Rob Powell, Strategic Director for Resources
In conversation with… Rob Powell, Strategic Director for Resources
Rob Powell joined Warwickshire County Council (WCC) in April 2019 as Strategic Director for Resources. Prior to his current role, Rob was the Chief Executive of the Legal Ombudsman, and he has extensive experience in a number of senior roles in both the private and public sector. Rob is an accountant by profession and has a particular interest in systems thinking and transformation. Rob lives in Birmingham with his wife and two daughters, and he loves playing cricket, running and watching Aston Villa.
What do you do day-to-day at WCC?
No two days are the same, I tend to split my time between developing strategy and direction, engaging with our staff, working with key partners and stakeholders, and in meetings with elected members, partners and staff. The variety is absolutely wonderful and my favourite part of the role is seeing people develop and grow.
Tell us about the Resources Directorate…
Resources Directorate provides a range of support services, such as finance, legal, property, HR, marketing and communications, ICT, business support, programme management, and public-facing services like our contact centres, libraries, museums and the registration service.
We also oversee, coordinate and support much of the Council’s commercial activity through the Warwickshire Property and Development Group, Warwickshire Recovery and Investment Fund and our traded services which generate about £33m a year,
We don’t see ourselves as a ‘back office’ – every person’s role enables us to deliver outcomes for residents and communities in Warwickshire.
How does the Resources Directorate make a difference to Warwickshire communities?
Our libraries, registration services, contact centre and museums make a direct difference. They bring joy, care, compassion and connection into people’s lives. I’ve seen this first-hand and receive such incredible feedback from our residents about what these teams deliver.
Our other teams make sure we are a great council and partner, which makes good use of its resources, delivers value for money, has the right strategies, policies, delivery plans, performance measures and resource plans, and the right capabilities to drive the priorities set out in the Council Plan.
We also make sure we have a really positive and supportive culture, and that the Council is a great place to work.
How does the Resources Directorate support the Council’s three strategic priorities?
Our first priority is to make sure Warwickshire has a vibrant economy. We support the Warwickshire Property and Development Group and Warwickshire Recovery and Investment Fund, which together will invest over £300m into our economy.
Our second priority is to be a County where all people can live their best lives. The Resources Directorate support and enable our amazing colleagues across our other directorates to deliver their outcomes. For example, our Business Intelligence team provides detailed insight on Levelling Up to inform our policy work to improve people’s life opportunities. Through our Programme Management Office we also support our major change programmes, for example Special Educational Needs and Inclusion and the Children’s Transformation Programme. Our third priority is to be a County with a sustainable future. We coordinate the Council’s climate change programme, and in particular is driving the development of a Sustainable Futures Strategy and costed plan to achieve net zero across the county by 2050.
How is WCC different to other places you have worked?
It’s a bigger organisation so there’s a lot more capacity, capability and scope to think big. I have spent much of my career in organisations with boards, so having elected members is a big point of difference for me, it’s a real privilege to work with them. Finally, WCC is an absolutely lovely organisation with a great culture and feel to it, and I genuinely love being part of it every day.
What attracted you to WCC and how long have you worked here?
A former boss, who was one of the biggest influences on my career saw the role and sent it to me, and said ‘you are perfect for that job’. I took some persuasion because it was so long since I’d worked directly in local government, but I really liked what I saw of WCC during the various recruitment stages and by the end I felt it was the perfect place for me to further progress and develop my career.
What excites you most about the future of WCC?
There is so much opportunity and innovation in Warwickshire and I think we’ve built some incredibly exciting foundations over the time I’ve been here, and I can’t wait to see colleagues turn these into impact for our communities and residents. Our people are everything and we are nothing without them, so I expect to see our people continue to deliver amazing things, develop themselves and be the best they can be so the county is the best place to live, work and do business.
In three words how would you describe the culture of Warwickshire?
Supportive, ambitious and kind.
Out of our behaviours which one resonates most with you and why?
Move with purpose and energy – it resonated the first time I saw it when I was applying for the job.
Last but not least, if you weren’t working for WCC, what would your dream job be?
Manager of Aston Villa!