See the latest news from SQW Consulting below, or click on the archive links to view news from previous years.
Apr 2008 – Northwest Business ICT Survey 2007
The Northwest Development Agency has published the findings from a major SQW/GfK NOP study into the exploitation of Information and Communications Technology by businesses in the Northwest. Based on a series of interviews with 2,000 business users of ICT and 200 ICT suppliers in the region, the report examines differences in ICT adoption and impact between sub-regions, rural vs urban areas, sectors and different sizes of businesses. SQW presented the study findings at the Northwest Research Conference in Manchester in April 2008.To read the report, click here.
Feb 2008 – Award of North West Scholarships
Since 2003, SQW Consulting’s Manchester office has offered an annual scholarship to students undertaking postgraduate study at a North West university in an area relevant to the firm ‘s work. We are pleased to announce that two awards have been made this year, to Elise Kaye and Liam Connors, both at the University of Liverpool. Elise is studying for an MA in Geographies of Globalisation and Development and Liam for an MSc in Urban Regeneration and Management. The award includes a bursary of £1,000 to help finance their studies and the opportunity to develop links with the firm during their studies.
Jan 2008 – Analysis of HEIF 3 Institutional Plans
HEIF supports institutions to engage in a broad range of knowledge transfer activities with business, public sector and community partners, for economic and social benefit. HEFCE commissioned SQW Consulting to inform HEFCE, and other stakeholders, on the uses of HEIF 3 funds and the potential outputs. The study found that tentative conclusions could be reached about the planned use of HEIF 3 funding. The report concludes, however, that the plans were of limited value for sector-level information on activities and projected outputs. SQW separately made recommendations to HEFCE about improving the format of plans and these recommendations have fed into HEFCE’s work to develop requirements for HEIF 4 from 2008-09. To read the report, click here.
Jan 2008 – Impact Evaluation of Spinno Programme in 2001–2006
The Spinno programme, funded by the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs, is designed to promote knowledge exchange between universities and other organisations. In 2003, SQW undertook a mid-term review of the first round of Spinno funding and subsequently worked with the Ministry to design a process for appraising applications to the second round of funding. We were commissioned to evaluate the schemes’ operation and performance between 2001 and 2006 and to consider the implications for EU structural funds over the period 2007-2013. To read the report, click here.
Nov 2007 – Promoting Financial Inclusion in Rural Areas
SQW was commissioned by the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) to research evidence on the rurally distinctive features of initiatives to promote financial inclusion. The report presents a series of good practice case studies on Promoting Financial Inclusion in Rural Areas, and we provided an evaluation of those factors which appear to contribute to both the success and the failure of such initiatives, in order to inform both funders and delivery bodies. The report was developed as part of the Commission’s programme on securing social justice, and builds on research that the CRC published in 2006 on rural disadvantage. To read the report, click here.
Nov 2007 – Evaluation of Quality of Life Fund
SQW was commissioned to undertake an evaluation of the Scottish Executive (now known as the Scottish Government)‘s £375 million Quality of Life Fund, focusing on the process and operation of the Fund. The evaluation also considered how this funding has contributed to the development of Community Planning and Local Outcome Agreements across Scotland. The Quality of Life Fund has been provided to all 32 local authorities from 2002-06 under the two themes of improving the local environment and increasing opportunities for children and young people. Our evaluation involved a survey of all local authorities and a series of consultation-based case studies. Whilst the Fund has been approved until March 2008, this evaluation will be used to inform the Scottish Executive’s upcoming Spending Review for post 2008. To read the report, click here
Nov 2007 – Winchester District Economy and Employment Land Study
Winchester City Council has approved SQW’s Economy and Employment Land Study as part of the evidence base for consultation on the Local Development Framework “Core Strategy”. SQW undertook a strategic review of the direction of the local economy and prepared an Employment Land Review (ELR) for the district in compliance with government guidance. Cambridge Econometrics provided “baseline” and “baseline plus” employment projections to inform both elements of the work. Stakeholder workshops were held at the vision and options stages of the study to provide opportunities for wider consultation. SQW highlighted some fundamental options around the future economic direction of Winchester town which has significant potential for economic growth in addition to the impetus of major development in the South Hampshire growth area. The report illustrated a range of spatial options for the distribution of estimated employment land need with differential shifts to the three market subareas of the district as an input to the issues and options consultation on the Core Strategy. To read the report, click here.
Oct 2007 – SQW Group Expands Energy, Environment & Sustainable Development Services
SQW Group has announced that it is expanding its services in Energy, Environment & Sustainable Development. The Group has appointed several senior consultants with specialist expertise in the renewable energy market and the delivery of carbon reduction and waste management programmes for local authorities and the private sector. SQW Group has also marked the launch of its new Viewpoint Series of publications with a ‘thoughtpiece’ report on ‘Carbon Reduction – obligation and opportunity’, which discusses how public sector bodies can both implement carbon reduction obligations and support sustainable economic development.
