A personal start and the “Bob test” 

The event opened with moving remarks from Bob’s wife, Lady Anne Kerslake, who thanked the community for keeping Bob’s name and his work active and relevant, noting his fierce intellect, strong moral compass and relentless commitment to public service. She posed a challenge that set the tone for the night: would this pass the Bob test?  

From local to national: breaking a “glass wall” 

Our keynote speaker, the Rt Hon Greg Clark, reflected on Bob’s path from local government to the heart of Whitehall, describing him as a conductor who could bring multiple voices into a purposeful whole. Clark asked why more leaders do not cross this divide and argued that the “glass wall” between local officers and central officials should be shattered, in Bob’s memory and in the public interest.  

Clark also shared how, as a minister, he repeatedly sought Bob’s counsel, describing it as the embodiment of quiet, calm deliberation in service of delivery.  

Universities and place: a civic mission renewed 

Higher education was a lifelong passion for Bob. Clark revisited Bob’s work chairing the Civic University Commission, which urged universities to turn outward and anchor themselves in the needs of their places. Since then, progress has been tangible: 27 civic university agreements covering 40+ institutions now set evidence-based objectives for local impact. He said that universities playing a role as civic leaders, not distant observers, remains central to how we think about skills, health, productivity and inclusion.  

Skills, work and the next big review 

Clark argued that the UK is ready for a new, whole-system look at the bridge from learning to work. He highlighted two trends: 

• A sharp decline in mature and part-time undergraduate study over the last decade, with part-time entrants down by over 50% since the early 2010s.  
• Employers across the country struggling to recruit people with the right skills.  

Clark highlighted one promising route – degree apprenticeships. In 2023, 50,000 people in England started a degree apprenticeship. While this represented an increase from prior years, Clark argued that it is still a tiny fraction of potential demand. He concluded that, by not doing more to promote this route, we are underserving learners and employers.  

Beyond specific pathways, Clark’s core message was to make employability a mainstream expectation. He suggested treating UK degrees as “vocational by default” - with integrated careers guidance, assessed placements where appropriate, and clearer support for students who want to start a business. 

A word of thanks 

We’re grateful to Anne for opening the evening with warmth and challenge, to Greg Clark for a generous, substantive lecture, to those that helped organise the event, and to everyone who joined us to celebrate Bob’s legacy and push for practical reform. As Clark reminded us, Bob’s perspective was inclusive and delivery-focused - exactly what’s needed to make public services brilliant.  

Stay in the loop 

We will continue to organise Kerslake Memorial Lectures annually. To be first to hear about future lectures and related events - and to receive practical insights on public services - sign up to The PSC newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn to be part of this ongoing conversation about the future of public service.