Work

• Tees Valley Events

  May 2010 | Filed under: Business Plans

  For a year we gave strategic development and marketing advice to Tees Valley Tourism’s events support programme (First for Festivals – now Tees Valley Events).  At the beginning of the work we evaluated the project against its objectives by consulting the organisers of large events and stakeholders in the sub-region.  We identified a number if weaknesses including poor business planning, lack of data, and lack of fundraising and marketing skills.  We subsequently produced a series of guidance packs (including a standard evaluation method) and established a programme of networking meetings to address them.

• Cross Lakes Shuttle

  May 2010 | Filed under: Research & Evaluation

  For its first three years we evaluated the Cross Lakes Shuttle (joint ticketing of transport modes between Bowness and Coniston and linked access network).  Each year, a survey included core questions to monitor visitor profile, satisfaction, economic impact, reduction in car journeys and suggested improvements.  In addition, other aspects were explored – one each year – promotion, provision for cyclists and route network information and signage.  Our findings and conclusions were used to continually improve the project.

• Whitehaven Tall Ships

  May 2010 | Filed under: Research & Evaluation

  This project involved a questionnaire survey of visitors to Whitehaven during the Tall Ships Visit.  The sample included general visitors to the town, people who paid to go on board ship and those who took cruises.

  We combined the results from the survey (visitor profile, spending, party size, motivations, perceptions, etc) with visitor counts to estimate the additional spending and employment generated by the ships and the wider impacts on perceptions of West Cumbria.

• RSPB Saltholme: Economic Impact Assessment

  April 2010 | Filed under: Research & Evaluation

  Our independent assessment of the economic impacts of RSPB Saltholme was used together with our business plan and marketing strategy to help the RSPB obtain approximately £3 million of public sector funding to put towards the cost of their new flagship reserve.

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• Access Plan for Bassenthwaite

  April 2010 | Filed under: Access & Recreation Planning

  One of five documents we produced to support a successful bid to HLF for £2.5 million for the Bassenthwaite Reflections Catchment Management Programme.

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