The government wants to reduce the use of management consultants. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has argued that spending on consultants “got out of hand under the last Government, and we will rein them in”.

And yet there are good arguments for using consultants. The ability to access flexible support with specialist skills for example. Independence can matter too. 

Are there ways of retaining the benefits, while avoiding some of the downsides and excesses associated with ‘consultancy’? 

Are there ways of creating specialist, flexible from inside public services? And how can ‘internal’ and ‘external’ expertise be combined? 

This SU Insights session will explore these questions. It will combine insights from academic research – from the Universities of Bristol and York – with practical lessons from the Strategy Unit and NHS Transformation Unit.

• Date: Wednesday 19^th March 2025
• Time: 12:00 – 13:00
• Venue: MS Teams
• Register here https://bit.ly/4khlfdY

What to expect:

• Insights from the latest academic research on internal and external consultancy.
• Practical lessons and reflections from leaders in the field.
• A panel discussion and audience Q&A session.

Featured speakers:

• Peter Spilsbury, Director, Strategy Unit 
• Andrew Sturdy, Professor of Organisation and Management, University of Bristol 
• Jessica Boothroyd, Delivery Director, NHS Transformation Unit 
• Fraser Battye (Chair), Head of Policy, Strategy Unit 

If you’re interested in exploring these questions and contributing to this discussion, we’d be delighted to have you join us. Register here https://bit.ly/4khlfdY

For any questions, please contact Mahmoda Begum at mahmoda.begum@nhs.net