Ascensor

Sector: Digital Media

Service: Tender Management

The Challenge
Ascensor had a client within the financial industry for whom they had developed, maintained and continued to develop over a number of years. A change in business model resulted in their client modifying their approach to their digital platforms, subsequently requiring Ascensor and their other IT/platform suppliers to now tender to deliver these services. Ascensor therefore approached JFA for a bespoke package of support to help them address the challenges they faced in order to deliver the tender response.

The Approach
With limited experience of tender applications, the initial consultation established that the company required a tailored package of support – but not around the drafting of all the answers, rather supporting the Managing Director with the analysis of the questions and the type or detail of answers that were required. The approach would require one-to-one support including guidance and coaching on how to answer questions, as well as the reviewing of some of the answers the client had drafted, offering challenge, advice and recommendations for improvement where required. This included face-to-face as well as telephone and email support.

Measured Results
Ascensor constructed a highly detailed response document and were awarded the contract. The company developed during the process, a bank of structured and model answers that could be modified for subsequent tender applications, therefore saving the company both significant time and money in the future.

Siemens

Case Study – Siemens Hull Project Team, International Corporation

Sector: International Corporation within the Science, Technology & Engineering sectors

Service: People Management [Events]: Engaging the local Education & Skills Community

The Challenge
As part of the Siemens Hull Project, the team required support with the engagement of the local education and skills communities across the city and the three neighbouring local authorities – the East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire, to showcase how the company and its partners could support them and young people across the Humber.

The Approach
JFA were recommended for the role, and provided a range of consultancy support to manage two regional events. The speakers included national and regional partners including the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, Sheffield and Greenpower Education Trust electric formula car racing.

JFA liaised with Siemens’ colleagues across the country to establish support and materials available, co-ordinated and marketed the event, and carried out an event evaluation.

Measured Results
Following fantastic feedback – 100% stating the events met their objective and 100% valuing/extremely valuing the days, the impact down the road has been phenomenal.

A Greenpower race event took place on Sunday 16th July 2017 at KCOM Stadium in Hull with IET Formula Goblin events (Ages 9-11) , IET Formula 24 and IET Formula 24+ races. Over 60 electric Kit Cars were built by schools, organisations and charities in the Humber region over the last 18 months, as a part of the Greenpower Education Trust’s Project Blyth. The project has been funded by the Careers and Enterprise company, as well as Green Port Hull, and is also supported by Siemens. Both the event and the exhibition were open to the public.

As a result of this amazing day we’re hopeful that even more young people will be inspired to take up STEM subjects in schools. Photos are on this link: https://spacesuitcollections.com/view-collection/211

Humber LEP

Sector: Local Enterprise Partnership, promoting and delivering Economic Growth within the Humber region

Service: Evaluation + Project Management: Employability Skills Passport Validation Framework

The Challenge
The Humber LEP, as part of their Humber Strategic Economic Plan, had identified the need to upskill in particular young people with regards to their employability skills. Such skill development within education and skills organisations was limited, and where it did take place, was extremely variable with regard to depth of skill development as well as quality. There was therefore a need to develop a quality assured approach to the assessment and accreditation of employability skills.

The Approach
This project – which was part of the Humber ESF and SFA funded ‘Skills Support for the Workforce’ programme, included an evaluation of current practice of the delivery of Employability Skills Passports across the Humber, followed by the development of an Employability Skills Passport Validation Framework for the Humber LEP.

Over the 7-month period, JFA delivered:

• Strategic leadership and management of the project across the Humber Management of Humber-wide consultation events and meetings
• Development of partnerships across business and education networks
 • Active engagement of 50+ employers & education organisations in the project  • Delivery of support to partner organisations
• Evaluation of current Employability Skills Passports across the Humber
• Development of the Employability Skills Passport Validation Framework
• Development of a suite of resources to support the variety of stakeholders
• Delivery of monitoring reports to the LEP Employment and Skills Board
• Writing of an Implementation Plan and 3-year Communication Strategy
• Branding of the associated Framework products
• Evaluation of the Project

Measured Results
The Humber Employability Passport Framework is now used by the LEP to validate local providers. The first learning and skills provider was kite-marked in 2016 and we now have another 21 schools, colleges, and independent providers using the framework with a view to validating their passport by May 2018. The framework has had a catalytic role in the Humber in terms of raising awareness of the CBI 7 employability skills and the importance of young people and adults being adequately prepared for the world of work.

General Practices across England

Sector: Health Providers

Service: Lean Management + People Management: Productive General Practice (NHS Programme delivery)

The Challenge
General Practices are facing significant challenges as the capacity to offer appointments is stretched to limits to meet the ever-increasing demand, as populations grow. Opportunities to release GP capacity through innovative service delivery as well as streamlined and more effective processes, are sought to address the balance between capacity and demand. Lean Management principles are applied across many aspects of this programme.

The Approach
Jane Fisher has supported practices across England, from the North East to London, as part of this innovative programme as a consultant coach for KM&T as well as Qualitas Consultancy companies. The PGP programme helps general practice continue to deliver high quality care whilst meeting increasing levels of demand and diverse expectations. It helps practices to put the patient, clinician and practice team at the centre of improvement to create a timely, appropriate and dependable response to patient needs. Implementing the programme engages all staff in the practice in improving their work processes, making it possible to release time to invest in improving patient outcomes and staff wellbeing.

Measured Results
“We are actively using the workforce planning spreadsheet we developed as part of GPIP. We have further developed this to have an overview of all six sites but then individual “hub working” so that we can see the impact of holidays and other forecast absences globally but also on individual sites. It has given us a much better insight into capacity planning for the clinical workforce and enables to focus expenditure on locums to exactly when we need them, planned ahead. This should save money in the long run so that locum cover is not sought as a reaction to an absence, but part of the planning process having anticipated the need.”

Julie Lund, General Manager, Haxby Group.