The training will support existing initiatives to standardize investment decision making, helping senior managers to further improve their assessment of the viability of projects and to determine the best way of delivering them cost effectively. Due to significant reductions in the amount of general grant received from central government, many local authorities across the UK have had to look at making efficiencies across a range of public services while continuing to meet the needs of local residents.

Developed by the Welsh government, the Better Business Case framework helps to deliver value and the right outcomes from projects and programmes through the Five Case Model, which provides practical tools to enable effective decision making when planning spending proposals.

The approach covers five key elements when assessing the viability of a project or programme:

• the strategic case – strategic fit and clear investment objectives;
• the economic case – optimising value for money;
• the commercial case – attractiveness to the market and procurement arrangements;
• the financial case – affordability;
• the management case – deliverability and plans for delivery.

Eddie Kilkelly, Managing Director at insynergi, comments, "A well-prepared business case is essential for enabling evidence-based decision making. This applies both in public and private-sector projects. The core elements of Better Business Case were delivered through eLearning, which allowed senior managers to learn at their own pace. Then we hosted a one-day workshop to look at the practical implementation of those skills on active projects. This blended approach has allowed local authorities to upskill key staff in a scalable, cost-effective, and manageable way, and we are delighted to be supporting them."