January 2003 – Present

Below is a list of projects I have worked on since 2003 in chronological order



I have over 12 years research experience in the fields of social policy and public services, labour market/workforce development, geo-demographics and learning and skills and economic research. I have extensive experience in undertaking with excluded and hard to reach groups including homeless people, young unemployed people, BMEs, lone parents, students and pupils, asylum seekers and refugees, people with HIV and AIDS and hard to reach non-learners. I also have engaged in a significant number of in-depth interviews with stakeholders, public officials, businesses, learning and skills providers and agencies.

In terms of techniques I have used deliberative focus groups, depth interviews, docu-exploratory approaches and Acknowledged Lived Experience via video, service user led research, and stakeholder analysis Delphi methods, action and participatory research, video dissemination and a significant amount of evaluations including survey and analysis work, using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. I also have been involved in research projects which have been driven by beneficiary/stakeholder participation throughout the process ranging from engaging local strategic partners in devising strategic research solutions for local policy intervention to engaging homeless people in the research process itself.

I also have significant experience of working within London in a strategic context and have been involved in many pan-London research projects and have sat on policy and strategic research groups at all levels. These have included, chairing the Pan – London research group for London employer and workforce skills surveys, the LSCs national steering group for the national Employer Skills Survey (NESS) and the London East Area Research Network, the latter of which I initiated. I also sat on the London Strategic Research Network (LSRN) and the London Skills Commission which designed the London’s Framework for Employment Skills and Action (FRESA) where I represented London LSCs.

I have extensive experience of project managing a large number of surveys and accompanying fieldwork whereby I have managed teams of interviewers, both face to face and telephone. Furthermore, I have designed and managed over 50 internet based surveys using SNAP directly to clients mainly in the third sector.

Research related to the third sector, specifically in the area of strategic commissioning and training provision within the learning and skills agenda is an area which I am keen to develop further having worked on some important projects recently which are outlined below.

Since being freelance for the past 5 and a half years I have been involved with 4 research companies, PACEC and Marketry, Shared Vision and Michael Bell Associates, as well as direct to clients themselves, and have been involved in the bidding process and project management of many projects which outlined below.

January 2003 – Present

Below is a list of projects I have worked on since 2003 in chronological order

 Factors affecting engagement with Higher Education with 17 year olds in deprived areas. A study undertaken for Queen Mary University exploring barriers to access to Higher Education. This comprised of 20 deliberative focus groups with 17 year olds and a literature review. (Lloyd Northover)
 Birmingham Chamber of Commerce - Evaluation of REALiSe - a Social Enterprise Micro-Cluster Pilot Project, (SEMCP), which is a £9.3m project, part funded with £3.7m of ERDF Objective 2 funding, focused on social enterprises operating in the ERDF objective two eligible wards of Birmingham and Solihull. The primary purpose of the evaluation was to test the robustness of a Micro-Cluster approach for promoting social enterprise development in the most disadvantaged areas of Birmingham and Solihull. Here I undertook several depth interviews with policy makers in Government departments, analysis of a social enterprise survey, depths with beneficiaries and focus groups with stakeholders, and a policy and literature review exploring procurement and social enterprises and consortia/cluster approaches and good practice. (PACEC)
 LSC East Midlands – Engaging disadvantaged individuals. This project explored the processes and routes used for these engagement (e.g. via community and voluntary sector organisations, ESF projects, partnerships, special learning programmes or initiatives) and to describe the critical success factors and causes of failure in the form of 20 case studies. This project included a policy and literature review, interviews with LSC staff, VCS providers and ILR interrogation, case studies and the development of a Toolkit for providers. (Marketry)
 University of Derby – Using geo-demographics to segment the part time HE/FE learner market we undertook a MOSAIC analysis to profile the current and part learners. We then undertook a face to face survey using the MOSAIC intelligence to establish demand for learning and the attitudes and perceptions about learning. We finally undertook deliberative groups to refine the findings and to assist in the development of a marketing campaign. This was part of the Aimhigher programme.
 Community involvement in regeneration – Skelmersdale regeneration partnership. As an associate of Shared Vision I was responsible for mapping community engagement strategies across new towns and partnership in 3 discrete areas. I engaged in statistical analysis and policy and literature reviews exploring good practice (Shared Vision)

 Management of the Skills Needs Assessment for Skills for Justice the sector skills council for the Justice sector, which also included a component whereby I had to consult with both voluntary and statutory organisations related to the criminal justice system in order to develop a common data collection methodology. (Skills for Justice)

 MOSAIC – The Mosaic Partnership is led by the Council for National Parks in partnership with the Black Environment Network, the YHA and eight National Park Authorities, the purpose of the partnership is open up opportunities for ethnic communities to enjoy National Parks. I was responsible for designing and undertaking baseline diversity audits for the partners and to measure the extent to which they are meeting equality standards. Finally, I designed a data capturing system for the partners to measure longitudinal data. (Micheal Bell)

