More Than Data: Impera’s Holistic Impact on Strategy, Culture, and Communities in Leeds
Leeds City Council has been a long-term and established partner of Impera Analytics, working together to embed insight, alignment, and equity across strategies, systems, and services. What began as a data-focused engagement has grown into a strategic partnership—helping Leeds shape more inclusive policies, strengthen internal collaboration, and target investment where it matters most.
Despite the complexity of overlapping systems and governance layers, Impera’s approach has provided a common framework for change, supporting joined-up thinking, guiding funding decisions, and building trust with communities.
Strategic Integration Across Council Functions
Today, Impera’s approach is embedded across at least eight key policy areas in Leeds, supporting cross-functional teams to shape long-term strategies, align priorities, and deliver more joined-up outcomes.
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Best City Ambition – The Social Progress Index (SPI) is one of the two core metrics guiding this flagship strategy.
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Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) – SPI sits alongside the JSNA to provide a broader picture of wellbeing and inclusion.
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Communities Teams – SPI informs priority neighbourhood plans and asset-based community development.
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Public Health Teams – Used in alignment with the Marmot City framework to reduce health inequalities.
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Local Plans – Guides the development of Leeds’ 2040 spatial plans, helping justify priorities with strong social evidence.
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20-Minute City Hexagons – SPI data supports spatial equity in access to services.
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Shared Prosperity Fund – Used to steer funding decisions, guiding where and how levelling-up investments are made.
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Financial Inclusion Team – Informs planning for credit union partnerships and financial hardship interventions.
Driving Decisions from the Start of the Policy Cycle
The SPI is now primarily used at the beginning of the policy cycle, supporting early-stage conversations around investment, strategic alignment, and long-term planning. It ensures that decisions are not only reactive, but evidence-led and equity-driven from the outset.
“We wanted to hold ourselves to account. The SPI gives us a way to measure if we’re truly meeting community needs.” – Leeds City Council
What began as a dataset has evolved into a citywide framework for accountability, planning, and community impact. In Leeds, this approach has helped break down silos across departments, embed social value into environmental and economic strategies, strengthen the case for funding bids and local plans, and foster a shared commitment to equitable outcomes. Impera Analytics is more than a data provider — we’re a long-term partner in transformation.
We take the time to understand each organisation’s context and priorities, support the meaningful integration of insight alongside local intelligence, and build internal capacity so teams can lead with confidence, alignment, and purpose. Our goal is not dependency — it’s empowerment. We equip our partners to grow, adapt, and deliver impact well beyond our engagement.