Are you running an organisation that is delivering challenging projects, going through change or needing to re-think its overall strategy? Are you as committed as we are to better outcomes for service users, customers or citizens? Then we are here to help.
The team at Glen Shuraig have all come from a background of working in the public sector and each of us can draw individually on more than 30 years of experience. Because we’ve been at the sharp end of public service, my associates and I know what it’s really like (messy and imperfect, unfortunately) and we can help others focus on the most important things, deal with the complications and achieve their objectives. If you want help from people who have been there, done it and got the metaphorical tee shirt, you can find out more about our backgrounds and experience here.
HOW WE CAN HELP
The short version:
Sometimes you need a fresh perspective and my associates and I can help with:
- Developing or reviewing your organisation’s strategy or governance
- Reviewing progress on a challenging project or programme
- Leading your team and your customers through a period of change
- Preparing for a tricky meeting or Parliamentary Committee session
The detailed version:
GOVERNANCE – getting the balance right
Governance can be a bit of a mystery for some people, especially if they’ve never had experience of how it works. Good governance is about finding the right balance, because too much is just as bad as not enough. You do need systems in place, yes, but they should never just be about ticking the right box and moving on. Equally, they should definitely never become more important than actually getting on with things and moving your organisation forward. Conditions often change, so governance needs to be reviewed and adjusted regularly. Organisations do this all the time, but occasionally need a bit of help – enter Glen Shuraig Consulting!
Our team can either come in and respectfully conduct an independent review (useful if you want to provide reassurance to people outside your organisation) or we can work alongside you and/or your team at a pace that suits, to build on improvements that are already ongoing or to help progress new ones that your organisation would like to make (useful if you’re lacking time, resources or a sane working environment).
CHANGE MANAGEMENT – keeping the wood and the trees in view
Change is never easy, and never more so when you’re the one in charge and want to take people along with you. Having to lead on changes that you didn’t choose can be particularly difficult if you encounter resistance, where people might feel threatened or simply choose not to engage with developments. If you need to completely change the way a service is delivered while ensuring everything will run smoothly when you’re finished, be assured we can help with that. If this involves working across many teams or organisations, all the better – between us, my associates and I have plenty of experience of change management in the public sector – and have the scars to prove it!
PROJECT ASSURANCE – your critical friend
Just as anyone would (diplomatically) warn a pal not to go out wearing “that” dress, Glen Shuraig Consulting can be your critical friend who will be honest with you about your project. Our team will come in and assess the situation in your organisation. We will talk to the key people, discover the kind of things that could go wrong, and advise you on how to prevent them from happening in the first place. But just as a critical friend should do, we will also be open and honest about what is going well in your organisation and help you promote and celebrate your successes.
PARLIAMENTARY AND OTHER ACCOUNTABILITY – being prepared
The public sector has to be held accountable to citizens and their elected representatives in Parliament. This is right and proper, but that doesn’t make appearing before a Parliamentary Committee or meeting with groups who represent service users any easier. Nerves can get the better of you, making it difficult to respond to questions and concerns clearly, and without appearing defensive or dismissive. The combined public sector experience of the team at Glen Shuraig means that we have done a lot of Parliamentary Committee appearances between us. We have inevitably had to go through many difficult discussions with representatives, so we are in an ideal position to help you prepare, raise your confidence levels and ensure that you can get your point across clearly and accurately.
Eleanor built a fantastic rapport with the team and also with our Board Members which means she managed to deeply explore their input, contribution and motivations. I would not hesitate to recommend Eleanor and Glen Shuraig Consulting, our experience was fantastic.
Chief Executive, The Data Lab