Context
Cornwall Council, a large and complex unitary authority, needed to build sustainable internal capability for managing ongoing, systemic transformation rather than relying on external consulting agencies. The challenge was to equip key internal leaders and change agents with the tools and coaching capabilities necessary to drive change from within.
Diagnostic
Before designing the training programme, we conducted an in-depth organisational diagnostic. We mapped informal leadership networks, assessed change-readiness among middle managers, and identified deep-seated structural barriers that hindered collaboration between council tiers.
Intervention
We co-designed and delivered a custom Organisational Development Capacity Programme. Rather than standard training, the intervention focused on active projects, equipping 60+ internal change leads with diagnostic tools, facilitation guides, and systemic coaching frameworks. Participants practiced naming uncomfortable team dynamics and designing micro-interventions.
Outcome
The programme was independently evaluated, revealing a substantial increase in internal change capacity. The council successfully executed structural reorganisations using internal resources, resulting in decreased dependency on external contractors and a high-impact, active network of internal OD practitioners.