Dec 2002 – Supporting social enterprise in the West Midlands
SQW has embarked on a project to develop the social economy sector on behalf of Advantage West Midlands. The assignment involves helping promote the sector’s role, an assessment of existing soical enterprises in the region, developing a comprehensive strategic framework and action plan to address social enterprise development priorities over a ten year time scale. The work will also provide a regional commissioning strategy and monitoring and evaluation framework.
Dec 2002 – A learning and cultural quarter for West Bromwich
Commissioned by Black Country Learning and Skills Council for the Sandwell LSP, this project is helping partners to develop an intergrated plan for learning and cultural activities in the town centre of West Bromwich – underpinned by a new FE college, “C-PLEX” a flagship national Arts Council supported facility and the opening of a City Academy. SQW is working with local partners to “vision” the quarter, testing underlying plannig assumptions and devising an action plan.
Dec 2002 – Measuring progress in sector skills
The Sector Skills Development Agency has commissioned SQW to assist in the development of a performance monitoring framework and a programme of research that will facilitate the assessment of outputs and outcomes at the levels of the individual Sector Skills Councils, the SSDA, and the Sector Skills Network as a whole.
Sep 2002 – SQW launches new evaluation website
As part of our work in leading the National Evaluation of the NRU’s Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder Programme, we have now established a dedicated website for the Evaluation. To see the latest news and findings on this project please go to www.sqw.co.uk/nme/
Sep 2002 – SQW leads national research on the quality of University teaching
We have recently started a major project for the Higher Education Funding Council for England. SQW will lead a team which includes the Centre for Higher Education Research and Information and NOP. The project is concerned with student feedback on the quality and standards of teaching and learning in higher education.
Sep 2002 – SQW helps the North East RDA look to the future
On behalf of the Regional Development Agency, One NorthEast, we are carrying out a ‘forward looking’ assessment of the progress made against the 1999 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) and the original themes and objectives. The project is running alongside the review of the RES, and its conclusions will be taken into account in the published version of the revised strategy.
Sep 2002 – SQW preparing for the new Cairngorm National Park
As part of the development of a new National Park in the Cairngorms, SQW has been awarded a contract to prepare an economic and business audit of the area. This will both form a baseline for monitoring economic activity in the area over time and provides a mechanism for businesses to report their views on the opportunities and threats brought by the Park.
Sep 2002 – EasyJet impact study
In Inverness, SQW has begun an assessment of the economic impact of low cost airline services in the Highlands and Islands. The work will include a survey of EasyJet passengers traveling to and from Inverness.
Sep 2002 – SQW's ICT expertise helping to bridge the "digital divide"
SQW have recently completed the preparation of a Broadband Strategy for Greater Manchester. The Strategy included innovative proposals for disadvantaged communities in East Manchester to get ‘wired up’ and secure access to the internet and a local community intranet. SQW also developed the Regional ICT Strategy for the North West of England in 2001 and are currently developing a strategy for Digital Industries in the region. For more information, please contact our Manchester Office.
Sep 2002 – Regeneration Zones in the West Midlands
SQW have recently been appointed by Advantage West Midlands to help local partnerships in the region’s six Regeneration Zones to develop Action Plans. SQW will be working closely with the partnerships to identify priorities and develop practical plans for investment and implementation.
Sep 2002 – Work being done by SQW throughout the UK
SQW is working on a wide range of projects in Scotland, including a study of congestion charging in Edinburgh, work on the social economy and economic impact assessments, as well as national, regional and local studies throughout the rest of the UK. For more details on the range of projects being undertaken by SQW in the UK currently please click “here”/news/2007.
Aug 2002 – SQW recruiting and growing
All of SQW’s offices have recruited new staff over the summer, expanding the company and the range of services that we can offer to clients. 10 new consultants have been appointed, at all levels:
- Our Manchester office has nearly doubled its staff resources, in particular as its work in the West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber, the North West and Ireland (North and South) continues to grow. In the London office, Paul Convery has been appointed to expand SQW’s work in social inclusion, regeneration and labour market analysis; he was previously Director of the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion.
- The SQW team in Edinburgh has welcomed the arrival of new associate director Stewart Brown. Stewart joins SQW from Scottish Enterprise (National) where he was head of commercialisation.
May 2002 – SQW contributes to the development of a new ILA-style programme
DfES has published the results from a major consultation exercise undertaken by SQW to help shape a new ILA-style programme. The full report is available here.
May 2002 – SQW reports major growth of the childcare sector
Six reports from SQW detailing the business and workforce characteristics of the childcare sector have been publised by DfES. They present the findings of the 2001 Childcare Workforce Survey. The reports show the continued growth of the sector, albeit with significant variations across different sub-sectors. Along with an overview of the childcare workforce in England, there are five other reports covering the different sections of the childcare sector; they are Childminders, Day Nurseries, Holiday Clubs, Out of School Clubs and Playgroups and Pre-Schools. Read more here.
Apr 2002 – SQW renews its status as an Investor in People
Following a review by Business Link, SQW has been awarded the Investor in People standard again. The review highlighted good practice within the company in the quality of our internal communications between teams and offices, and in the way that employees are given feedback on their work and have opportunities to develop their skills.
Mar 2002 – SQW contributes to Neighbourhood Renewal
SQW has recently been appointed to lead the National Evaluation of the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit’s Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder Programme. This is a two year interim evaluation that will cover all 20 Round 1 Pathfinders. SQW is leading a team of organisations, including GFA Consulting, University of Cambridge, European Institute of Urban Affairs, University of Brighton, MORI & NOP.