Navigating the complexities of public consultation can be challenging, but with Westco on your team, you can be confident that your consultations will meet all legal requirements while genuinely connecting with your community. Whether you’re with the NHS, a local council, fire service, or police force, we’ll ensure your consultation captures the voices that matter most.
With decades of experience working across public services, we understand the specific challenges you face and provide tailored solutions that work.
From proposals to implementation plans, full-scale project delivery and everything in between, we manage every aspect of the process.
We ensure your consultations comply with Consultation Law as well as the Gunning Principles, safeguarding you from legal challenges.
We assess your consultation plans to ensure they’re compliant with legal standards and best practices, helping you avoid costly legal challenges. We work with Mike Bartram, former Consultation Institute consultant and expert quality assurance practitioner with 20+ years of experience.
We empower your team with the knowledge and skills they need to conduct effective and legally sound consultations through expert training with Rhion Jones, the co-founder of the former Consultation Institute and leading UK expert in Consultation Law.
Our qualitative and quantitative research services include polling, surveys, and focus groups, providing you with data-driven insights that inform decision-making.
From planning and promotion to execution and reporting, we handle all stages of your public consultation, ensuring a seamless, effective, and inclusive process.
Mike Bartram, former Consultation Institute consultant and expert quality assurance practitioner with 20+ years of experience.
Mike Bartram has over twenty years' experience planning, delivering and advising on public consultations. He wrote the first draft of what became the UK Government's Consultation Code of Practice and as Head of Consultation at Transport for London was responsible for writing the organisation's consultation policy and toolkit, as well as delivering a number of large and controversial consultations, while setting the standards for many more. Since leaving TfL, Mike has advised multiple clients on public transport, health services, fire & rescue services and local government as well as advising national governments in North Africa on constitutional change on behalf of the World Bank.
Rhion Jones, the co founder of the former Consultation Institute and leading UK expert in Consultation Law.
Rhion is one of the most experienced and authoritative specialists in public engagement anywhere, and alongside Elizabeth Gammell, wrote The Art of consultation in 2008 and The Politics of consultation in 2018. In 2003, he was co-founder of The Consultation Institute (TCI), served as its Programme Director until 2015 and then as Founder Director until 2022. He proposed, designed, supervised and secured the implementation of over 120 consultancy assignments for the Institute, mostly for clients organising public or stakeholder consultations and understands the challenges they face.
He has written extensively on all aspects of public engagement and consultation. These include over 600 Topic papers and over 80 blogs and commentaries under the Consultation GuRU identity which he has assumed in recent years (www.consultationguru.co.uk). Over the years Rhion has supervised the development of over 50 one-day training courses and personally delivered 500+ such courses. He devised five ‘management games’ (The ‘Bloombridge’ series) which were delivered over 250 times to over 3,000 trainees. Since 2007, he has specialised in the Law of Consultation, monitoring and publishing commentaries on several hundred High Court judgments. He has delivered authoritative briefings and training courses on this subject for public and in-house audiences over 120 times since. He works with Westco on a regular basis and provides it with advice and expertise as required.
The course offered valuable insights into the nuances of consultation law and was extremely interesting, engaging, and informative.
Rhion is not only knowledgeable and passionate, but also very approachable. He created a relaxed environment where participants felt comfortable asking questions and contributing to discussions.
I left the course feeling much more confident in my understanding of consultation law and how to apply it effectively in practice. I wouldn’t hesitate recommending it to others working in consultation.
Tom Wilsenham Research & Consultation Team BCP Council
[fa icon="quote-right"]It was a really helpful exercise for me as someone who works on formal consultation projects for local government and also a lot of non-statutory and informal engagement in the private sector. I now understand the clear differences, and the body of knowledge, law, custom and practice that underpins them.
Kevin Rye Kevin Rye Consulting
[fa icon="quote-right"]I attended the Westco Law of Consultation course as I was keen to ensure my skills and knowledge were up to date to protect my and Westco’s clients. The course delivered more than I had hoped for. Rhion brought to life the Gunning Principles in a fun and informative way, drawing on his extensive experience and use of case law. I came away from the event feeling empowered and confident to advise and challenge. Thank you for inviting me along - it was awesome.
Holly Bremner HB Comms
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Westco successfully delivered a comprehensive residents survey and focus groups project for a Council, focusing on communications. The project aimed to gather valuable insights from residents to inform future communication strategies and improve public services.
An Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner (OPCC) faced a significant challenge in maintaining the level of policing amidst budget constraints. Westco was commissioned to run a comprehensive consultation exercise with the public.
Westco conducted a comprehensive SEND Strategy Consultation undertaken by a Council and health partners to gather feedback on its draft Local Area SEND Strategy.
