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Business Link Wessex
Area of business:
Provider of impartial guidance and advice to Businesses.
A subsidiary of the Small Business Service (a division of the DTI) offering business support to companies located in Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight.
Challenge/Task:
- Explore the state of the relationship between Business Link Wessex and key intermediaries in Dorset
- Examine what works well and areas of (potential) conflict
- Test various hypotheses to understand which factors act as a barrier to referrals
- Gauge the reaction to current service offerings from Business Link Wessex
- Explore propositions to understand areas that provide “win - win - win” scenarios
- Establish and note how intermediaries identify a business that needs support and/or staff development
- Once identified, how is this need handled?
Crisp Involvement:
Lead Consultant: Andy Parker, Quality Assurance: Russell Crisp
Approach/solution:
Crisp agreed with Business Link Wessex to facilitate a programme of meetings styled as “Working Luncheons” to investigate issues pertaining to the concept of “Brokerage” with particular reference to the field of Workforce Development.
Process:
The Crisp team undertook the following:
Working to a pre-drafted discussion guide developed at the end of Stage One of the project (the Familiarisation Exercise) which included hypotheses for potential barriers and “win - win - win” scenarios.
Open discussion using pre-prepared slides for stimulus styled as a “Working Luncheon” held at the Chewton Glen Hotel, near Christchurch.
Eight Working Luncheons were conducted during February and March 2004.
Invitations issued to Senior Partners and Partners of Accountancy practices and Legal practices and Area Managers/Directors of Banks in the Dorset region.
Full and detailed debrief submission made to Business Link Wessex directors.
Presented summarised findings, including the “launch” of the Brokerage concept at a dinner held at Royal Bath Hotel, Bournemouth featuring John McCarthy as the ‘After-Dinner’ Guest Speaker.
Outcomes:
The Crisp team generated a full and detailed debrief document and accompanying presentation. This contained practical and achievable recommendations covering both operational and communications activities for discussion with Business Link Wessex Directors and senior management.
