The Centre builds on the existing strong record of engagement with practitioner and policy bodies through the following activities:

• Strong practitioner presence on the advisory board;
• Enable the development of policy briefs on research results;
• Develop strong relationships with key policy-making organisations;
• Present the policy briefs to relevant practitioner and policy groups;
• Organise and host key seminars and workshops on relevant ‘hot topics’ related to the centres themes;
• Actively seek opportunities through research grant proposals to work closely with organisations.

The Centre plans executive education and consultancy/engagement activities with stakeholders in the business, public and civic sector and other relevant communities. CSM will also undertake research that will help make government and other public service systems more comprehensive and responsive to citizens.

Service Operating Model Skills (SOMS) Qualification

New to the SBE and CSM this year is the launch of a research-led qualification framework for service organisations called SOMS (Service Operating Model Skills). 

Developed from research by CSM Deputy Director Dr Nicola Bateman and CSM member Rosamund Chester Buxton, SOMS is designed to help specify the skills required for organisations and individuals to effectively design, implement and maintain operating models.

SOMS supports organisations that deliver management training by auditing their material against the framework; these accredited organisations can then award their own SOMS certificates to clients and staff. 

The first organisation to be accredited and deliver SOMS training is the OEE, which has since gone on to train the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

To find out more about SOMS, please visit the SOMS website or email SOMS@lboro.ac.uk, or if you would like to speak about your own or your organisation's needs, please contact Rosamund Chester Buxton on R.B.ChesterBuxton@lboro.ac.uk.