NHS Course | Building a Successful NHS Business Case

Online Course, 5 CPD hours

Thu 5 Nov 2026

Practical strategies to develop, present and implement successful NHS business cases

Specially designed for NHS clinicians, managers, programme and transformation leads, this interactive online workshop provided practical guidance on developing business cases that support service improvement, redesign and investment decisions across healthcare organisations.

Featuring NHS case study examples, the day explored how to build a compelling case for change, use evidence and stakeholder engagement effectively, navigate approval processes and translate approved proposals into measurable service improvements.

Develop your service knowledge

Practical approaches to developing business cases that secure approval and deliver change

This interactive online workshop was developed to help you progress the business case you are planning or currently working on. Key learning outcomes included:

Understanding the national, regional and local drivers that influence service development and investment decisions
Building a robust evidence base using data, intelligence and patient need to support a compelling case for change
Identifying, engaging and influencing stakeholders to strengthen support for your proposal
Learning from NHS business case examples and exploring what makes proposals more likely to secure approval
Developing clinically effective, operationally deliverable and financially sustainable service models
Planning for successful implementation, evaluation and continuous improvement

Live online learning

Interactive discussions and practical case study learning

This educational online workshop combined presentations, facilitated discussion and case study learning that explored the challenges of business case development and identified practical improvements you can make within your own organisation. On the day, attendees had the opportunity to:

Join online with NHS colleagues involved in service development, transformation and improvement from across the UK
Take part in interactive discussions exploring business case development, stakeholder engagement and approval processes
Ask questions and gain practical insight from your expert leaders
Explore NHS business case examples and learn from successful service improvement projects
Reflect on challenges within your own organisation and identify realistic actions you can implement immediately

In-house training

Available as bespoke training to teams of 25 or more people. Please do contact us if you would like this course delivered exclusively to your team, with the content developed to drill into the specific needs of your service. Please email Sarah Kemm or call 01732 897788 for further details.

Learning & development

Oncology National Networking Forums are pleased to be featured on the ACCEND Greater Manchester ePortfolio

The ePortfolio platform is available via the Greater Manchester Cancer Academy and supports professional development in cancer care.

This forum and all of our events are mapped to the ACCEND Framework and can be recorded in the Greater Mancester ePortfolio to help you evidence your learning, reflections and competencies.

To find out more, click on the ACCEND tab.

9:00	Join, tech support and opportunity to network in breakout rooms
9:30	Introduction, instructions and leader’s opening remarks Louise Brent, Head of Portfolio Management Office, NHS North East London Integrated Care Board
Stage One: Enabling strategic planning
How to identify the evidence needed to support your proposal and engage the right stakeholders from the outset.
9:40	Building the foundations of your business case Understanding the national, regional and local drivers for service change Building a robust evidence base using data to demonstrate need and opportunity Identifying, engaging and influencing stakeholders across the healthcare system Applying practical tools and techniques to develop sustainable and strategically aligned proposals
10:20	Questions and answers with your course leaders
10:30	Interactive case studies: Learning from successful business cases Share common challenges and the practical solutions to overcome barriers What is the business case rationale and what gaps can you identify? What lessons can be learned from successful projects? What steps can be taken to strengthen the proposal?
11:00	Screen break
Stage Two: Developing your business case
Explore the practical elements of service design and business case development.
11:10	Building a service development pathway Defining project aims, objectives and measurable outcomes Mapping future service pathways and redesigning care models Understanding governance, quality, safety and equality considerations Developing sustainable workforce, operational and financial plans
11:50	Questions and answers with your course leaders
12:00	Interactive discussion: writing a business case that secures approval What information do decision-makers need to see before approving a proposal? How can you use data, evidence and patient need to strengthen your case for change? What are the most common weaknesses that prevent business cases progressing? What distinguishes a good business case from one that successfully secures approval?
12:30	Lunch break
1:00	Interactive discussion: building stakeholder support for change How do you identify and engage the stakeholders who can influence your proposal? How can you involve patients, carers and clinicians meaningfully in service redesign? How do you manage differing priorities, competing interests and resistance to change? What approaches can help build support for implementation and long-term success?
Stage Three: Mobilising your business case
How to implement your proposal successfully, demonstrate impact and sustain improvement over time.
1:30	Mobilising your business case: from approval to implementation Establishing governance structures and decision-making processes Creating standard operating procedures and operational frameworks Managing risk, change and professional conflict during implementation
2:10	Questions and answers with your course leaders
2:20	Evaluating success: embedding sustainability and continuous improvement Monitoring outcomes, benefits and service performance Establishing meaningful KPIs and reporting arrangements Conducting post-implementation reviews and capturing lessons learned Using evaluation findings to improve and sustain services over time
3:00	Questions and answers with your course leaders
Next steps: Developing your action plan
Consolidate your learning from the day and develop a practical roadmap for progressing your business case.
3:10	Developing your next steps: turning learning into action What are the three most important actions you need to take following today's workshop? Which stakeholders do you need to engage, and how will you secure their support? What evidence, data or information do you still need to strengthen your proposal? What milestones and success measures will help you track progress and maintain momentum?
3:30	Close of workshop

