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CLIENT CASE STUDY

Civil Service Sports Council

CONTACT

Matt Bazeley: Chief Executive

DATE

Throughout 2023/24

PROJECT NAME

Governance Review and Transformation Project

OBJECTIVES

  1. To review and make recommendations to CSSC on how the Governance structure, Board composition and related procedures could be improved for a higher performing governance system.
  2. In the process and recommendations, consider the balance of the need for progressive reform, with the unique nature, structure and heritage of the CSSC.

PROJECT SUMMARY

The Civil Service Sports Council appointed Kinsey Sears to lead a review into their current Governance framework and procedures. The Kinsey Sears approach looked at three key aspects of the CSSC Governance:

  1. The CSSC Board structure and composition
  2. The skills and experience required to lead the CSSC at Board level
  3. The processes relating to how Board members are appointed and how the Board operates

We conducted extensive research through analysis of how the CSSC Board has been operating, reviewing documentation relating to policies and procedures, and engaging with the current Board, Chief Executive / executive leadership through one-one interviews.

Further research was conducted via a skills questionnaire and facilitated group discussions for an in-depth, holistic view.

OUTCOMES

15 recommendations for governance reform were unanimously approved which included:

  • A review of the Board composition to include and Independent Chair and a majority of Independent Directors.
  • Revised the appointment process from election to invitation to apply, to interview and appoint via the Appointments Committee.
  • Board induction and readiness programmme, including individual development plans to ensure Directors have the skills and experience necessary to enable them to fulfil their potential at Board level.
  • Introduction of a funded places on a Board Candidate programme to support with succession planning.
  • A renewed focus on Board diversity via the assessment and selection process.
  • Adoption of a Governance Code, setting out a clear framework which CSSC and affiliated organisations can mirror for consistency across the network.

OUTCOMES

‘’The CSSC selected Kinsey Sears to provide comprehensive support to the most far-reaching review and reform of the governance structure in the organisation's history.

We conducted detailed research and analysis into every aspect of the Board’s role and objectives, composition, performance and operating procedures before presented a robust package of reforms that would ensure the CSSC Board would be fit for purpose now and in the future.

These reforms were unanimously approved by the Board in their entirety and overwhelmingly supported by the membership at an EGM vote. As a result of our key role in the successful Board reform we have been engaged to further support the implementation and appointment process including the successful appointment of the CSSC’s first independent Chair.’’
Tom Sears: MD, KinseySears