CIPFA’s AFEP CFO Retreat 2022

black metal car seat aligned

Photo by Andrei Stratu on Unsplash

Photo by Andrei Stratu on Unsplash

CIPFA’s Achieving Financial Excellence in Policing programme supports police forces across the UK to achieve and sustain financial excellence.

AFEP enables forces to build on capacity and provides support to forces at a local level.

Launched in 2019, the award-winning AFEP programme was designed in partnership with CIPFA, driven from within the Finance and Coordinating Committee of the NPCC, and supported by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) and the Police and Crime Commissioners Treasurers Society (PACCTS).

Together with our sector stakeholders, we explore the needs, wants and aspirations of today’s modern forces to achieve the vision of an evidence-based and fully collaborative police finance service.

The programme is for sector individuals with responsibility for any aspect of financial management service delivery, budget management, policy decision making, and delivery of financial best practice.

As well as training and qualifications throughout the year, members are also invited to the yearly AFEP CFO Retreat. This year the retreat was held in Leicester and gave delegates the opportunity to network, hear some fantastic speakers and take part in lively discussion.

Item 1 of 3

Day 1 of the retreat focused on people development and strategic planning.

We heard from some fantastic speakers

Including, Gavin Stephens, Chief Constable, Surrey Police, who opened the conference with a speech drawing on his wealth of experience in the police force.

Garret Emmerson, former Chief Executive Officer of the London Ambulance Service (LAS), gave a fascinating keynote speech, using his extensive experience to give some key lessons on strategic leadership.

Iain McCulloch, CFO Sussex Police, shared his insights into the AFEP People Development working group and his own leadership journey.

We also heard from Paul Netherton, former Deputy Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, who discussed risk management from a civil contingencies perspective.

In the evening, there was time for some dinner...

...and some drinks.

The evening also featured after dinner speaker, Gamal Turawa, who gave a thought-provoking talk about his experiences as a Metropolitan Police Officer.

Delegates also had the chance to catch up and socialise.

Day 2 of the retreat focused on financial management

Nicola Allen opened the session and shared some lessons from her own experience as Treasurer for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We also heard from Alison Spence, Head of Police Efficiency and Funding at the Home Office and British Economist Vicky Pryce...

...both gave an insight into the current financial situation and what the outlook will be over the coming months.

There was also a Q&A session, during which colleagues had time to ask questions and take part in some lively discussion.

Of course, there was also plenty of time to socialise and network over coffee and refreshments.

Item 1 of 3

Finally, Melissa Leen and Peter Gillett bought the retreat to a close and gave delegates some information about what can be expected from AFEP III.

Feedback from conference attendees

The speakers were fantastic, knowledgeable and entertaining.

Short snappy sessions that helped inform (and reminded us to) how we think more strategically.

Table exercises very useful and constructive need that interaction to avoid death by PowerPoint!

If you like the sound of the AFEP CFO Retreat, why not join us next year?

We look forward to seeing you there!

Back to cipfa.org

Terms and conditions

Copyright © 2022 CIPFA

CIPFA, registered with the Charity Commissioners of England and Wales No.231060 and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator No.SC037963.

CIPFA Business Limited, the trading arm of CIPFA that provides a range of services to public sector clients, registered in England and Wales no. 2376684.

Registered Office 77 Mansell Street, London E1 8AN