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Business ProfileClick here to view or download or view our business profile in pdf format ContentsJSA Regeneration Limited is an independent consultancy business that has been operating successfully in its chosen field for over 16 years. It is managed by two partners: ♦ John Stevens BSc, MCD, FRGS, MRTPI♦ Mave Morris BA, MCD, MRTPI The company has a very varied workload. It involves the provision of advice and consultancy services on many aspects of economic, social and environmental regeneration. We carry out research and analysis, consultation, the development of strategies and new organisational arrangements, project identification and preparation, funding package assembly and evaluation. Our hallmark is the design and development of new approaches to problems and challenges. We have many years of experience working with a wide variety of public, private and voluntary sector agencies at local, regional, national and international levels. Our work generally involves operating in and with partnerships and networks – which may be local, regional or transnational. We utilise a mix of creative, practical and presentational skills. The work may involve the delivery of learning programmes or facilitation of team/partnership activities Because we are a small business, our method of working often involves putting together – or joining – a team of experts in tackling larger and more interesting projects. We like to work closely with our clients so that we fully understand their requirements and can carefully tailor our response. The focus of our work is economic regeneration and development. We work at both strategic and project levels. This often involves working in partnership – sometimes within a local community or region, sometimes across Europe. Work at a strategic level includes: ♦ Programme development♦ Design and production of frameworks and documents ♦ Policy formulation and interpretation ♦ Responding to policy initiatives ♦ Programme evaluation Work at a project level includes: ♦ Designing new and innovative projects♦ Project planning and management ♦ Developing funding packages ♦ Monitoring and appraisal ♦ Project evaluation ♦ Research ♦ Preparation and delivery of learning packages and materials ♦ Project and partnership co-ordination Our particular strengths include: ♦ Formulation of policy – drafting of strategies and action plans which make sense of a complex of sources and ideas♦ Evaluation of projects and programmes – their effectiveness, impacts and outcomes ♦ Project design, development, funding and management – including business planning ♦ Preparation of strategic and planning documents linked to EU, UK and regional funding bodies ♦ Co-ordination of research projects involving multiple partners at various scales of operation ♦ Identification of best practice in policy and policy delivery – transferring lessons from European and global best practice We have a particular interest in: ♦ The presentation of complex topics, for example research findings or learning materials, in attractive and accessible formats♦ Development of paper-based and on-line information, materials and manuals♦ Learning and training issues, including how people learn and work together♦ Working with local communities to raise their profile and capacity, and helping them to develop valuable local projects♦ Working with stakeholders to evaluate their projects and programmes.♦ Department of Trade and Industry♦ Department for Education and Skills ♦ Know How Fund (now part of DfID) ♦ Government Office for the North East ♦ ONE NorthEast ♦ The European Commission ♦ English Heritage ♦ Countryside Agency ♦ The National Trust ♦ The Royal Town Planning Institute ♦ Universities ♦ Local Authorities ♦ Training and business support partnerships, including LSCs and Business Links ♦ Local strategic partnerships ♦ European partnerships ♦ Area regeneration partnerships ♦ The Construction Industry Council ♦ Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Limited ♦ Greater London Enterprise ♦ assa Training & Learning Ltd. (now part of the Carter & Carter Group plc) ♦ University for Industry (Learndirect) ♦ Penguin Books ♦ North East Productivity Alliance (NEPA) ♦ Local Sure Start programmes Our work has followed six main themes:
1. Appraisal and strategy development Work has involved formulating strategy statements on economic development and regeneration issues – often addressing underlying structural problems. Commissions often involve community consultations and appraisals, interpreting and responding to UK Government and European Union programmes, and working with formal or informal partnerships of agencies. Examples of work that we have undertaken include: ♦ Contributing to the preparation of the delivery plan for the Easington Colliery and Horden Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder, and provision of practical support to the Board and Manager on appraisal, monitoring and review♦ An external review of the operation of the Ufi automotive sector hub for assa Training & Learning Ltd.♦ A social enterprise strategy and action plan for County Durham♦ An economic appraisal input to the Management Plans for the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the North Pennines and Northumberland Coast♦ Preparation of community appraisals for the 26 wards in Easington District as a basis for the allocation of Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and EU Objective 2 resources♦ A review of the economic potential of market towns in the North East and the role of local partnerships2. Learning and human resource development Work has involved the analysis of learning needs at both strategic and project scale. We have helped design and obtain funding for a wide variety of learning and training activities and facilities, as well as the design and development of specific learning programmes and materials. Delivery of a variety of training programmes has also been involved. We have a particular interest in the application of technology to the learning process, and in capacity-building for public sector staff and local communities. Examples of work that we have undertaken include: ♦ Design and writing of over 70 paper-based and on-line training programmes on aspects of productivity improvement for learndirect♦ Design and writing of taster and foundation learning programmes on aspects of personal and company productivity, including business improvement tools and techniques♦ Development of a project preparation manual for use by those concerned with the environment of Central and Eastern European countries, commissioned by the UK Know How Fund. Published by OECD and the EU♦ Development of an on-line guide to electronic commerce for the owner-managers of small businesses. This involved working with partners in four other European countries and was funded through the EU's Leonardo programme. Follow up materials for business intermediaries were funded by Adapt and ESPRIT♦ Production of guides to business planning and project management for people in the public and voluntary sectors - a capacity-building initiative involving the delivery of associated training programmes to key staff♦ Economic and Labour Market Intelligence training materials - development of courses for the DfES on aspects of good practice in economic and labour market intelligence, including the engagement of employers♦ Contribution to the development of Occupational Standards for the built environment sector; and maintenance of National Vocational Qualifications for town planners and town planning support staff.