DIRECTOR

James Blacklock

James leads complex public sector transformation programmes, bringing a calm, practical focus to turning strategy, service design and operating model decisions into real delivery.

About

James is one of Castlerigg’s founding directors and has spent his career helping councils and public sector organisations deliver complex change. He is at his best where the challenge is messy, cross-organisational and difficult to land: shared services, digital operating models, workforce change, governance, service redesign and major programme delivery.

His approach is hands-on and grounded in operational reality. He works with senior leaders and delivery teams to get underneath the pressures in a system, test demand and capacity, simplify choices and build delivery arrangements that people can actually work with. James brings strong programme discipline, but never treats delivery as a paper exercise — the focus is always on practical change, service continuity and measurable benefits.

Selected work

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR

Programme Director — Cheshire Gemini Programme
James acted as Programme Director for the Gemini Programme, supporting Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council through the separation of a long-standing shared ICT service. His role combined programme direction, hands-on delivery leadership, governance, risk management and practical service design, helping the councils move from a complex shared-service model to clearer future operating arrangements while protecting service continuity.

Programme Director — Lancashire Digital by Design Programme
James acted as Programme Director for Lancashire County Council’s Digital by Design Programme, providing senior delivery leadership across a wide-ranging programme of digital, service and operating model change. His role focused on keeping the programme practical and deliverable: strengthening governance, shaping the delivery approach, managing risk and dependencies, and ensuring the work was grounded in real service demand, capacity and benefits rather than treated as a technology project in isolation.

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“
Castlerigg helped us turn digital strategy into a practical business strategy for the council. Their work gave us a clear view of where we needed to strengthen our digital capability.
— Paul Gribben, Head of Digital Services, Belfast City Council
“
The Gemini Programme has given Cheshire East greater control over key aspects of service delivery, allowing us to better align ICT with our local priorities.
— Gareth Pawlett, Director of Digital Services, Cheshire East Council
“
The Gemini Programme achieved exceptional success. The disciplined approach to delivery ensured the council remained on track despite the scale and complexity of change.
— Roger Davies, Head of DDAT Services, Cheshire West and Chester Council

Castlerigg Consulting

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