1. www.phast.org.uk
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION SUPPORT TEAM CIC (PHAST CIC) – Case
Study Summary
Challenge:
To create a Social Enterprise Community Interest Company for former
senior NHS Public Health Executives wishing to establish a Public Health
Consultancy. www.phast.org.uk
Solution:
To ensure that a suitable business and public health partners were
identified to enable the organisation to be able to function immediately to
serve its NHS clientele in the UK, mostly in England providing a range of
evidence based public health research, consultancy and public health
personnel and interim and consultancy support.
Results:
I was able to ensure that the correct organisational framework was
created, using suitable banking, legal and accounting partners to ensure
probity and proper establishment, whilst the organisation was busy
delivering work. The establishment deliverables were concluded within a
few months from conception. I assumed the role of Company Secretary
in parallel with my long term consultancy position until November 2010 to
enable the business to be soundly established as a niche professional
public health consulting organisation.
Testimonial from Dr. Catherine Brogan, CEO, PHAST CIC
Mike enabled PHAST to become a Social Enterprise organisation to sustain
the public health consultancy that we offer to the NHS in the UK. Mike
organised the governance and managed our systems and processes so
that the organisation could focus on its core competencies and to grow as
a business. Mike was invited to hold the Company Secretary role as we
evolved, which he did until November 2010. He also helped us with issues
regarding audit and accountancy issues, staff (TUPE and Pensions), risk
register, business practice, insurances and business strategy by creating
business plans and introducing a financial forecasting discipline together
with an appropriate accountancy support recommended via the auditors.

2. Mike helped shape the organisation by providing commercial consultancy
and helping the Board in its strategic thinking as it evolved in its early
years of trading. Mike also helped formulate the review of our business
and financial systems and has helped oversee the introduction of a new
financial and project management system, together with a new managed
IT system for the business which allows staff to work remotely and that
the Board can manage the business in real time. His close working
relationship with the core office management team was critical to ensure
PHAST could establish itself effectively.
Mike was instrumental in helping PHAST secure the best terms for a
major programme contract award from the Department of Health for the
Informing Healthier Choices Programme. Mike was PHAST’s Programme
Manager, and also provided support to the Department of Health’s
programme management team, in delivering a £12.5m programme for
£8m (a 36% saving) to time and to content.
Mike has helped prepare PHAST for its next business phase, which reflects
the current health market landscape, by enabling the business to be run
more efficiently using the managed IT system, and creating a more
flexible, and cost effective working environment. This work has been
largely implemented.
PHAST will continue to work with Mike as new opportunities arise for
specific projects. Mike has been a key person in establishing PHAST as a
robust social enterprise. The Board are very grateful for all his hard work
and look forward to working with him in the future.
January 2011