SBK Healthcare

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Developing service knowledge

Practical approaches to developing business cases that secure approval and deliver change

This interactive online workshop was developed to help you progress the business case you are planning or currently working on. Key learning outcomes included:

Understanding the national, regional and local drivers that influence service development and investment decisions
Building a robust evidence base using data, intelligence and patient need to support a compelling case for change
Identifying, engaging and influencing stakeholders to strengthen support for your proposal
Learning from NHS business case examples and exploring what makes proposals more likely to secure approval
Developing clinically effective, operationally deliverable and financially sustainable service models
Planning for successful implementation, evaluation and cont

Live online learning

Interactive discussions and practical case study learning

This educational online workshop combined presentations, facilitated discussion and case study learning that explore the challenges of business case development and identify practical improvements you can make within your own organisation. On the day, attendees had the opportunity to:

Join online with NHS colleagues involved in service development, transformation and improvement from across the UK
Take part in interactive discussions exploring business case development, stakeholder engagement and approval processes
Ask questions and gain practical insight from your expert leaders
Explore NHS business case examples and learn from successful service improvement projects
Reflect on challenges within your own organisation and identify realistic actions you can implement immediately

In-house training

Available as a bespoke course to teams of 25 people or more. Please do contact us if you would like this training delivered exclusively to your team, with the content developed to drill into the specific needs of your service. Please contact:

Sarah Kemm

Production and Partnerships

sarah.kemm@sbk-healthcare.co.uk

9:00	Join, tech support and opportunity to network in breakout rooms
9:30	Instructions, introductions and opening remarks Louise Brent, Head of Portfolio Management Office, NHS North East London Integrated Care Board
Stage One: Enabling strategic planning
How to identify the evidence needed to support your proposal and engage the right stakeholders from the outset.
9:40	Building the foundations of your business case Understanding the national, regional and local drivers for service change Building a robust evidence base using data to demonstrate need and opportunity Identifying, engaging and influencing stakeholders across the healthcare system Applying practical tools and techniques to develop sustainable and strategically aligned proposals
10:20	Questions and answers with your course leaders
10:30	Interactive case studies: Learning from successful business cases Share common challenges and the practical solutions to overcome barriers What is the business case rationale and what gaps can you identify? What lessons can be learned from successful projects? What steps can be taken to strengthen the proposal?
11:00	Screen break
Stage Two: Developing your business case
Explore the practical elements of service design and business case development.
11:10	Building a service development pathway Defining project aims, objectives and measurable outcomes Mapping future service pathways and redesigning care models Understanding governance, quality, safety and equality considerations Developing sustainable workforce, operational and financial plans
11:50	Questions and answers with your course leaders
12:00	Interactive discussion: writing a business case that secures approval What information do decision-makers need to see before approving a proposal? How can you use data, evidence and patient need to strengthen your case for change? What are the most common weaknesses that prevent business cases progressing? What distinguishes a good business case from one that successfully secures approval?
12:30	Lunch break
1:00	Interactive discussion: building stakeholder support for change How do you identify and engage the stakeholders who can influence your proposal? How can you involve patients, carers and clinicians meaningfully in service redesign? How do you manage differing priorities, competing interests and resistance to change? What approaches can help build support for implementation and long-term success?
Stage Three: Mobilising your business case
How to implement your proposal successfully, demonstrate impact and sustain improvement over time.
1:30	Mobilising your business case: from approval to implementation Establishing governance structures and decision-making processes Creating standard operating procedures and operational frameworks Managing risk, change and professional conflict during implementation
2:10	Questions and answers with your course leaders
2:20	Evaluating success: embedding sustainability and continuous improvement Monitoring outcomes, benefits and service performance Establishing meaningful KPIs and reporting arrangements Conducting post-implementation reviews and capturing lessons learned Using evaluation findings to improve and sustain services over time
3:00	Questions and answers with your course leaders
Next steps: Developing your action plan
Consolidate your learning from the day and develop a practical roadmap for progressing your business case.
3:10	Developing your next steps: turning learning into action What are the three most important actions you need to take following today's workshop? Which stakeholders do you need to engage, and how will you secure their support? What evidence, data or information do you still need to strengthen your proposal? What milestones and success measures will help you track progress and maintain momentum?
3:30	Close of workshop

Thank you to the speaker

Louise Brent has extensive experience developing and implementing business cases across NHS provider, commissioning and integrated care organisations. Having led service redesign, transformation and governance programmes, she shared practical insights into building compelling business cases, securing stakeholder support, navigating approval processes and delivering successful service change.

Louise Brent

Head of Portfolio Management Office

NHS North East London Integrated Care Board

Who attendeed?

Connecting with peers developing business cases and leading service improvement

This workshop offered an opportunity to connect with NHS professionals from across the UK, share experiences and explore practical approaches to developing business cases, securing stakeholder support and delivering successful service change.

We saw attendance from the likes of:

Service and Operational Managers
Programme and Project Managers
Transformation and Clinical Leads
Nurses and Advanced Practitioners
Quality Improvement Leads
Strategy and Planning Teams
Anyone responsible for developing, reviewing or implementing NHS business cases

If you have a team that is 25 people or more, you can have a bespoke course delivered online to your team alone. Please contact Sarah Kemm or telephone 01732 897788.

Past attendee feedback

Previously delivered in 2024 and 2025, this workshop has been highly rated by NHS professionals involved in business case development. Attendees particularly valued the practical nature of the course, the opportunity to discuss real-world challenges and the actionable insights they could immediately apply within their own organisations.

Feedback from previous delegates includes:

"Very good, useful training."

NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (BSW ICB), How to Build a Successful NHS Business Case, 2025

"Really enjoyed the course, lots of ideas and getting things into action."

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, Building a Successful NHS Business Case, 2024

"Very approachable and lots of opportunity for discussion."

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, Building a Successful NHS Business Case, 2024

"The whole training session was brilliant and made me think about a number of areas that I need to study in detail."

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Building a Successful NHS Business Case, 2024