Asset-Based Workforce Development
What is Asset-Based Workforce Development?
Asset-based Workforce Development (ABWD) is a new approach that draws on and combines Asset-based Community Development (ABCD) with the operational and organisational changes needed for public servants to enable and support ‘community power’.
Who is behind it?
Cormac Russell, Katie Kelly and Brendan Martin are practitioners of ABCD (Cormac), building place-based relational services through local government (Katie), and enabling and supporting self-managed team work (Brendan). Our ABWD support offer synthesises our combined century of study and practical experience.
Why is it needed?
Many public service professionals badly want to support ‘community power’ but are hamstrung by organisational silos and bureaucratic obstructions. The ABWD approach supports them to work creatively with the people they serve and across organisational boundaries, which also enhances their own job satisfaction.
What does it involve?
To sustain and proliferate such change requires that boundaries and distribution of authority and effective decision-making processes are owned and respected by all. This in turn involves learning to work with high levels of autonomy and responsibility within a clear and agreed framework of guidelines and standards.
What are the benefits?
By adopting ABWD public services can:
- strengthen services and relationships with communities;
- reduce failure demand and waste of resources;
- improve employee retention, satisfaction and wellbeing.
How will we work with you?
We will work alongside you to co-create and embed a shared understanding of the relationships and practices involved and a framework of distributed authority and guidelines to underpin them. Action learning will be supported by coaching, mentoring, retreats and masterclasses, with continuous access to our comprehensive and energising learning and development materials.
How can we get started?
We are inviting three place-based organisations — local authorities, integrated neighbourhood teams, or whatever — to take part in bespoke programmes with Cormac, Katie and Brendan, initially for one year, starting April 2027. On 20 and 21 January 2027 we will be holding one-day introductory workshops for potential partners — details to follow soon.
To find out more and arrange a chat with one of the three founders, please email brendan@publicworld.com