Lambeth Borough Council Case Study - HR Reports Overhaul

After identifying inconsistent and inefficient HR reporting, Lambeth Borough Council partnered with Understanding Solutions to rebuild their reports and empower internal teams. Through a structured three-phase approach, discovery, execution, and knowledge transfer, the council gained accurate, sustainable reports and the capability to manage them independently

The Challenge the Client Faced

Following an internal audit, Lambeth Borough Council recognised that their HR reports were inconsistent and ineffective, creating inefficiencies and limiting the council’s ability to make data-driven decisions. The existing reports lacked accuracy and were difficult to maintain, leaving HR and business application teams struggling to extract meaningful insights. The council needed a partner who could not only rebuild these reports but also ensure that internal teams were empowered to manage them independently going forward.

Understanding Solutions' Approach

Understanding Solutions proposed a structured three-phase engagement to deliver both immediate improvements and long-term capability. During the Discovery Phase, the consultant engaged with stakeholders across HR and business applications, reviewing all existing reports, identifying gaps, and designing a roadmap for improvement.

In the Execution Phase, new reports were developed iteratively, with each iteration reviewed and refined in collaboration with the council’s teams. This hands-on approach ensured reports were aligned with operational needs and fully tested before sign-off.

Finally, the Knowledge Transfer Phase embedded capability within the council. The consultant led training sessions, created clear documentation, and provided ongoing guidance so that internal teams could maintain and update reports confidently.

The Outcome

By the end of the engagement, Lambeth Borough Council had a fully revitalised HR reporting system that not only provided accurate and actionable insights but was also easy for internal teams to manage. The phased approach meant the Council could see progress at each stage, from initial discovery to execution and knowledge transfer, building confidence and clarity along the way. Staff were upskilled through hands-on training and detailed documentation, leaving them empowered to maintain and adapt the reports independently, ensuring long-term sustainability and efficiency.

The client reflected on the results:

“I wanted to take a moment to thank you for ensuring the successful development of our HR reports. Your organisation and commitment to meeting the deadlines were truly commendable, and I appreciate the effort you put into delivering high-quality work. I was particularly impressed with the quick turnaround and ability to fix any problems with the reports promptly. The logic behind some of the reports, such as the sickness trigger, position establishment, acting up and secondment, FTC end date, was quite complex. USol did an excellent job in achieving the desired results. Overall, the reports you delivered were of high quality, and I am very pleased with the outcome. I would recommend your services.”