5 quick ways to start co-producing your next project
- Kelvin
- May 15
- 3 min read
Co-production is one of those terms that gets used a lot, but in practice it’s often misunderstood or brought in too late.
We see this regularly. Projects are designed with the best intentions, but only involve the people they’re meant for once most of the decisions have already been made.
By that point, it’s hard to change anything meaningful.
The shift is simple, but important. Co-production isn’t something you add on; it’s something you build in from the start.
If you’re looking to do that more effectively, here are 5 practical ways to get going.
Involve people at the planning stage
If you wait until things are already designed, you’ve limited what can change.
In our experience, the most valuable input comes right at the beginning, when you’re deciding:
What the project is trying to achieve.
What really matters to people.
What success actually looks like.
That early involvement shapes the direction of the whole project, not just the details.
Use clear and accessible communication from the start
Co-production only works if people can properly understand what they’re being asked to engage with.
We often see a pattern of organisations involving people early, but using complex language, long documents, or unclear explanations. This limits how much people can contribute.
Using clear communication (including Easy Read where appropriate) makes a real difference. It means:
People can engage with confidence.
Feedback is more meaningful.
Conversations become more balanced.
It’s not just about making things “simpler”. It’s about making sure everyone can take part on equal terms.
3. Test ideas early
You don’t need a finished product to start involving people.
Early ideas, rough plans, or initial concepts are often the most useful things to test because they show:
How people interpret what you’re proposing.
What feels relevant (or not).
What’s missing.
Waiting until everything is “ready” usually means feedback comes too late to shape the outcome.
4. Get feedback, and use it
This is where co-production either works or it doesn’t.
It’s not just about asking for views. It’s about being prepared to act on them. That might mean:
Rethinking your approach.
Changing priorities.
Simplifying what you planned to do.
People can tell very quickly when their input is genuinely shaping a project.
5. Pay people for their time
If you’re asking people to share their experience and insight, it should be valued properly.
Payment isn’t just a practical step. It sets the tone for the whole process.It says: this input matters, and it’s worth something.
It also helps build more consistent and committed participation over time.
A quick example from practice
We worked with a public sector organisation developing a new service that needed input from people with learning disabilities.
Instead of waiting until the end, they involved a group right at the start, using Easy Read materials to explain early ideas and options clearly.
That changed the conversation completely.
People weren’t just reacting to something finished. They were able to:
Question assumptions.
Highlight what wouldn’t work in real life.
Suggest practical changes early on.
Some of those insights led to changes in how the service was structured, not just how it was communicated.
That’s the difference co-production makes when it’s done properly. It shapes decisions, not just outputs.
Co-production doesn’t have to be complicated. But it does require a shift in how you approach your work.
Start earlier. Involve people properly. Be willing to adapt.
