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Future City Game

CLES Newsletter

The team

Neil McInroy, Chief Executive

Neil is a geographer and has been involved in public sector policy and delivery for over 20 years. Whilst having experience in developing partnerships and innovative policy responses to global, regional and local economic, social and environmental challenges, Neil’s particular skills are in local economic and social research, analysis and development; policy practice, research methodologies; facilitation and strategy building. Neil regularly conducts work across UK and is also developing a growing first-hand experience and knowledge of creative economic and social policy in locations around the world. Neil became Chief Executive of CLES in 2003.

 

Jonathan Breeze, Director of Consultancy

Jonathan is an experienced consultant who has worked in economic development and regeneration for over twelve years. Before joining CLES, he worked for both private sector regeneration consultancies and academic research centres. Jonathan has a strong academic background with an MA in Applied Social Research and a BSc in Geography. As Director of Consultancy, Jonathan has managed consultancy contracts for a range of clients including government departments, regional bodies, local authorities and voluntary and community organisations. He has a refined understanding of the processes and techniques involved in appraisal and evaluation, strategy development, and performance management.

Sarah Longlands, Director of Policy

Sarah is Director of Policy at Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES), an independent research and membership organisation specialising in economic development and regeneration. Sarah has responsibility for CLES’ policy work, including CLES programme of independent research, CLES membership, events and publications. Sarah’s previous experience included the development and implementation of business support and economic infrastructure projects in local government in North Yorkshire and Durham. Her professional research interests include unemployment and welfare reform, localisation of economies, the impact of environmental change on the economy, rural development and the governance of economic development.

CLES Consulting staff

Paul Mckenna, Senior Consultant

Paul joined CLES as a senior consultant in 2007 following nine years experience of public policy development work in local government and higher education. Paul has delivered a range of projects at CLES including evaluation, strategy development and research projects. Paul has led a number projects which explore the overlap between public health policy and local economy policy including working with teenage pregnancy specialists to review the way that socio economic data can improve policy development. Before joining CLES Paul was a senior manager in the Chief Executive’s Directorate of Salford City Council, Paul has a BA (Hons) in Public Administration and a MSc in Management.

Francis Markus, Senior Consultant

Francis has a BA Politics and Society (First Class) from Birkbeck College, University of London, and an MA Governance and Public Policy (Distinction) from the University of Manchester. He has a strong understanding of a range of consultancy areas, and is an experienced project manager, having managed studies for Advantage West Midlands, Northwest Regional Development Agency, and numerous local authorities and partnerships. Francis has particular expertise in performance management, evaluation, strategy development and neighbourhood renewal, and has drawn on his prior experience as a musician, music educationalist and teacher to undertake project work focused on the creative/cultural sectors and the learning and skills domain.

Stuart MacDonald, Senior Consultant (Operations Manager)

Stuart has a BA in Urban & Regional Studies from Sheffield Hallam and an MA in Economy & Space from The University of Manchester. Stuart has a knowledge and critical appreciation of a range of research methods and skills, and is specialised in evaluation, having evaluated programmes, projects, organisations and processes, and developed a number of evaluation frameworks. Stuart has particular experience of regeneration initiatives, in particular addressing skills building, worklessness schemes, enterprise development and local economic development, for a wide range of clients including local authorities, regeneration partnerships, regional development agencies and national government departments.

Rupert Greenhalgh, Senior Consultant

Rupert has over ten years experience in economic development and analytical research including programme development, policy development and econometric modelling. His previous roles include head of the Manchester Independent Economic Review (MIER) and head of Economic Analysis at Manchester’s Commission for the New Economy. During his time at MIER he designed and managed one of the largest urban systems studies in the UK. Prior to this role, he led the Commission’s economic analysis and research work-stream, where he honed his experience of economic assessment, audit and programme evaluation.

Victoria Bradford, Consultant

Victoria has over five years consultancy and research experience and combines this with in-depth knowledge and understanding of key debates in regeneration and sustainable economic development. She is an experienced researcher, well versed in undertaking programme and project evaluations, including using the ‘Green book’ model. She also has a good understanding of how best to capture softer outcomes to capture impact. She is able to build on research findings to develop forward strategies and action plans. She is also an experienced trainer and facilitator. Victoria has strong academic record with a BA (Hons) in Politics and Modern History and an MA in International Politics. Her professional interests include employment and worklessness; well-being; sustainable development; social and co-operative enterprise; and social exclusion.