 Stakeholder survey of alumni. Bradford University – This consisted of and internet survey of staff and students and alumni. The purpose was to establish views on how the Universities publications met the needs of stakeholders. (Direct to client)

 Victim support – support needs of victims of hate crime including LGBT victims and service mapping. This project explored the support needs of victims of hate crime and the extent to which support services should be configured to more meet their needs. The project comprised of a survey of stakeholders and support agencies, depth interviews with victims and a literature review. (Micheal Bell)

 Refugee Action – stakeholder satisfaction survey. A survey was undertaken of Refugee Actions’ stakeholders to establish their views on its service, explore funding opportunities and communication and co-ordination and how best to improve them. (Micheal Bell)

 Refugee Action – survey of Refugee Action clients. This was a project which sought to gather baseline data by way of a face to face survey of refugees and asylum seekers who were provided with assistance with Refugee Action. The purpose of the survey was to inform Refugee Action of client needs and satisfaction levels of their service. (Micheal Bell)

 Countryside agency – Evaluation of Action Research Projects (ARPs) – technical guidance and research support. Here I was responsible for designing a largely qualitative research programme for the 4 projects contracted out to voluntary sector organisations and then subsequent data analysis. I designed a master data capturing tool using SNAP software which the ARPs self complete using a range of qualitative and quantitative data. The theme of the projects were to explore why BME, lone parents, young disadvantaged children and people with disabilities are less likely to engage in countryside activities. (Micheal Bell)

 Barriers to career progression - Museums, Libraries and Archives Council MLA Using both qualitative and quantitative techniques I developed via stakeholder consultation a sector-wide workforce development strategy. This comprised of a substantial survey of beneficiaries (1200) and 10 regional focus groups with stakeholders (Direct to client)

 Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust – BME involvement in decision making in health care in Tower Hamlets. Again an online survey was designed for stakeholders to complete and were followed up by depth interviews. (Micheal Bell)

 Design Council – Procurement in public sector design. This was mainly a series of interviews and policy analysis. (PACEC)

 Skills needs in the cultural industries in Liverpool – Liverpool City Council. Using depth interviews and Delphi technique including 3 focus groups, here I explored the workforce needs of cultural industry professional and stakeholders in Liverpool. It was part of a wider European Leonardo funded programme exploring needs throughout Europe (Direct to client)

 Effectiveness of IAG for disadvantaged groups – Pan London LSC and connexions. A project looking at the dynamics involved in the provision of IAG to beneficiaries from a range of backgrounds. This consisted of depth interviews with providers of IAG, 20 focus groups with the following – women suffering from domestic violence, refugees and asylum seekers, people with learning difficulties, people with HIV and AIDS, excluded young children and people with mental health problems (Direct to client)

 Equality and Diversity in the voluntary sector (NCVO and others) This consisted of a sector wide survey seeking to establish baseline data on equality and diversity throughout the voluntary sector. The survey was managed by e-quality-women (a constituted not-for-profit women's organisation that seeks to promote an awareness of equality for women in the fields of recruitment, training and education) and supported by a range of organisations including: Equal Opportunities Commission, Equality Direct, NCVO, ACEVO, McKerr-Carr associates, ROTA, Daycare Trust, Charity People, Employment Opportunities, Employers Forum on Age (EFA) , Stonewall, Citizenship 21 project, Interfaith and a London LSC (Direct to client)

 Churches acting Together - service user survey. A survey of service users seeking to gain views on the services which they receive (Direct to client)

 Ginger bread – client satisfaction survey. A satisfaction survey of Gingerbread members seeking to explore ways on how to improve its service (Direct to client)

 Employer skills survey – Harlow District Council. A survey of employers which was part of Harlow’s wider regeneration strategy (PACEC)

 Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - Evaluation of Faraday Partnership Scheme. Surveys of recipients & a comparison group, facilitators and core partners. (PACEC)

 Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - Evaluation of the Skills Impact of the SMART scheme. Surveys of participants before, during, and following SMART. (PACEC)

 Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - Action 4 Business. Survey of participants. (PACEC)

Other major surveys whilst employed by the LSFU/LSC

 Pan – London employer surveys (2000-2002)
 Pan – London workforce surveys (2000 -2001)
 National Employer Skills Survey (NESS) (2002-2003)

Along with the surveys I have been involved with above I have extensive experience of project managing a large number of surveys and accompanying fieldwork whereby I have managed teams of interviewers, both face to face and telephone. I have worked on both commissioning and client-side work where the environment is results driven. Essentially, I am conversant with both operational and policy dimensions and moreover I am familiar with interviewing techniques and ensuring quality data capture and the general jargon used in face to face survey work. I have extensive knowledge of both CATI and CAPI along with its associated emerging palm top technologies.

