Core Cities UK is staffed by a small team. We have an administrative base in Manchester's historic Town Hall but work across all our cities.
Stephen Jones, Director, Core Cities UK
Stephen has been Director of Core Cities UK since October 2022. In that time, he has looked to strengthen Core Cities engagement with Government and the private sector and working collaboratively with others to shape policy through influential reports like the Urban Futures Commission and Preventative Public Services.
Prior to joining Core Cities UK, Stephen spent 19 years in the civil service, most recently as the Director of the Cities and Local Growth Unit, jointly working between the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. He has worked across a number of government departments, including seven years in the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury, and has worked on a range of economic and domestic policy agendas.
Will Mapplebeck, Head of Public Affairs and Communications
Will began his career in regional journalism before leaving to become a communications manager for a public sector organisation. He then started a freelance career working with clients including the UK Film Council and the Open University. He joined Core Cities UK from Newcastle City Council where he worked on a range of projects including communications around adult social care, social housing and advising the then leader on how to communicate measures around austerity. Will chairs the Core Cities UK Communication Group and is a passionate believer in the power and potential of the local state and of the difference that evidence-based policy can make to people's lives. He has also written for regional and specialist publications about Core Cities UK and its work. In 2023 he was selected to join the Japanese Local Government Centre's annual study tour to Kagoshima prefecture to look at lessons to be learned from Japan's approach to devolution and decentralisation.
Diane Chan, Policy and Governance Officer, Core Cities UK
Diane had five years of Software Engineering/Development experience before moving into Local Government. She joined Manchester City Council as a Graduate Management Trainee working in Back Office Council wide SAP implementation, Highways Services and Ward Co-ordination. Prior to Core Cities UK, she has worked primarily in Children and Families, in particular, research and analysis, communications commissioning, policy and performance in Adult Services and Safeguarding.