People
Atkins was appointed by Connect Plus Services (CPS) to support them in identifying and implementing change to ensure that their Asset & Project Delivery Directorate (A&PD) was fit for the future for the next 20 years.
In 2009, Highways Agency, now Highways England, awarded Connect Plus a 30-year Design, Build Finance Operate contract for the M25, a critical economic artery as one of the busiest strategic roads in the UK. In turn, Connect Plus Services (CPS) was awarded a 30-year contract by Connect Plus to maintain and operate the London orbital route and the adjoining trunk and slip roads.
CPS is a 24/7 operation bringing together the skills of 600 people from the Joint Venture companies to enable 73 million journeys per year and ensure effective, safe operation of 250 miles of road.
Working with the A&PD Director, we agreed that the solution to enable successful transformation should be focused in four key areas:
- Creating a high performing leadership team for A&PD to enable them to embrace their ambition and to perform as a single effective team;
- Creating an operating model that was fit for the future-focused around re-alignment of the business, roles and responsibilities to improve the transition to a new way of working;
- Creating a positive culture where all staff could thrive;
- Effectively delivering and embedding change to ensure that everyone was engaged, empowered and supported for future success.
The successful outcomes we have achieved together have made a significant impact on A&PD’s transformational ambition. These include a golden thread alignment whereby everyone has a clear direction on how they contribute to the strategy of CPS (and Connect Plus and Highways England); empowering effective leadership as the leadership team are now equipped with the right tools to enable them to continue to develop as effective leaders; the implementation of an integrated operating model that has broken down silos, realigned functions and created enhanced role satisfaction; and a clear commitment to success through appointing ‘change makers’ who have been advocates in motivating and empowering the team.
In addition, we supported the A&PD Director overcome a number of critical challenges including delivering a successful transformation during the Pandemic, particularly challenging to implement in a business that provides essential national infrastructure; influencing change wider than the directorate; and aligning one vision, objectives and behaviours across stakeholders.
View the Atkins profile in the MCA Members Directory.