I often get inspired when I meet people who use our services and see the way they tackle difficulties in their lives - for example, battling addiction, coming out of jail and getting into work, securing employment after many years out of work. In the same way, the work we do with business and voluntary organisations also inspires me as I see entrepreneurs use business support services to grow their companies and we assist voluntary and community groups build their capacity and self sufficiency as well as utilise grant support to provide amazing work. And of course, I am inspired daily by the staff in A4e who put their heart and soul in working with our customers to turn public policy into practical, high quality services for our customers. We don't get it right all the time (thanks to those who write to me to let me know - please see my next Blog!) but we do work every day to continuously improve the services we provide and make them relevant to all the people and organisations using A4e's services in the UK and overseas.

Part of my role is ensuring A4e is equipped to contribute to the continuing drive and demand for improved public services. If we are going to work in this sector internationally over the next 20 years we must continue to evolve our services - as we always have done - to meet the needs of our customers, in the context of the public sector arrangement in which we operate. As I have said many times, to many people, over the last 10 years (apologies to those I bore) reforming and continuously improving public services can only happen where the public, private and voluntary/community sector work effectively together. This isn't easy, it takes commitment and it takes time. The work never stops, it continuously evolves - and for many people who work in the same areas I do, it can be a tiring process but rewarding when it works.

Today I was at a Summit on the reform of Public Services. Three people in particular, inspired me today. They inspired me in two ways - to move my thinking on and consider different things and to continue to drive this agenda positively because it is the right thing to do. I believe in fantastic public services that deliver value for money and most importantly what the customer expects, needs and in the end, demands. This is tough, challenging work.

Every day, I learn something new and the challenge is how to apply it. Lord Adebolwale was one of the people who provided inspiration, with his clarity of purpose and simple articulation of why public AND private AND voluntary/not for profit organisations need to get their act together to support end users. Similarly, Sir Michael Lyons - summarising some of his emerging thoughts on local government services - provided a series of concise observations, questions and suggestions that can move the UK's public services into the world leading services they can be. And, like him or loathe him, Tony Blair was a class act evoking the need for public service reform. Impressive and inspirational stuff today which helps energise people like me to get on and do something.

The common theme about public service reform is dead simple. To nick Lord Adebowale's points - it's about services to the public. Put them at the heart of the strategy and delivery, work it up from there - transfer best practice, improve the bits that can be built on and innovate to come up with new solutions to long standing challenges. Ignore vested interest and invite customers and stakeholders into the design of service reform.

My view is you have to enjoy and believe in what you do - that's part of the public service ethos. Social responsibility is inside us all not tacked on as an afterthought. The Health Service is having a tough time and I've always wondered what should be done and had some opinions. So rather than sit on my backside and comment, I applied to sit on a Board to become part of the solution. They accepted so I better give it my best shot.

On a personal level, I try to improve what I do and learn from people I meet. Whether that’s a customer who complains or the Prime Minister of a country, everyone has something useful to say. I apply the same principles to the business – learn, evolve, improve - and the people who work in A4e bring that same commitment. Some days empty the energy from your soul and some days fill them up. Anyway, I’m as committed as ever to share our learning and learn from others to ensure we continue to work hard to make public services excel.