This week Incopa, the strategic change and transformation consultancy, has kicked off the second part of the Post Implementation Review process at the BBRS.

Following a rigorous procurement process the BBRS board appointed Incopa to conduct the second part of its Post Implementation Review (PIR 2). The Incopa team will conduct an in-depth assessment of BBRS and perform interviews with stakeholders and customers. The review will culminate in a report which the BBRS expects to publish on its website in early 2023.

It was agreed that the BBRS would be subject to a PIR at the final meeting of the Implementation steering group (ISG) which launched the BBRS in February 2021. The review process follows a well-established project and programme management assurance system used by central and civil government across the UK.

Part 1 of PIR was published in May 2022 and considered how the organisation was established. The results of PIR 1 can be viewed here. The PIR 1 report proposed that PIR 2 would present an opportunity to consider the operational effectiveness of the organisation. The Terms of Reference for PIR 2 were decided following consultation and can be viewed here.

On behalf of the BBRS board subcommittee for the PIR, the BBRS reached out to over 75 organisations to invite them to tender for the opportunity of running PIR 2. This included a range of institutions including independent experienced individual interviewers, academics, academic institutions and consultancies. 17 expressed an interest with four which submitted written bids. The BBRS scored each of the bids on independence, experience and competence, commercial and cost, and methodology. The PIR subcommittee agreed that Incopa presented the strongest bid.

Incopa is led by a government reviewer, John Harkin. John Harkin has experience of customer service, delivery in global organisations, and of undertaking similar PIRs within some of the most sensitive areas of government. He has led over 350 reviews over the last 18 years including for the Northern Ireland Victims Payments Scheme, the ACAS Early Conciliation Project, and with the Minister for Further Education and Skills.

Dr Chris Gill, Senior Lecturer in Public Law at the University of Glasgow is also a member of the team. He is a recognised expert in the field of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and has published widely on ADR, ombudsman, and complaint systems. He has conducted independent reviews of the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman, Utilities Disputes Ltd, and the Welsh Language Commissioner.

The other reviewers on the Incopa team include Ian Brown and Charles Botsford. Ian Brown is a seasoned practitioner in project management and has been involved in over 340 reviews in the last 22 years. Charles Botsford has participated in over 100 reviews across complex government projects and is familiar with mediation processes from his time as Operations Director for The European Construction Institute. The BBRS will fully cooperate with Incopa over the coming months.