Turning Pressure into Performance at the Environment Agency

Under intense public and government scrutiny, the Environment Agency enlisted BeTalent’s help to cut complexity, supercharge collaboration, and deliver faster, safer flood defence solutions.

“The lasting impact is a continued focus on psychological safety within our organisation. Our teams use the language every day and despite changes in personnel and restructuring, the legacy is one that continues.”

— Catherine Hall, Business Change Manager, Environment Agency

Public body in England that works to protect and improve the environment

  • Public sector

  • 10,000+ employees and £5bn+ project delivery

  • Focus: Psychological Safety & Strengths assessments, workshop design and facilitation

Creating an Environment for Success

Challenge

Responding to government-imposed collaboration targets, the Environment Agency developed a set of collaborative behaviours to work with partner organisations across critical national flood defence projects. Recognising these behaviours were not embedded, EA sought to identify areas of improvement and achieve more consistent collaboration across its network.

Our Approach

BeTalent conducted a culture diagnostic aimed at identifying strengths, risks and recommendations for improvement. The conclusions highlighted a disconnect between the reality vs aspired culture, all with the backdrop of reduced resources, greater need for partnerships and performance urgency given the climate emergency posed by severe flooding in many parts of the UK.

Our diagnostic work identified key dilemmas which challenged progress:

  • Diversity needed for performance vs tenure and industry demographics

  • The need for innovation vs safety concerns and public pressures

  • A drive towards pace and efficiency vs organisational complexity

Deployment and Impact

BeTalent designed a programme of behaviour frameworks aimed at reducing complexity, breaking down silos and creating performance clarity and psychological safety including:

  • Identification of senior managers’ strengths and cognitive diversity ranges

  • Measurement of psychological safety across the EA network

  • Creation of a series of workshops delivered to over 500 senior managers

The programme exceeded all expectations, informing executive strategic decisions with real frontline experiences.

A new single capability framework reduced the complexity of existing models, clearly articulating the culture and expectations set out by the strategy.

Achieving 98% acceptance within workshop forums, the programme was designed with Health and Safety at Work, EDI and Sustainability, securing sponsorship at the most senior levels.

Why it Worked

  • Focused insight, real results: A culture diagnostic exposed critical gaps between current and desired behaviours, guiding targeted action.

     

    Streamlined for impact: A single capability framework replaced complex models, aligning culture with strategic goals.

     

    Evidence that sticks: Measured psychological safety and strengths to track progress and shape leadership decisions.

     

    Change that lasts: 500+ senior managers engaged through workshops, embedding a shared language and behaviours.