HMCTS partnered with the CIPD to strengthen decision-making, improve collaboration and equip its HR function to align HMCTS’s workforce strategies directly with its business plan objectives.
As His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) entered a period of significant transformation, it recognised that strong leadership and a capable HR function would be critical to success. With the CIPD’s support, HMCTS has focused on ensuring it has the right skills, frameworks and capability in place to support its colleagues, both now and in the future.
Through tailored leadership programmes, targeted workshops and investment in professional development, we helped HMCTS align its people strategy with organisational priorities. This work supported more effective decision-making, improved collaboration and delivered measurable operational benefits, which led to HMCTS achieving CIPD People Development Partner (PDP) status.
HMCTS is responsible for running the courts and tribunals in England and Wales. It makes sure the justice system operates efficiently, handling everything from criminal and civil cases to family and employment tribunals.
Towards the end of 2024, HMCTS entered a period of significant transformation. Recognising that its people were central to the success of the transformation, HMCTS partnered with the CIPD to develop its HR function. Its goal was to make sure it had the right skills and capabilities in place to support people across the organisation, both now and in the future.
Through the HMCTS Strategic Plan, the organisation confirmed its committed to building a workforce that is equipped and empowered to perform at its best, with the right leadership and management structures in place. To achieve this, HMCTS needed to strengthen its strategic workforce planning capabilities and infrastructure, both within the HR function and across the organisation.
“HMCTS’ commitment to collaboration, learning and professional growth has driven meaningful progress and we’ve recognised this with CIPD People Development Partner status.”
We began by supporting HMCTS to deliver the Next Level Leadership Programme – a tailored initiative designed to strengthen the collective capability of its leadership team. It supports senior leaders to deepen skills to lead with clarity, support meaningful collaboration and drive measurable impact across the organisation.
Through the programme, leaders built on individual strengths to enhance team dynamics, align strategic priorities and drive change through shared ownership and empowerment.
Based on its Strategic Plan, we worked with HMCTS to strengthen strategic workforce planning capability across both the HR function and senior leadership. Through a series of targeted workshops, senior leaders gained practical tools and insights to build workforce strategies that deliver real results. Critically, senior operational and HR leaders now have an enhanced understanding of workforce planning mechanics, enabling them to align workforce strategies directly with HMCTS business plan objectives and make confident, informed decisions for the future.
HMCTS also focused on raising the profile of the people profession and the value of professional recognition. With support from our team, HMCTS helped its HR professionals align their roles with the CIPD Profession Map. This means individuals and teams can now see where they fit within the bigger picture and how they can truly add value. They’re also using this insight to understand where to focus their continuing professional development (CPD), including taking on CIPD-accredited qualifications, to improve their capability, credibility and confidence to support the organisation.
Since starting this work, HMCTS has seen a fundamental shift in the way it develops and supports strong line management right across the organisation. HMCTS’ Role of the Manager initiative is transforming how it develops line managers. By standardising management practices and empowering managers to take ownership of their teams, HMCTS colleagues are getting much better support to succeed in their roles.
A key part of this is a new accountability and decision-making framework, which gives managers structured tools to reflect on their effectiveness and help their teams succeed. Alongside this, HMCTS has developed a comprehensive suite of practical, evidence-based tools and resources for line managers aligned to the Civil Service’s line management standards.
This work is translating into tangible operational benefits. By retaining talented colleagues and keeping them healthy and engaged at work, HMCTS is building a stronger foundation for sustained productivity and high performance. HMCTS has recorded reductions in attrition, average time to hire and average working days lost. Through this data, the HR function can clearly demonstrate the impact of strengthening its team’s capabilities, helping the organisation’s leaders grow in confidence and capability to address workforce challenges.
“We’re delighted to be recognised as a CIPD People Development Partner. It underscores our commitment to continuous learning and development as an HR community to deliver a professional and expert HR service to our business.”
HMCTS is entering a period of change. Over the coming months we will be working together to navigate this transition and shape what comes next. By aligning roles with the CIPD Profession Map, HMCTS is focused on making sure its HR team has the skills and capabilities to help the organisation understand and respond to changes with confidence.
HMCTS has committed to supporting HR colleagues to achieve the right level of CIPD qualification for their role and helping colleagues who have valuable on-the-job expertise to become members or upgrade to the most suitable level through our experience assessment route. It’s also taking a more strategic approach to the team’s ongoing development by aligning its CPD budget with organisational objectives.
HMCTS has also allocated time for the team to work with the CIPD Trust and engage with their local CIPD groups. This supports their ongoing professional development, helps them build their networks, and allows them to contribute to the wider HR community.
To find out how we can support you in equipping your people function to lead organisational change, get in touch.