I was previously employed with the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) and have been involved at the level of fieldwork interviewing, piloting and briefing researchers and interviewers. These surveys included the following-

 Working family tax credit study
 Families with Children
 Youth Cohort Study (YCS)
 British Social Attitudes Survey (BSA)
 Women’s Attitudes to Combining Paid Work and Family Life
 British crime survey (BSA)
 Exploring Ethnicity and Sexual Health: a Qualitative Study of the Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyle of Five Ethnic Minority Communities in Camden and Islington

Responsible for developing and implementing a strategic research strategy for the LSC London East, England’s second largest LSC, and managing three members of staff with a budget of £400,000. I have thus far undertaken and overseen the following research projects;

o Basic Skills – mapping assessment and provision
o Voluntary Sector Study, mapping of provision
o E-learning, mapping of provision
o Travel to study patterns, London and surrounding LSCs
o WBL 16-19 year olds, the integration of Key Skills into Modern Apprenticeships
o Local needs assessment
o Annual map of post 16 participation., retention and achievement
o London East Area Data and Electronic Research Solution
o Skills Forecasting
o Pan – London Employer Survey
o LSCLE employers survey
o FRESA Pan-London coordination for workforce development and the Health, Education and Social care sectors
o LEADERS, London East Area Data Electronic Research Solution
o Sector specific analyses
o Skills dialogues for the Hospitality and Property services sectors

I also sit on the Pan- London employer’s survey advisory group and the LDA’s executive skills network in an advisory capacity. I initiated LEARN, London East Area Research Network, a strategic research network consisting of local authorities, learning partnerships and local strategic partnerships. The group meets quarterly and discuss research priorities, dissemination, sharing of data and information and the potential for joint research projects. I have also been responsible for initiating the innovative LEADERS project. It consists of five discrete areas, Area Inspections, WBL data, ISR data, LMI and economic data and a research publication area. The purpose of the portal is to cohere all the data sources that LSCLE uses to inform its operations and delivery.

I have also been involved in initiating on-line surveys. One an equality and diversity survey for the voluntary sector and I am the process of designing an online local employers survey.

Throughout my employment at LSFU I have been responsible fro the following:

Project management:
I am responsible for the day-to-day co-ordination and management of the London Employers Survey, and the London Skills Survey from inception to final output. Both are the largest surveys undertaken in London and are influential in the development of labour market and skills policy within a London context. My responsibilities are to negotiate project costs with contractors, questionnaire design and methodology, managing steering groups with partners, contractual arrangements and quality control.

Report publication:
I have been involved in four reports:
o LSFU Annual report (author contribution and editing)
o Ethnic Capital: Shaping London’s Economies (author contribution and editing)
o Creating the Learning Capital: Identifying London’s non-learners (author)
o London/Paris: Economy, Skills and ICT a comparative study (author)

I am responsible for launch and dissemination activities of these reports along with management of design and print.

LSFU website & communication policy:
I have been responsible for the maintenance of the LSFU website. This includes updating, adding on-line reports, forum development and general design. I am currently engaged in developing a new information and communications policy of which the website is central. This involves writing specs and liaison with partners and web developers. The intention is to create a London skills and labour market observatory. I also am involved in giving talks to Local Learning Partnerships at local events.

Partnership development:
This involves the co-ordination of pan-London research with our partners, which includes, GOL, LDA, Employment Service, NTOs and LSCs. This broad partnership structure essentially steers our work programme of which myself and the head of LSFU develop. I also sit on the London Strategic Research Group, which entails the sharing of data and information between like-minded public and voluntary organisations in London.


General:
I sit on the London LSCs researchers group, which sets out to define research issues and priorities. The group is an important conduit for co-operation and co-ordination of LLSC research. I am managing a TEC archive research project, which involves the gathering of TEC research since their inception. I submit expressions of interest to research funding organisations and have also been involved in ESF research projects such as ADAPT and Capacity Building, and am thus conversant with co-finacing and bid submission. I have a good understanding of economic development issues, inward investment, research and data sourcing, and policy issues surrounding Lifelong Learning and post-16 skills development. I have also developed essential contacts at many levels throughout London in the context of the work that I do at LSFU. Finally I am a member of a management committee of a voluntary organisation, e-quality-women, which deals with gender discrimination in the labour market and training and skills issues.

During my time at the centre I was involved in the following largely Government funded projects, Parents with families, Families on low incomes, British Social attitudes, Attitudes towards local authorities, British Health Survey and others. The work consisted of using CAPI and PAPI based interviews with randomly selected respondents on major surveys. I was also involved in piloting projects and subsequently briefing project managers. Furthermore I was also involved in data analysis on the British Social Attitudes Survey.

A three-month temporary contract, for an organisation, which provides services for rough sleepers, asylum seekers, women suffering domestic violence and people with dual diagnosis problems. I was responsible for the design and implementation of a piece of substantial research from inception. The research looked at the scale and extent of Service User Involvement (SUI) in the services that are available for the above client groups. I used both quantitative and qualitative techniques in this project and my findings were published in report form.

During this period I managed my own stabling and timber building business. I was involved in all aspects of the business including, building design, estimating, client contact, accounting, marketing, buying and contractual arrangements