Natalie Qureshi, Consultant

Natalie has an MA (Hons) in History and an Mphil in Urban Policy and Practice, both from the University of Glasgow. She joined CLES in 2007 and prior to this had over five years’ consultancy experience having previously worked for private sector consultancies specialising in economic and social regeneration. Prior to working in consultancy, Natalie held positions with Oxfam Scotland and as a researcher at the Scottish Parliament, specialising in the areas of Social Justice and Enterprise and Lifelong Learning. She has a strong background in projects relating research and evaluation having worked on projects for a range of clients including government departments, regional development agencies, local authorities and voluntary and community organisations. She is experienced in a range of consultation methods including in-depth interviews, workshops and in focus groups with young people and community members. Her professional interests include well-being, social exclusion and employment and worklessness.

Gareth Brown, Consultant

Gareth Joined CLES following roles in the local government and learning & skills sectors related to corporate and economic policy / research. Gareth has particularly strong analytical skills and a sound understanding of contemporary economic development policy. Since joining CLES, Gareth has used these skills to deliver a number of projects particularly focused upon worklessness; labour market dynamics; evaluation; and the use of data analysis in policy development and service planning. Gareth holds a BSc in Geography.

James Evans, Research Consultant

James joined CLES Consulting in 2009, having completed an MSc in Development Economics and Emerging Markets; focussing upon the appraisal of public sector projects and methods of enumerating impacts within a cost-benefit analysis framework. James has extensive knowledge of the economics of labour markets and has recently been working in the areas of employment, entrepreneurship and skills (including communities with low levels of labour market activity). This has involved using methodologies such as focus group consultations, face-to-face and telephone interviews, social surveys, and desk-based secondary research.

CLES policy staff

Matthew Jackson, Senior Policy Researcher

Matthew is a geographer and has been involved in regeneration, local economic development and local governance research activities for over 5 years. Matthew has particular skills in analysing and interpreting public policy, examining the local economic and social impact of public interventions, and in tailoring policy thinking and recommendations to the needs of different organisations. Matthew is involved in all aspects of CLES activities including membership, training, policy research, policy advice and consultancy. Matthew has a recent array of experience in understanding the local economic impact of public spending and procurement decisions. Matthew has worked at CLES since April 2005, prior to which he worked in an academic research centre.

Richard Muscat, Senior Policy Researcher

Richard has over six years experience working in policy and research roles within the local authority, inward investment and university sectors. He has recently joined CLES following a role as the Policy Officer for the Core Cities group. The position provided the opportunity to engage with the development of high level policy and strategy dealing with the breadth of economic development issues faced by urban areas. His experiences have helped shape his strong analytical skills and his ability to form positive working relationships with clients and partners. Richard also has a clear appreciation of local, regional and national economic development strategy and policy.

Adrian Nolan, Senior Policy Consultant

Adrian is an experienced researcher, having been working within economic development and regeneration for over four years, joining CLES as a Senior Policy Consultant in July 2009. He has particular skills in economic research delivery at a range of scales, utilising a range of research methods to develop an appreciation of socio-economic trends and the implications of these trends for policy formation. Adrian has delivered a range of research projects for clients in both the public and private sector, and has developed a clear and detailed appreciation of local, regional and national economic development strategy and policy.

Jessica Smith, Policy Researcher

Jessica joined CLES after graduating from the University of Birmingham with a First Class degree in Sociology BA (Hons). Jessica is currently combining working at CLES with studying part time towards a Masters degree in Human Geography Research at the University of Sheffield, which includes rigorous research methods training. Jessica is experienced in reviewing and analysing policy documents and academic literature, and her professional interests include employment policy, the role of the third sector, and equalities issues. Jessica has authored a number of CLES membership publications and edits Local Work. Jessica also has experience of working with a wide variety of clients and is particularly skilled in qualitative research, analysis and reporting.

Administrative staff

Zoe Mort, Office Administrator

Lyn Stacey, Events and Services Coordinator

Laura Symonds, Administration and Events Coordinator

CLES Commendations 2010

Local Economic Assessment Network

Wellbeing Evaluation

Norwich LEGI

HCA Placemaking Practice Review Panel