The public sector is facing unprecedented disruption because of changing markets and austerity. But could commercialisation offer a way to generate desperately needed revenue? That's the question Socitm has recently been exploring, with a particular focus on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) departments.

Some public organisations are already trading successfully. The question arises: why aren't they all doing it? The short answer is it's difficult. They manage budgets, rather than dealing with profit and loss, and they aren't focused on developing new customers and products. But the local authorities that have developed successful commercial products and services are generating income from them.