The Green Book is a useful process used in the UK to originate and develop project ideas and plans that require public money. Here’s my tips for a good Green Book Business Case….

1) Always start with a 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮. If its still vague – don’t begin the green book business case! Keep refining.

2) 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 – go backwards and work out how you get to that – what are the options?

3) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 on the methods of addressing the challenge/ opportunity and not be about choosing broad themes.

4) Set out a coherent 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗲 (need, evidence, case for change) (WHY)

5) 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 (WHAT). This is soooo important. Most of the failing projects I’ve reviewed or evaluated had vague or unclear objectives that were poorly articulated or reasoned, often with little reference to evidence.

6) 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘀 (HOW, WHEN). You need to look at best practice, and ensure that your proposed actions are validated by and improve upon what others have done. It is critical to quantify what you deliver and how you will measure delivery, and to set out the timescales.

7) 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗺𝘀 (WHO). You need to also provide evidence of how you will select, procure and contract the delivery organisation, and demonstrate a track record of doing this (contracting out or grant aiding); or delivering yourself.

8) 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 (ANTICIPATED IMPACT). You need to quantify the outcomes and impacts – aka – benefits of your project. And also be honest about when these will occur.

9) Make the 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 calculations – what kinds of outputs and impacts are you getting for your £££s? does this compare favourably to other projects or activities -can you demonstrate good value for money

10) 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗶𝗱 / 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗶𝗱𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 – you need to articulate the market failure rationale and explore if your intervention will distort market competition or negatively affect existing businesses

11) 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪! the most critical bit is the ‘logic model’ of the Green Book… i.e.

Is what you propose a credible response to address the challenges or opportunities you identified? Is it based on accurate evidence of need, opportunity, and of best practice and policy delivery?

What happens if you do nothing? the counterfactual can be a powerful argument.

Good luck!