1: policy and research

Below are examples of the kind of services we have provided under the ‘How are we doing?’ banner. Flexibility is at the heart of our approach – please call us to discuss your requirements.

Case study: Financial inclusion research

We were commissioned by Royal Bank of Scotland/NatWest to undertake original research into the role and future of money advice services, in the light of the government's decision to invest £45m from the Financial Inclusion Fund in the expansion such services. Through in-depth interviews with key players in the public, private and voluntary sectors, we analysed the most significant challenges facing the sector and how they could be addressed. The research was presented at the Money Advice Liaison Group's annual conference, and a summary subsequently appeared in New Start magazine. This is available at: http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/moneyadvice.html

Case study : Rapid research service

We have teamed up with the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (www.cles.org.uk) to offer a rapid research service, carrying out surveys and analysis on new and emerging policy issues. In June 2005 we published the first of these, a survey on the government's 'respect' agenda (see: http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/respect.html) and in September 2005 we published a study of the effectiveness of the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (see: http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/nrfrapidresearch.html). In December 2005 we followed this up with a survey on the freedoms and flexibilities achieved through local area agreements - this is at: http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/localareaagreements.html

This service can be tailored to your own needs - please contact us for details.

Case study : Core Cities group

In March 2004 New Start reporter Austin Macauley spent two weeks visiting seven of England’s Core Cities, talking to key players for a research project on neighbourhood transformation and comparing the progress made in each location. The resulting report was presented to representatives of the Core Cities group at an event in Bristol, and then subsequently at the annual conference of the Sheffield First Partnership. This formed the basis of a special supplement in New Start magazine.

Case study : Hact strategy

New Start editor Julian Dobson was asked to take part in a panel examining the future strategy for Hact (Housing Associations Charitable Trust) at the trust’s board awayday. This involved summarising and commenting on key policy trends and presenting the implications for the work the trust is involved in.
Heather Petch, director of Hact, said :

‘Thank you so much for coming along to our board away day and sharing your perspective on hact’s role and strategic direction. Your thoughts about engaging with some very fundamental issues for the long term and in a real way were very welcome and added an important dimension to the contributions’

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