At the Good Gov Co, we bring people together to deliver better public services, places and policy.
WHAT WE DO
We are public sector specialists who understand how government works and how to get things done. Collaboration is at the heart of what we do and we know how to bring people together from across the public and private sectors to drive innovation and deliver change.
We are experts at transforming public services. Whether it is designing new wellbeing services to reduce pressure on the NHS; developing new approaches to deliver housing and reduce reoffending; or improving democratic engagement, we have a strong track record of finding solutions to big problems.
From town centre regeneration to Business Improvement District development to property and asset reviews - we have a strong track record of working with local communities to deliver change. Alongside this, we are experts at securing funding from the government and private sector to support delivery.
We are excellent at bringing people together to design policy that works. Whether it is economic policies to support growth, health & wellbeing policies to reduce pressure on social care services or developing new approaches to parking to promote sustainable travel, we have experience across a range of specialisms.
SERVICES
We have extensive experience of programme and project management whether it is managing multi-million pound capital investment programmes or individual service transformation projects and have experience working with central government, local government, NHS, blue lights and private sector stakeholders. We provide end-to-end project management support from inception through to delivery and evaluation.
We believe the sign of a great strategy or policy is that anyone can understand it, no matter how complex the subject matter. We have experience developing strategies, policies and reports across the public sector. This includes regional growth and transformation strategies, corporate strategies as well as policies and reports relating to placemaking, economic development, housing, the environment, health and wellbeing and reducing reoffending.
Solving the big challenges in the public sector requires great people skills and great ideas. Luckily we have both, which is how we have delivered national, award-winning public services working with public, private and third sector stakeholders. Understanding how government works, whether that is statutory service requirements, budgetary pressures or political appetite is key to ensuring solutions are practical and sustainable.
We have extensive experience working at the heart of government to manage government growth, housing and transformation funding programmes. We understand how government funding works and how to access it. We can support your organisation to prepare funding applications, develop a pipeline of fundable projects, report progress, showcase best-practice nationally and also train your team in this area.
We provide end-to-end business case support from feasibility and options appraisals through to strategic outline, outline and full business case development. We are experienced in business case development across the public sector including the HM Treasury Green Book approach. We can also provide covering reports for senior management teams and committees along with promotional materials for wider public consumption.
We are excellent at bringing people together to find solutions to complex problems. We have worked with local authorities, central government departments, blue lights services, the NHS, along with the third and private sectors. We have also carried out public consultation on contentious issues. We can support your organisation with stakeholder workshops and events, surveys, focus groups and targeted engagement with hard-to-reach groups.
With experience working in senior roles in local government and on national cross-government programmes, we are well-placed to provide strategic leadership capacity and support to your organisation, whether that is on a short-term or rolling basis. We can also provide formal mentoring and staff development support and have experience delivering 'Returner' programmes designed to attract talent from outside the public sector.
So often, we have heard private sector colleagues say 'But why doesn't government just…' And the short answer is 'it's not always that easy'. This can be due to statutory obligations, budgetary pressures, political pressure, best value considerations, procurement requirements or delivery timeframes. As government specialists, we understand how the public sector works and can support your organisation to offer the best solution.
ABOUT US
Belinda Purcell
Founder and Director
Belinda has over 16 years experience developing and delivering high-profile, public sector policy and projects.
She has particular experience in strategy and policy development, public sector reform, government funding, regeneration, property and housing, the environment and health & social care.
Belinda has worked with senior leaders and politicians in local government, central government departments including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Cabinet Office and Ministry of Justice along with the NHS, Police and Fire Services and Homes England.
Belinda loves bringing people together to find innovative solutions to complex problems and importantly, seeing those solutions implemented at pace.
PORTFOLIO
PRISONERS BUILDING HOMES PROGRAMME - Nationwide
Working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Ministry of Justice, Police and Crime Commissioners, local authorities, housebuilders and prisons, Belinda had a leading role in developing this national, award-winning programme which sees prisoners working with modular housebuilders to build low-carbon homes on public sector sites.
