resilience.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to continue building on these relationships and insights at next year’s Public Finance Live, as we remain committed to helping the public sector achieve more through smart, scalable transformation.