At CJ Founds Associates, we’re passionate about helping public sector organisations unlock their potential through strategic thinking, meaningful collaboration, and impactful delivery. It’s been a privilege to lead our work with Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) on a significant project that exemplifies this approach—the Highways Contract Procurement and Service Improvement Plan.
This ongoing partnership began as a targeted procurement engagement but quickly evolved into something far more transformative: a full-scale service improvement initiative, supported by a strategic and cultural shift within the council’s Highways function.
Project Overview
- Client: Wokingham Borough Council (WBC)
- Project: Highways Contract Procurement and Service Improvement Plan
- Timing: January 2024 to July 2024
CJ Founds played a pivotal role in both the development and ongoing delivery of WBC’s highways contract and future contract strategy. What started as a technical procurement exercise has grown into a collaborative framework for service improvement, cultural change, and long-term strategic success.
Leading with Strategy: From Procurement to Cultural Shift
As project lead, I was responsible for crafting and implementing a robust procurement strategy, one that aligned not only with commercial best practices but also WBC’s broader strategic goals. To support this, I developed and deployed the CJ Founds 4D methodology—a flexible framework designed to guide our team and the client through key gateway decision points with clarity and confidence.
This approach has helped Wokingham council drive a shift from transactional contract management to a culture of ownership, strategy and continuous improvement. We applied this method to support development of a comprehensive Service Improvement Plan—a powerful mechanism that has helped the council address internal cultural changes, enhance performance, and build stronger, more resilient services for residents.
Key Achievements
Throughout the project, our team has delivered a range of impactful outcomes, including:
- Expert deployment of highways contract and procurement knowledge, coupled with Agile project management principles, to deliver focused and adaptive solutions.
- Comprehensive training and advisory services, equipping internal teams with the tools and insights needed to identify and implement lasting service improvements.
- Strategic groundwork for contract extension, ensuring continuity while preparing the council to deliver enhanced outcomes under a renewed operating model.
- Support across all levels of governance, including engagement with the Senior Leadership Team and elected Members, to embed strategic alignment and gain buy-in at every stage.
Delivering Outcomes that Matter
Throughout this journey, we’ve helped WBC unlock meaningful progress across four key areas:
- Strategic Procurement Foundations: Establishing a flexible, future-proof procurement strategy aligned with WBC’s broader organisational aims and values.
- Service Improvement Planning: Co-developing a Service Improvement Plan (SIP) that embeds continuous learning and prioritises outcomes for residents, not just outputs.
- Governance & Culture: Supporting engagement across Senior Leadership and Members to align ambition with delivery, creating space for strategic conversation and decision-making.
- Capability Building: Delivering tailored training, mentoring, and insight sessions, empowering internal teams to lead change from within.
This wasn’t just about extending a contract, it was about redefining how WBC approaches its highways service.
Recognising the Impact
The Service Improvement Plan we co-developed has already had a significant impact—both internally at WBC and across the wider industry. The council has seen notable improvements in performance, staff engagement, and strategic clarity. Our work has helped lay the foundation for long-term excellence, and I’m incredibly proud that these efforts have been formally recognised.
In fact, Wokingham Borough Council has been awarded for having the most improved Highway Network Condition—a testament to the hard work, commitment, and innovation of everyone involved. (Full award details to follow.)
Reflections and Looking Ahead
CJ Founds Associates prides itself on building partnerships that make a real difference, not just ticking boxes. Being part of the team to help Wokingham Borough Council achieve such meaningful progress is a reminder of what’s possible when expertise, vision and collaboration come together. WBC embraced the challenge of transformation, and together, we’ve built a foundation that goes beyond procurement—one that empowers teams, improves services, and ultimately benefits the community.
As we continue this journey, I’m excited for what lies ahead. The strategic roadmap we’ve created is future-facing, flexible, and aligned with the ever-evolving needs of local authorities in a complex and dynamic sector.
If you’re a local authority seeking to transform your highways services or develop a more strategic procurement approach, we’d love to share our experience and help you shape your future with confidence.
For further information contact Ryan.smith@cjfoundsassociates.co.uk
