mhance was selected to deliver Cats Protection’s digital transformation.
Background
St Ann’s Hospice is one of the oldest and largest hospices in the UK, supporting patients and families across Greater Manchester for over 50 years.
As a charity, the hospice faces the ongoing challenge of funding its vital services, receiving just one-third of its income from statutory sources. The remaining two-thirds—equivalent to around £20,000 a day—must be raised through fundraising, legacies, and retail operations.
“Every day, we rely on the generosity of our supporters to keep our services running,” explained Claire Murphy, Head of Finance at St Ann’s Hospice.
Why Microsoft Dynamics 365?
St Ann’s Hospice was using an on-premise finance system that was reaching end of life. During the pandemic, remote access became a major issue—particularly critical in a healthcare environment where staff were working from home. The timing prompted Claire and her team to evaluate new systems and find a solution that offered long-term value and flexibility.
“Although the change was initially forced upon us, it turned out to be the perfect time to explore what was out there,” Claire shared.
Cost-effectiveness was a key driver in their search, as was the need to work with a partner who understood the complexities of the charity sector. After researching potential providers, St Ann’s chose mhance.
“I wanted someone local who understood the charity world. From the very first conversation, it was clear mhance got it. Their values aligned with ours, and they understood that we’re not a typical business,” said Claire.
The Solution and Benefits
St Ann’s implemented Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, alongside Power BI for reporting and analytics. Business Central allowed the finance team to structure the chart of accounts in a way that aligned with charity-specific reporting requirements, while also providing a user-friendly interface familiar to staff already comfortable with Microsoft tools.
“The look and feel of Business Central made training easier across the organisation. And being cloud-based means we can now access the system whenever and wherever we need to,” Claire noted.
The addition of Power BI brought a major transformation in reporting. Previously, financial data was static and controlled by the finance team. Now, budget holders can access real-time data, drill into transactions, and gain insights without relying on finance to distribute reports.
They’ve also begun integrating Power BI with other systems to build custom dashboards, giving broader operational insight beyond just financials.
The Partnership with mhance
From the outset, mhance demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the nonprofit sector—something Claire found lacking in other potential providers.
“Some demos I saw were clearly designed for commercial businesses. They talked about sales teams and targets, which just isn’t relevant to us,” Claire said.
The implementation process was smooth, and the ongoing support from mhance has strengthened the partnership further. When asked whether she would recommend mhance to other hospices or charities, Claire didn’t hesitate.
“Absolutely. We’re a tight-knit community in the hospice sector, and I’ve already had conversations with peers about our experience. I’d be more than happy to recommend mhance—and show them how we’re using the system to improve the way we work.”