♦ Design and development of productivity and enterprise learning materials for use by students at Key Stage 4♦ Design and development of a set of guidance manuals outlining the effective delivery of work-based learning programmes, and providing a basis for staff training♦ Contributing to work on the development of occupational standards and new qualifications for transport planners♦ Contributing to the work of IGNITE – the North East’s Regional Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Communities, including authoring of web content, case studies and master classes♦ Design, development, implementation and evaluation of an online learning pilot for the Academy for Sustainable CommunitiesWork has involved the design of evaluation strategies, the evaluation of UK and EU projects dealing with aspects of business support, regeneration, training courses and qualifications. These evaluations have been formative, summative and process, and have varied in scale from local to transnational. Examples of work that we have undertaken include: ♦ Local evaluation of the Horden and Easington Colliery, Teesdale, Shildon and Newton Aycliffe West Sure Start programmes♦ A final evaluation of the East Durham Regeneration Partnership’s SRB 1 programme, focusing on the development of partnership working and a workshop on alternative futures♦ A final evaluation of the SRB 3 programme for South Bishop Auckland Regeneration Partnership, including the production of a newsletter♦ An evaluation of the GRASP project – a ONE NorthEast funded initiative to improve graduate recruitment and retention in the high volume manufacturing sector. The work was commissioned by the Industry Centre at Sunderland University♦ An evaluation of the effectiveness of productivity improvement interventions carried out at JCB’s Cheadle and Uttoxeter plants♦ Evaluations of transnational vocational training programmes for technicians in electronic and electrical engineering funded by the EU Petra and Leonardo programmes♦ Contributing to the evaluation of the Settlement Renewal Initiative in County Durham – for the Durham Rural Development Partnership♦ Evaluation of an ADAPT project on distance training in IT for SME employees using network computing; for County Durham On-Line♦ Evaluations of the Northumberland InfoNet – sub-regional intelligence unit – for the Northumberland Strategic Partnership♦ Evaluation of the costs and benefits of business networking in Sunderland♦ Evaluation of business start-up and business incubator programmes in the North East and London4. Policy analysis and research Work has involved economic and labour market research and analysis, including investigation of aspects of competitiveness and productivity, key trends in local economies and labour markets. This is often used to inform the development of new policies and programmes. Examples of work that we have undertaken include: ♦ Policy papers on barriers to employment and training and the problems of social exclusion in disadvantaged areas♦ Design and preparation of the Sunderland Economic Profile for the economic regeneration partners. It was made available via CD-ROM and a local web site♦ Policy papers on aspects of competitiveness and productivity in high volume manufacturing♦ Survey and analysis of the skills needed by production staff in the automotive sector and appropriate training responses♦ A review of the transferability of productivity improvement interventions from large companies into SMEsWork has involved extensive investigations of best practice involving, inter alia, the application of new technologies to learning, the operation of innovation support mechanisms, the provision of managed workspace, and the use of economic and labour market information. Examples of work that we have undertaken include: ♦ Research into best practice in productivity improvement training♦ Research into best practice in the engagement of non-traditional learners♦ Research into best practice in Local Economic Development funded by the DfES. This included researching good practice in the US and Italy, and focused on public-private partnerships and innovative business start-ups.♦ Project management of action-research into best practice Economic and Labour Market Intelligence activities for the DfES. The project included publication of a guide on CD-ROM and on the web, as well as a number of workshops♦ Research into best practice in the operation of professional institutions; a comparative study for the archaeology profession funded by English Heritage♦ Contributing to the preparation of foresight reports on the leather goods and powder metallurgy industries. The work was commissioned by the DTI via Durham University Business SchoolWork has involved feasibility studies for physical developments as well as the design and funding of a wide variety of business support projects. We have been particularly concerned with small business start-up and development, new forms of working, and the links between higher education and the local economy. Examples of work that we have undertaken include: ♦ A business plan for the development of a residential learning and activity centre at White Lea Farm, Easington♦ Project development and business plans for various learning schemes and centres across the UK♦ Business planning and funding inputs to the design, development and growth of the Sunderland Business Innovation Centre (BIC)♦ A model of business support services with on-line delivery for County Durham♦ Feasibility study and business plan for a new business and learning centre in Stratford, East London♦ Support for the development of the North East regional automotive cluster and NEPA, including contributing to the design of a major investment programme known as "Accelerate North East"♦ Support for the development of an Automotive Sector Strategic Alliance including Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd and its supplier companies♦ Support for the development of a network of SMEs interested in productivity improvementCONTACTING US If you think that you can make use of our skills and experience, or you are interested in any of the projects and products mentioned in this Business Profile, please contact us. Mail: JSA Regeneration Limited Web site http://www.j-s-a.co.uk We look forward to hearing from you… |
