LEAP is a social enterprise with a big vision, helping people in Norwich who face disadvantage to find education, employment and accommodation.
LEAP approached us while the organisation was going through an important transition period. The founding CEO was leaving after 10 years, at a time when LEAP was facing a number of other challenges. Staff were anxious to ensure that LEAP remained on a stable footing and preserved its unique values and ethos, despite the impending leadership change.
LEAP asked us to help create a one-year ‘interim strategy’ to build on the organisation's existing theory of change, a recent satisfaction survey and a social return on investment study. We ran two strategic planning workshops for LEAP, involving staff at all levels of the organisation.
LEAP approached us while the organisation was going through an important transition period. The founding CEO was leaving after 10 years, at a time when LEAP was facing a number of other challenges. Staff were anxious to ensure that LEAP remained on a stable footing and preserved its unique values and ethos, despite the impending leadership change.
LEAP asked us to help create a one-year ‘interim strategy’ to build on the organisation's existing theory of change, a recent satisfaction survey and a social return on investment study. We ran two strategic planning workshops for LEAP, involving staff at all levels of the organisation.
In the first workshop, we completed an ‘enhanced SWOT analysis’, a stakeholder mapping exercise and a horizon scanning exercise to look at future trends that were likely to affect LEAP’s work. In the second workshop, we brought this work together to develop a comprehensive list of interim strategic priorities and explored how LEAP could bring in additional funding to support this work.
The key output from these workshops was a one-page list of carefully prioritised goals for the year ahead. We also noted a number of longer-term goals that were important to bear in mind, but couldn’t realistically be achieved in the next year. All these goals linked back to the SWOT analysis, so LEAP could be confident that its interim strategy built on key existing strengths, addressed known weaknesses, capitalised on the most compelling opportunities and mitigated looming threats.
This work provided a roadmap for the incoming CEO, and reassured staff that their needs and concerns have been listened to.
LEAP now has a new CEO in place and has been working to achieve its strategic goals, including securing new funding for key projects, increasing profits from its catering business, building new partnerships with key local organisations and ensuring its values continue to be reflected in all its work.
The key output from these workshops was a one-page list of carefully prioritised goals for the year ahead. We also noted a number of longer-term goals that were important to bear in mind, but couldn’t realistically be achieved in the next year. All these goals linked back to the SWOT analysis, so LEAP could be confident that its interim strategy built on key existing strengths, addressed known weaknesses, capitalised on the most compelling opportunities and mitigated looming threats.
This work provided a roadmap for the incoming CEO, and reassured staff that their needs and concerns have been listened to.
LEAP now has a new CEO in place and has been working to achieve its strategic goals, including securing new funding for key projects, increasing profits from its catering business, building new partnerships with key local organisations and ensuring its values continue to be reflected in all its work.
"It was an absolute pleasure working with Mike from Lime Green Consulting. He has a relaxed, friendly and approachable facilitating style and the sessions he delivered were not only hugely productive, but were enjoyed by team members of all levels.
The resulting strategy was clear and understandable to the entire organisation and provides reassurance and focus at a time of uncertainty. We can use the tools and techniques from the workshops in future as we continue to develop our strategy and make decisions. Mike demonstrated critical thinking, analytical skills and an in-depth knowledge of the not for profit sector. Lime Green Consulting get my highest recommendation!"
Libby Brown, Enterprise Officer, LEAP Norwich
The resulting strategy was clear and understandable to the entire organisation and provides reassurance and focus at a time of uncertainty. We can use the tools and techniques from the workshops in future as we continue to develop our strategy and make decisions. Mike demonstrated critical thinking, analytical skills and an in-depth knowledge of the not for profit sector. Lime Green Consulting get my highest recommendation!"
Libby Brown, Enterprise Officer, LEAP Norwich