Her support included strategic planning, engagement with senior, cross-government stakeholders, developing investment proposals for government, promotion at national events and working with public sector landowners, housebuilders and prisons to deliver housing sites. The programme has now expanded across the country and has resulted in a significant reduction in reoffending (less than 5% against national average of 35%).
WELLBEING PRESCRIPTION SERVICE - Surrey, England
Belinda led the development of the innovative Wellbeing Prescription social prescribing service, which used trained Wellbeing Advisors to support people who were referred to them by GPs and other health and community workers. The service helped people to improve their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing which reduced pressure on public sector services.
She brought NHS and local government partners together to agree a business case, secure investment, build the team and expand the service across the region. At the time, Wellbeing Prescription was the largest social prescribing service in the country. Based on its successes, (78% of users visited their GP less and 88% made positive changes to their health and wellbeing), it was shortlised for a national innovation award.
URBAN REGENERATION - Surrey, England
As a senior local authority manager with responsibility for placemaking and growth, Belinda brought local politicians, communities and businesses together to develop and deliver urban regeneration programmes for two towns in the East of Surrey.
These programmes resulted in the establishment of two Business Improvement Districts, regeneration of complex, long-derelict sites for housing, urban enhancements in both town centres, including a shopping centre which resulted in greater footfall and significant public and private sector investment.
ECONOMIC GROWTH STRATEGY - Surrey, England
Belinda brought senior leaders from five local authorities and the Local Enterprise Partnership together to develop and agree a regional growth strategy to attract more investment from government and the private sector.
This included identifying and analysing growth sectors, prioritising key delivery programmes and business case and funding application development to secure government investment. As a result of this work, the region became one the best-funded for its size in the South East, the more impressive as the funding criteria was weighted toward other areas.
GOVERNMENT GRANT FUNDING SUPPORT - South of England
Belinda spent over five years working at the heart of government for the flagship One Public Estate (OPE) Property Programme. Delivered in partnership by the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Local Government Association, OPE focuses on getting more from public assets - whether that’s catalysing major service transformation such as health and social care integration; unlocking land for new homes or through regeneration of town & city centres.
She managed a £60+ million investment programme across the South of England, supporting senior leaders in government departments, local authorities, blue lights services and the NHS to identify, agree and deliver complex regeneration schemes. As a grant funding specialist, Belinda supported public sector organisations to develop a pipeline of fundable projects and prepare high-quality funding applications.
'RETURNER' RECRUITMENT PROGRAMME - Surrey, England
Recruitment of staff to the public sector has long been a challenge in the South East as a result of competition from London and the private sector. As a senior manager for a local authority, Belinda led the design and roll-out of a 'Returner' programme to attract people who had been out of the workforce for a number of years and develop them into high-quality project managers.
The Programme proved particularly attractive to highly-skilled women who had held senior roles in the private sector before stepping back from work to raise children. Belinda designed the programme to allow participants flexibility around family-life (at a time when hybrid working was highly unusual), the opportunity to be involved in stimulating projects and provided support to help participants regain their confidence in the workplace. As a result, the local authority was able to recruit highly-qualified, motivated staff who have since secured senior roles across the public sector.
CORPORATE STRATEGY & PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT - Surrey & Sussex, England
Belinda worked with senior managers and politicians in local authorities in Sussex and Surrey to develop corporate strategies, five year delivery plans and performance and risk frameworks at a time the public sector faced significant financial pressures.
This included identifying and agreeing key priorities relating to service delivery, capital investment and organisational change. She also implemented new performance management, risk and reporting frameworks to ensure progress against priorities could be monitored effectively.
YOUTH DEMOCRATIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMME
Sussex, England
In response to low voter turn out amongst young people, Belinda designed and delivered a successful democratic engagement programme that resulted in an increase in voter registration and was adopted as best-practice.
Through the programme, Belinda worked with local schools, 6th form colleagues and local politicians to run democratic gaming workshops which gave students the opportunity to run their own local authority, managing budgets, service delivery, making challenging investment decisions and responding to local emergencies and political issues.
Telephone: 0330 133 5044
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/belindapurcell/
Address: Collyweston, Stamford, United Kingdom
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