Oct 2007 – Launch of the Viewpoint Series
We have marked the launch of our new Viewpoint Series of publications with a ‘thoughtpiece’ report on Carbon reduction – obligation and opportunity.
The aim of the Viewpoint Series is to share our thoughts on key topical issues in sustainable economic development, public policy, innovation and enterprise and provide suggestions for strategic and practical solutions. Climate change is clearly emerging as the greatest challenge facing UK and international governments in the 21st century and the energy, environment and sustainable development agenda is a top priority for our public and private sector clients. Our Carbon Reduction report suggests how local authorities, regional agencies and other organisations can turn the obligations resulting from targets into opportunities.
For more information or to provide feedback on this report, please contact Geoff White, Director, SQW Consulting on gwhite@sqw.co.uk To sign up for further publications in the Viewpoint Series, please contact Karen Laurence on viewpoint@sqw.co.uk
Aug 2007 – Westminster Population Research 2007
Westminster City Council commissioned SQW Consulting to carry out a critique of the Office for National Statistics’ methodology for estimating population and, in particular, migration flows. We also looked at alternative sources of information that might provide more robust population estimates. We found problems with current approaches to defining local populations, gathering data in ways that take account of different cultural and household patterns, and the way estimates of in-migration are distributed between local authorities. To view the report, please click here.
Jul 2007 – Integration of Parish Plans into the Wider Systems of Local Government
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs commissioned SQW Consulting to carry out a study of how well parish plans had been integrated into the mainstream of local government and local service delivery. The study was informed by a series of scoping interviews with national-level stakeholders, a literature review of neighbourhood and parish working and 14 case studies. The report highlighted a series of critical success factors and barriers to mainstreaming parish plans and outlined recommendations for central and local government and parish councils. To view the report, click here.
Jul 2007 – Participatory Budgeting
Hazel Blears, the new Communities Secretary, has recently announced (July 2007) government support for ten pilots in local participatory budgeting. SQW has extensive research and evaluation experience of citizen engagement in public services and local partnerships, and has prepared this short briefing paper for local policymakers who are interested to understand more about participatory budgeting, and some of the issues it raises. More information on SQW’s work in this area, particularly at a neighbourhood level, can be found here.
Jul 2007 – Evaluation of the Welland Strategic Alignment Project
DBERR has published SQW’s evaluation of the Welland Strategic Alignment Project – one of two national Pathfinders (this one located in the East Midlands) conceived to address issues of improving the coherence of business support delivery, particularly to SMEs located in remote, rural areas. A key concern of the Pathfinder was to explore whether the Business Link IDB model could embrace rural and land-based businesses, and what adaptations and refinements might be necessary to ensure farming, land-based and other rural businesses had access to a ‘joined up service’. The project has informed the Government’s Simplification Agenda and approaches to delivering business support to land-based businesses. To read the report, click here.
Jun 2007 – Review of Provision for Land-based Studies
In 2004, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills sought advice from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) on whether there are any higher education subjects or courses of national importance where intervention might be appropriate to enable them to be available, and the types of intervention that could be considered. Land based studies was identified as one such subject area and we were commissioned, in collaboration with J M Consulting to undertake a review. The review undertook a comprehensive study of existing higher education provision in land-based studies in England and made recommendations for the future. In this context, higher education covers a broad range of educational and training provision at undergraduate and postgraduate level, including all modes and levels of higher education delivery in HE institutions and further education colleges, research activities, industrial linkages, and economic and business development activities. The recommendations from the review look at the most appropriate ways of supporting land-based subjects so that HE provision meets the needs of students, employers, Government and skills requirements nationally and regionally. To read the report, click here.
Jun 2007 – Environmental Technologies and UK Productivity
SQW was commissioned by Defra to conduct a study to identify, critically analyse and synthesise evidence on the potential contribution that environmental technologies can make to the UK economy as a whole. As part of this study, SQW conducted a review of academic and other research literature and held a series of consultations with key stakeholders in the public sector and industry to address the key research questions and draw out the implications for policy. To view the report, please click here
Jun 2007 – The Costs and Benefits of Independent Living
The Office for Disability Issues (ODI) commissioned SQW to identify and review the costs and benefits of independent living for disabled people. The purpose of this research was to inform the first stage of the Independent Living Review, which is a 12-month project being carried out by the ODI, to develop practical proposals to tackle the barriers to independent living. The research involved an extensive review of the literature around the costs and benefits of independent living support as compared to coventional support, followed by five illustrative case studies of individual circumstances, undertaken to in order to investigate different types of independent living support in detail and uncover examples of costs and benefits to complement the literature review evidence. To read the report, click here.