Case study: Sport England
Developing leadership and engagement
Our partnership with Sport England
Understanding Sport England’s needs
Engagement surveys
Since the inception of our partnership in 2011, our engagement consultants have learned the intricacies of Sport England’s engagement survey requirements. This encompasses everything from the nuances of previous survey communications, questions and reports, to the structure of employee demographic data. Such knowledge has empowered us to anticipate needs and deliver bespoke solutions that are both impactful and warmly received.
2020: leadership assessments
In 2020, we conducted an extensive developmental leadership assessment of Sport England’s Executive Leadership Team. This project involved:
- Reviewing the structure of the leadership team.
- Evaluating leadership behaviours, skills, and experiences.
- Providing actionable recommendations on engagement practices and leadership development.
These assessments equipped Sport England with a comprehensive framework to align their leadership approach with their organisational context, and develop a common language, ensuring consistency across HR and management practices.
2023: leadership transformation
Sport England embarked on a transformation in 2023, aiming for a more empowering and collaborative leadership style. To support this shift, we helped them develop a new leadership model outlining expected leader behaviours. A bespoke 360-feedback questionnaire was crafted to integrate this framework into the review process.
Beginning with the Executive Team, we profiled each member using 360-feedback and the NEO, providing personalised feedback and coaching. This was subsequently rolled out to the next tier of leadership, impacting 39 leaders, helping them identify their developmental priorities. Following this, a comprehensive aggregate analysis report was generated to spotlight trends and implications for leadership development.
Results
Our interventions have not only facilitated Sport England’s leadership evolution but have also been met with unanimous approval from the Executive Team. Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of Sport England, articulated the success of our partnership, stating:
“The Exec are delighted by the process – the findings have resonated, they have really been challenged positively by the process, and they have all uniformly expressed how helpful their 1-2-1 meeting with Edgecumbe was (me included). It has been a resounding success in that regard.”
Find out more
Our long-standing partnership with Sport England underscores the importance of understanding an organisation’s unique needs to deliver tailored, effective solutions. Through strategic insight and consistent collaboration, we have supported Sport England in transforming their leadership culture, setting the foundation for continued success in promoting community sport across the UK.
For organisations seeking to enhance leadership and engagement within their organisations, we offer a proven pathway to achieve these objectives with precision and care. Get in touch with us to discuss your requirements.
