Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
Supporting the transformation of core functions and operating models through embedded project and change delivery, strategic consultancy, and capability uplift.
The Background
Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, a major UK charity, is on a long-term transformation journey to modernise its operations, strengthen internal capabilities, and deliver greater impact in an increasingly challenging fundraising and economic environment.
With ambitions to become a more agile, product-led organisation, Guide Dogs sought expert support to implement a Target Operating Model across core functions, including Fundraising & Marketing, People, and Workplace Services. Parallel transformation efforts in Finance also required strategic programme delivery and change management support to enable smoother integration, minimise risk, and accelerate maturity toward a more centralised EPMO model.
Our Approach
Sullivan & Stanley was brought in across multiple phases of Guide Dogs' transformation to provide a blend of consulting expertise and embedded delivery capacity. Our work covered the implementation of operating models, transformation planning, and change adoption — always with a focus on sustainability, collaboration and building Guide Dogs' own internal capability.
We provided:
- Project and programme delivery to lead critical phases of the Target Operating Model implementation across People, Fundraising & Marketing, and Workplace Services
- Change management leadership to ensure adoption of new ways of working, including engagement strategies, stakeholder communications, and readiness assessments
- Strategic advisory on operating model design and integration planning, particularly within the Finance function
- Transition and capability transfer, enabling in-house PMO and Strategy teams to take on programme leadership responsibilities
- Risk management and delivery assurance across all transformation workstreams
Our embedded team included a Transformation Lead, Project Manager, and Business Change Manager — all selected for their experience within purpose-driven organisations and their ability to work collaboratively inside complex stakeholder environments. We also ensured alignment with senior leadership and internal sponsors throughout, acting as a critical friend to the client at each step.
The Outcome
Our flexible, human-centred approach allowed Guide Dogs to progress their transformation at pace while building the confidence, structure and capability needed to sustain long-term change.
- Successfully delivered the Target Operating Model rollout across three core business areas
- Strengthened internal capability, enabling key transformation responsibilities to be transitioned in-house
- Improved governance and planning, with integrated roadmap and programme plans to support enterprise-level decision making
- Accelerated readiness for EPMO adoption, with a defined path to scale enterprise portfolio oversight
- Mitigated delivery risk, providing clarity and control across prioritisation, dependencies, and stakeholder communications
- Embedded change practices, increasing confidence and adoption across impacted teams
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