With thanks to the speaker

Louise Brent has extensive experience developing and implementing business cases across NHS provider, commissioning and integrated care organisations. Having led service redesign, transformation and governance programmes, she shared practical insights into building compelling business cases, securing stakeholder support, navigating approval processes and delivering successful service change.

Louise Brent

Head of Portfolio Management Office

NHS North East London Integrated Care Board

Biography

Who came?

Connecting with peers developing business cases and leading service improvement

This workshop offered an opportunity to connect with NHS professionals from across the UK, share experiences and explore practical approaches to developing business cases, securing stakeholder support and delivering successful service change.

This course was designed for:

Service and Operational Managers
Programme and Project Managers
Transformation and Clinical Leads
Nurses and Advanced Practitioners
Quality Improvement Leads
Strategy and Planning Teams
Anyone responsible for developing, reviewing or implementing NHS business cases

If you have a team that is 25 people or more, you can have a bespoke course delivered online to your team alone. Please contact Sarah Kemm or telephone 01732 897788.

Past attendee feedback

Previously delivered in 2024 and 2025, this workshop has been highly rated by NHS professionals involved in business case development. Attendees particularly valued the practical nature of the course, the opportunity to discuss real-world challenges and the actionable insights they could immediately apply within their own organisations.

Feedback from previous delegates includes:

"Very good, useful training."

- NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (BSW ICB), How to Build a Successful NHS Business Case, 2025

"Really enjoyed the course, lots of ideas and getting things into action."

- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, Building a Successful NHS Business Case, 2024

"Very approachable and lots of opportunity for discussion."

- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, Building a Successful NHS Business Case, 2024

"The whole training session was brilliant and made me think about a number of areas that I need to study in detail."

- Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Building a Successful NHS Business Case, 2024

About the ACCEND Framework

The ACCEND Framework is designed to enhance cancer care by providing a structured approach to education and professional development for healthcare professionals.

It defines the essential Cancer Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) and offers a tailored educational structure to support progression at every stage of a cancer care career.
Launched in January 2023, the framework aims to transform career pathways and improve training and development opportunities across the cancer workforce.
It provides access to the education and training needed to meet role-specific competencies and includes dedicated resources for nurses, allied health professionals and those in cancer-related support roles.
The ACCEND Framework delivers a nationally agreed career and education structure underpinned by clearly defined capabilities in practice.

Map your learning

All Oncology National Networking Forum courses listed on the ACCEND Greater Manchester ePortfolio are fully aligned with the ACCEND Framework.

You can easily log your attendance and map your learning to the Cancer Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) through the ACCEND Greater Manchester ePortfolio.

To do this:

Register and log in to the Greater Manchester ePortfolio
Click ‘Add Entry’
Select 'Choose an item from the library'
Change the provider to Oncology National Networking Forums
Choose the relevant event you have attended (or plan to attend)

This tool offers a central space to track your professional development, reflections and achievements - supporting your ongoing career in cancer care.

Click here to access the Greater Manchester ePortfolio