Public service hubs are organizational arrangements bringing together multiple services and professionals to address complex social challenges. Despite their growing adoption, these hubs remain poorly conceptualized and theoretically underdeveloped. The special issue seeks to advance understanding of what constitutes a hub, how it differs from other collaborative forms, and what value it creates.
The call particularly welcomes research examining financial and resourcing dimensions of hub working, including funding mechanisms, commissioning, and value-for-money evaluations. Submissions should critically explore hub design, implementation, governance, and evaluation, acknowledging the diversity of models ranging from specialist to inclusive arrangements, and including emerging digital variants. Contributions may draw on various theoretical frameworks and examine hubs internationally using alternative terminology.
The journal invites practitioner-academic collaborations and welcomes debate and new development formats alongside research articles.