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Developing Effective Organisations: Lessons Learned from the Eastern Region

Developing Effective Organisations: Lessons Learned from the Eastern Region. Our Experience. Regional Project: The ADER Project County Project: Norfolk Rural Business Advice Service. ADER.

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Developing Effective Organisations: Lessons Learned from the Eastern Region

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  1. Developing Effective Organisations: Lessons Learned from the Eastern Region

  2. Our Experience • Regional Project: The ADER Project • County Project: Norfolk Rural Business Advice Service

  3. ADER • ADER was developed with RDA support in 2000 as a collaborative vehicle to mobilise the six specialist institutions in the Eastern Region to support in particular Farm Diversification • The project employed a full time “County Officer” in each county with centralised support provided through a central team based in Newmarket • Officers provided one to one mentorship and support to individual farmers

  4. ADER • The ADER project has been involved in a wide range of initiatives predominantly delivered via the college partners these have included: • Developing IT skills in an arable farm context • Work with the NPA • A series of programmes focussing on key issues, “Muck Matters” • Development of Farmer focus groups for example on the effective use of water • “Rural Gateway”

  5. ADER • Key achievements: • Over 5000 farmers contacted/involved • Over 60 Regional and National bodies working/have worked with ADER on various projects • Has enabled some effective regional approaches • Provided a vehicle for effective collaboration between the six colleges

  6. NRBAS • Norfolk County Council/Easton College develop Norfolk Rural Business Advice Service • Supporting tenant farmers exiting the industry • Supporting farm diversification • Supporting Local Authorities in dealing with diversification and related issues • Managing the Rural Industry element of the County Economic Development Initiative

  7. NRBAS - achievements over 6,000 businesses reached Total project value £17m Grants awarded £3.5m (grants range from £100 to over £200,000) 160 farm reports written provided over 600 training days in 2005/06 and over 1,500 in past 4 years

  8. NRBAS Project Examples Deers Glade Caravan Park Hanworth 100 caravan and 25 tent pitches All caravan pitches have electric hook up and TV points Fishing lake Shop Opened May Bank holiday 2004

  9. NRBAS Project Examples Goodies Farm Shop and Tearoom Beside A140 just outside Long Stratton Farm shop and tea room Sells own and locally sourced meat All other produce sourced locally where possible

  10. NRBAS Project Examples • RESULT (Releasing Entrepreneurial Spirit Using Local Talent) • Rural Enterprise Network Support (Broads and Rivers Leader Plus Programme) • Norfolk Farmers & Business Forum • Food Hub • Norfolk Farm Study • Norfolk Horticulture Study

  11. Key Lessons Learned (1) • Very clear focus on outcomes required • Clear and effective communication with partners on the objective, how we intend to get there and what is expected/needed from partners • Relationships with Local Authority Partners a key to success • Credibility and track record with Rural Businesses vital

  12. Key Lessons Learned (2) • Be very clear about what the scope of service is and judge the many potential additional opportunities against this: • Rural Gateway (Brokerage v Delivery) • Support for individual businesses and the criterea for free services • Relationships with commercial professionals • The challenges of a constantly moving policy agenda

  13. Key Lessons Learned (3) • Extensive regional partnerships are a substantial management challenge • We have not done enough relationship building within our regional projects • Collectively “owned” project management staff need strong management support • Ensuring the collaborative machine does not end up giving conflicting messages to industry/regional partners when compared to the individual partner organisations.

  14. What are our next steps? • Major funding regime changes by the development agency coupled with a period of no continuation funding is forcing a rethink. • Separation of brokerage/signposting and delivery of support a challenge for delivery in more remote rural areas • Economic development/individual development focus linked with Employer Engagement activity is now the key objective of our NRBAS activity

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