Leadership
built your success.
But is it now limiting your growth?

Case Study: WELSH GOVERMENT

Developing leaders who could step up, speak up and lead across the system

Trusted by:

The Welsh Government logo featuring a stylized Welsh dragon with the text 'Llywodraeth Cymru Welsh Government' below it.
The Welsh Government logo featuring a stylized Welsh dragon with the text 'Llywodraeth Cymru Welsh Government' below it.

THE Challenge

Senior finance leaders across the Welsh public sector were operating in a world of financial pressure, organisational change and political scrutiny.

Technical expertise was not the issue. What was needed was greater confidence, influence and strategic leadership: people able to step out of the detail, challenge constructively and lead across organisational boundaries.

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What we did

We designed and delivered the Finance Leadership Programme for senior leaders across the Welsh public sector.

The programme was practical and highly experiential. Participants worked on real challenges from their day jobs through cohort learning, workshops, group coaching and peer challenge.

A central part of the work was creating strong “critical friend” relationships so that leaders could continue challenging and supporting one another beyond the formal programme.

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What changed

  • Stronger confidence and ownership

  • A clear shift from operational to strategic leadership

  • Greater ability to influence upwards and across complex stakeholder groups

  • More reflective, deliberate leadership in practice

  • Lasting peer networks across the public sector

An independent evaluation also identified an estimated £770K–£1.3M in financial impact generated through participants’ actions.

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In their words

  • Welsh Government

    “The most successful development programme I have attended… I have seen real results back in the workplace.”

    — Participant, FLP programme, Welsh Government

  • GSK

    “Each of us realised we had to shift our perspectives – myself included – if we were going to make a success of the business. Even today I remember the lessons I learnt during that year. If I faced the same challenge again, they are the first people I would call. In fact at my next assignment I did exactly that!”

    — John Barnes, General Manager, GSK

  • AXa

    “I don’t think we would have achieved the success we did without the determined, consistent, honest and challenging support that Blaire and her team brought to the project.”

    — Steve Hardy, former CEO, AXA Personal Lines

  • Roche Pharma Research & Early Development 

    “The positive impact was evident in the behaviours of the leaders and throughout the organisation, with tangible and broad-reaching benefits.” 

    — Bryn Roberts, Global Head of Informatics, Roche Pharma Research & Early Development 

  • Babcock International Group

    “The results were immediate for us as a team and for the business” 

    — David Plester, Managing Director, Infrastructure, Babcock International Group