BAFA Public Services and Charities SIG Report on the Workshop on Commercialisation

This report summarises a BAFA Public Services and Charities SIG workshop held at the University of Manchester in February 2026 on commercialisation in public services and charities. Bringing together academics and practitioners, the workshop explored accountability, governance and public value challenges across central government, local government, healthcare, higher education and charities, alongside the growing significance of digital and commercial delivery models. The report identifies cross-cutting concerns around transparency, risk, responsibility and capability, while highlighting sector-specific research opportunities. It proposes a forward-looking research agenda to examine how commercialisation is reshaping public service organisations and how accountability can remain meaningful in hybrid arrangements.