Shared services
The challenge
In the current economic climate shared services are often seen as a means of gaining economies of scale, whether this is through shared management, shared investment or shared risk. They can be used to pool knowledge between organisations whilst retaining local sovereignty. Issues that need to be considered when looking at a shared services approach include:
- The service imperative – does it render services more responsive, resident focussed and localised? Can we offer a higher standard of services by sharing resources?
- The cost imperative – the impact of the recession has resulted in 25% cuts in some council services and is there increased pressure on front line services? Has demand increased?
- The efficiency imperative – can we deliver ‘more for less’? Can we offer a more specialised service?
Our expertise
APSE solutions has worked with our legal partners on many occasions providing a comprehensive service to authorities investigating both the business and legal options for future successful and cost effective service delivery. For example, we have recently completed a project working with two local authorities who were considering shared legal services. In the past few years we have also analysed various shared service initiatives and completed appraisals for delivery options.
Our approach
Within each project APSE will look to address the key issues and identify recommendations for the future. In particular with a view to identifying where both financial and organisational savings can been made. This is particularly important in the current climate where there is an increased emphasis on transparency and value for money in the public sector.
APSE projects can include an examination of service delivery models, such as the simple models outlined below:
- Informal; such as the sharing of information and sharing of management resources
- Contractual; such as a 100% public jointly owned company, a public/private partnership or public to public service delivery contracts
- Lead organisation model; such as one organisation acting as a ‘hub’ to provide services
More information
Briefings
- Simpson Review: What services are best delivered where? Briefing 11/38, August 2011
- ‘Joint Chief Executives and Shared Management Posts’ Briefing 10/47, October 2010
- ‘Shared Services and Joint Working – Maximising the Economic Case’ Briefing 10/40, August 2010
Advisory Groups
Advisory groups are quarterly meeting free to all APSE members. Suggested groups relevant to this topic are:
- Service delivery models
- Service transformation and performance management
For further information and the date of the next group please click here
Publications
- ‘Shared services for highways, winter maintenance and street lighting’ APSE, November 2008.
Related services
Training
Training courses are available on a variety of topics including
- Developing and Efficiencies and Public Partnerships
For further information and the date of forthcoming courses please click here.
Contact us
For further information on consultancy services, please contact:
- Andy Mudd, Principal Consultant
- Gayle Gibson, Senior Consultant
- Davina Rai, Client Co-ordination Officer
Or telephone APSE on 0161 772 1810 for an informal discussion on how we can help you or about any of the other services APSE provides.
Our other offers
For information about other APSE consultancy offers, please use the links below.