Business Planning and Organisational Change

We support a range of different organisations to identify, plan and implement change.

This has incorporated varied areas of change, for example the more efficient use of existing estates, business plans for new interventions, new ‘ways of working’, and the creation of new commissioning structures. Our work in this area has included a series of high profile clients including the Health Research Authority, the General Pharmaceutical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

The case studies below showcase our business planning and organisational change expertise.

Case Studies

Health Research Authority, Estates Strategy and Ways of Working Support

The Health Research Authority (HRA) promotes and protect the interests of patients in health research. To meet its efficiency targets, the HRA required a real estate and ‘ways of working’ review, particularly with regard to its five UK offices.

Following a period of research Carney Green presented potential alternative models for the location and space utilisation of the HRA’s office estate, and also the operational practices of its staff. An Options Appraisal workshop led to a preferred option and the development of a 5-year Estates Strategy. This considered issues such as migration phasing, use of pilot periods to test new working practices, lease breaks, gradual exit/entry issues, an assessment of IT issues, and change management.

Following the delivery of the real estate review, Carney Green was retained by the HRA to provide a range of organisational change services. These included staff consultation regarding ways of working, the development of a home working policy, a review of internal office structures, and support with lease negotiation.

Staffordshire County Council, Support to Design, Develop and Implement a New Approach to Commissioning for Children’s Services

Carney Green assisted Staffordshire County Council with the ongoing design and development of its strategically important pilot which sought to introduce world class commissioning into the County’s delivery of children’s services.

Central to the pilot was a Commissioning Development Hub (CDH) to provide assistance to both commissioners and service providers via a range of supporting functions, for example a development support team to undertake market testing, development of commissioners’ ideas, and wider legislative and administrative support.

Carney Green reviewed the impact of the pilot in relation to five key areas: functions; governance arrangements; interfaces, systems and processes; relationships; and resources. The report provided a series of recommendations related to the roll out and improvement of the commissioning model.

Carney Green acted professionally and effectively in helping us to shape Staffordshire County Council’s approach to commissioning within Children’s Services. The work incorporated wide ranging consultations and culminated in a series of recommendations regarding the ongoing development of the commissioning approach.

Other organisational design projects we have or are currently delivering include:

  • An options appraisal and subsequent business plan for the Land Trust to identify the optimal delivery method for the application of a service charge model. 
  • A review of the Department for Transport’s Group Property function.
  • A strategy to support the General Pharmaceutical Council in its move from two separate offices to a single floor plate at Canary Wharf. 
  • An Asset Rationalisation Strategy for Walsall Healthcare NHS Hospital Trust with regard to the Walsall Manor Hospital.
  • Advice to the Museums, Libraries and Archives (MLA) Council regarding the optimal delivery model for the organisation’s pan-London investment and associated activities.