Restructure Business Case
A structured business case for a proposed restructure, covering the rationale, the options considered, the cost and the people impact.
A structured business case for a proposed restructure, covering the rationale, the options considered, the cost and the people impact.
When to use it
Before any proposal is shared beyond the leadership team, and before any decision that could pre-empt consultation.
How to write a restructure business case that survives scrutiny
A restructure business case is the document that turns a leadership instinct into a decision that can be defended — to your board, to employee representatives, and, if it comes to it, to an employment tribunal. It sets out the problem you are solving, the options you considered, what each option costs, and who is affected.
What a good business case contains
The commercial rationale comes first, in plain language: what has changed in the market, the funding position or the operating model, and what happens if nothing is done. Then the options. A case that presents only one option looks pre-determined; a case that shows redeployment-first alternatives, reduced hours, natural attrition and a phased approach shows genuine consideration. Cost and payback modelling gives the board a real number rather than a hopeful one — and should be paired with the Redundancy Cost Model so redundancy pay, notice, employer costs and outplacement are all in view.
The people impact section is the part most often rushed. It should record headcount by team, the risk to capability and knowledge, the effect on the team that stays, and the support you intend to offer leavers.
Why timing matters
Write the case before any proposal is shared beyond the leadership team. Anything that reads as a settled decision — a communications plan naming individuals, a signed-off exit date — can undermine the argument that consultation was meaningful. Use the Redundancy Compliance Decision Tree alongside this template to confirm which consultation route applies before you commit to a timetable.
Where this fits in the wider programme
This template accompanies the chapter on building the case for change in Restructuring with Responsibility, our full guide to running a restructure well. If you are also planning employee support during redundancy, our career transition services sit alongside the process work: the business case is stronger when the support offer is costed in from the start rather than added late.
