Havering Council recognised as leader in local government transformation
Havering Council has been recognised for its work in local government improvement by Public Sector Transformation Partner iESE, winning in two areas at the iESE Public Sector Transformation Awards.
The London Borough of Havering has risen to meet the challenges of the decade ahead by making significant, cross-council and cross-borough change.
The council’s transformation initiative, known as ‘Havering Together’ is part of a fundamental re-think of how needs and aspirations of the borough can be met more meaningfully along with the council’s role in supporting and leading this.
The Havering Together team has achieved a significant shift in mind-set and cultural disposition in just two short years across a 3,500 strong workforce, with a bottom-up, collaborative approach to change management.
Comprising of just 12 staff, including the Transformation Programme Support, the team is generating the buy-in and energy needed to drive transformation at scale and pace.
The team is helping Havering Council embrace the empowerment of staff: giving power back to the front line in order to realise their ambitions for the future.
Jane West, Havering Council Chief Operating Officer said: “the council is changing for the better. We’re modernising services, bringing us closer to our residents and businesses and leading local government improvement in service redesign and productivity. I’m delighted to see this being recognised by the IESE and in the wider UK local government sector.”
The council also won the silver award in the communications category at the event, recognising the success of its management apprenticeship campaign, known as #OnTrack.
In just over two weeks, the campaign more than doubled the number of staff enrolled on a management apprenticeship, promoting Havering as the leading London borough with the largest cohort of management apprentices in 2020.
Chief executive, Andrew Blake-Herbert says:
“The #OnTrack management apprenticeship campaign created a fantastic opportunity to invest in our new and middle tier managers and give them the skills for the future in conjunction with our partner Havering College. I am delighted that the campaign has first runner up at the iESE Awards 2020. Having set up the first cohort to have 30 participants, we have now actually accepted 48.”
Faulkner adds: “We still have lots to do, but this is great recognition for some amazing effort across the council. Everyone’s contribution and energy have been part of these award shortlists. The Havering together team are here to support, advise and facilitate, but we couldn’t do it without the backing and hard work from each individual service."
“We are grateful to them for coming with us on this journey and for their commitment to reshaping and rewiring services for the benefit of Havering’s residents and communities.”