Procurement Transformation Programme
The Context
Westminster City Council sought to enhance the capability and performance of its commercial services to better support stakeholders and improve overall efficiency. The council recognised the need to upgrade the skills, tools and resources available to staff, ensuring that the commercial services team could effectively drive value and support the organisation’s strategic goals.
Our Approach
We partnered with Westminster City Council to design and implement a comprehensive transformation programme aimed at elevating the council’s commercial capabilities. The programme was structured around five key workstreams:
1. Strategy and Performance: Harmonised processes such as thresholds, gateways and approvals to standardise operations, simplify workflows and create productivity efficiencies.
2. Policy and Governance: Shifted the focus from compliance to adding measurable commercial value by developing clearer and more meaningful performance measures.
3. Systems and Processes: Developed a new Contract Management Toolkit and supporting system. Created an online resource hub to improve access to information, training, tools and templates across the organisation.
4. Structure and Skills: Conducted a detailed workload analysis and resource modelling. Designed a new organisational structure, developed new job descriptions and enhanced skill development programmes.
5.Culture and Engagement: Fostered a more collaborative, customer-focused culture within the commercial services team.
Outputs and Outcomes
The implementation of this programme led to significant improvements across Westminster City Council’s commercial services:
Established a clearer service offer between the central commercial team and the rest of the organisation, ensuring well-defined roles and accountabilities for commissioning, procurement and contract management.
Introduced a new organisational structure, complete with updated role profiles and job descriptions, supported by a targeted recruitment campaign.
Significantly improved data quality, with over 78% of council spend now captured in the contracts register, up from 47%.
The commercial services team became more attuned to organisational priorities, leading to increased pace, productivity and collaboration.
Drastically improved stakeholder feedback and customer satisfaction, reflecting the enhanced service delivery.
Employee engagement more than doubled, increasing from 38% to 77% overall, demonstrating the success of the cultural shift and engagement efforts.
The improved quality of the service offer was so compelling that more services within the council opted into the commercial services framework.
This transformation programme not only enhanced Westminster City Council’s commercial capabilities but also created a more efficient, responsive and collaborative service that is well-aligned with the council’s strategic objectives.
Client Feedback
“Human Engine were an absolute pleasure to work with. The transformation has been amazing. Who would have thought that such a turnaround was possible?”
Executive Director, Westminster City Council
About Us
Human Engine is a leading management consultancy with specialisms in strategy, transformation, digital, commercial, procurement and projects.
Founded in 2018, we have partnered with more than 50 local authorities, central government, NHS organisations and national charities to help transform their strategies, operations and cultures.
Our mission is to help individuals and organisations to do the best work of their lives. We do this by blending first-hand, practical experience of the problems we help our clients solve with award-winning consulting expertise and an approach based on trust, collaboration and partnership.