Stephen Kirkpatrick BSc
Head of Business Operations
Phone:
+44 (0)1900 822 458 (Office)
+44 (0)7823 328 471 (Direct)
Key areas of expertise:
Digital leadership, strategy and governance
Corporate leadership and business operations
Change leadership
Digital programme management
Certifications:
CITP MBCS ITIL MSP PRINCE
A Bit About Me
Stephen is a dedicated and forward-thinking strategic leader with extensive experience driving success across a wide range of business functions and sectors. Known for his adaptability, he seamlessly transitions between roles to deliver impactful results in diverse environments.
​
With deep expertise in digital and organisational leadership, Stephen is particularly passionate about what technology can enable—focusing on outcomes rather than the technology itself. He is a specialist in Digital and ICT transformation, bringing a rare blend of strategic vision and hands-on delivery.
Stephen’s collaborative approach, strong interpersonal skills, and commitment to inclusivity help him bring out the best in individuals and teams alike. He has a proven track record of delivering innovative, high-quality services in both the public and private sectors, often working within complex, competitive, or partnership-driven settings.
​
Naturally curious and solutions-oriented, Stephen approaches challenges with a “can-do” mindset, constantly asking the right questions—what, why, when, and so what—to unlock real value and meaningful change.
​
Outside of work, Stephen enjoys running, sailing, skiing, and socialising. Most of his free time, however, is spent managing his most ambitious project yet: raising three teenagers alongside his amazing wife - a task he jokingly compares to herding cats!
Recent Assignments
August 2024 - March 2025
Senior Consultant, Sellafield Infrastructure Delivery Partnership (IDP) and Sellafield Decommissioning and Nuclear Waste Partnership (DNWP), UK. Stephen was commissioned as a member of the Fox & Associates team by Sellafield to support the digital workstreams for the planning, mobilisation and transition phases of two major delivery frameworks: Infrastructure Delivery Partnership (IDP), and the Decommissioning Nuclear Waste Partnership (DNWP), at £3.4bn and £4.6bn respectively. As Digital Consultant, Stephen provided specialist ICT advice to the client-side intelligent client for the Sellafield Limited Overarching Acquisition Strategy 2040 (OAS), ensuring commercial frameworks and scope for the component delivery frameworks are implemented successfully. Key deliverables included: 15-year financial planning, contingency planning and resource ramp-up modelling, to enable executive level budget setting and business planning for the two frameworks.
June 2010 - March 2024
Director of ICT, then Director of Corporate Support, Cumbria Constabulary, UK. Stephen initially joined the Constabulary in 2010 as the strategic force lead for all aspects of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) used to enable highly effective corporate and operational support services. In 2012 he was promoted to overall Director of Corporate Services. In this role, Stephen was the strategic lead and senior advisor for a wide portfolio of corporate enabling roles including ICT, Human Resources, Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing, Learning and Development, Estates, Fleet, Commercial and Central Services. His key priority was to deliver high performing, coherent and cost-effective corporate services to support and enable operational policing in an increasingly complex and challenging environment. Stephen led force wellbeing activities with direct responsibilities for Occupational Health, Wellbeing & HR, driving the ED&I agenda across the force.
April 2009 - May 2010
Shared ICT Services Manager, Allerdale Borough Council & Carlisle City Council, UK. Stephen led the project to develop and implement Cumbria’s first substantial Local Government shared service with the establishment of the ictCONNECT shared ICT service which was delivered for and jointly funded by Allerdale Borough Council and Carlisle City Council on a partnership basis. Having established the shared service, Stephen assumed then lead the new service with overall responsibility for the delivery of an ICT service plan and strategy which supported excellent day to day and future development needs of all internal and external ICT customers therefore driving forward the development and delivery of corporate improvement and development plans.
Testimonial
"As Director of Corporate Services at Cumbria Constabulary, Stephen led the development of a number of organisational reviews and change programmes at a strategic level, including the review and implementation of a new Performance and Development Review (PDR) system to compliment the Chief Constables’ leadership approach.
Stephen also led the corporate response in support of the Constabulary’s complex operational policing effort during periods of extreme flooding throughout the County, as well as the policing response to the Covid-19 pandemic, ensuring the complex portfolio of corporate services, including buildings and infrastructure resilience were maintained."
Deputy Chief Constable, Cumbria Constabulary, 2024 ​
