top of page
No Collections Here
Sort your projects into collections. Click on "Manage Collections" to get started
Funding
Peel Square Full Business Case
We were commissioned by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council through GENECON to develop a Full Business Case for Peel Square. The Council sought £1.7 million from Sheffield City Region’s Getting Building Fund to re-develop the under-utilised Peel Square and assist in the drive to increase footfall and expenditure throughout the town centre.
We completed extensive desk-based research reviewing the Council’s strategy, economic assessments and project management documents. We developed a compelling strategic case highlighting how the scheme delivers a number of major objectives including:
• Diversifying commercial and economic activity;
• Connecting existing public sector investments through active travel modes; and,
• Increasing the town centre’s share of resident expenditure.
We developed SMART objectives for the scheme based on the development of a detailed work programme. We created a bespoke logic model outlining the scheme’s context, objectives, inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes and overall impact. We developed a series
We completed extensive desk-based research reviewing the Council’s strategy, economic assessments and project management documents. We developed a compelling strategic case highlighting how the scheme delivers a number of major objectives including:
• Diversifying commercial and economic activity;
• Connecting existing public sector investments through active travel modes; and,
• Increasing the town centre’s share of resident expenditure.
We developed SMART objectives for the scheme based on the development of a detailed work programme. We created a bespoke logic model outlining the scheme’s context, objectives, inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes and overall impact. We developed a series
Industrial Energy Transformation Fund bid
We were commissioned by Saint Gobain to help them determine whether to bid for support from the Government’s Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF), and assist them with the bid writing process. We had previously assisted Saint Gobain to secure funding from the European Regional Development Fund.
We commenced the commission by completing a thorough review of IETF’s eligibility and funding criteria, including State Aid requirements. We created a briefing document and advised Saint Gobain to proceed with an application to seek support for the cost of installing an entirely new furnace and production line component replacements utilising the very latest technological advances, including company-developed processes covered by patents.
We then assisted Saint Gobain to identify the total eligible project cost by determining the difference between a like-for-like replacement of the glass furnace, and the proposed energy efficient model. We worked closely with the business’ technical team to complete the project benefit calculator which identified a forecast lifetime reduction of 276,836 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
We prepared a detailed Gantt chart highlighting the project activities that would be completed through five work packages. The chart highlighted which team member would lead on each activity and the dependencies between tasks. We completed each question in the IETF application form and liaised with staff from Innovate UK to resolve technical queries before submitting the application.
The application was approved and Saint Gobain replaced the oldest glass furnace in their facilities worldwide delivering significant environmental benefits whilst also increasing production capacity.
We commenced the commission by completing a thorough review of IETF’s eligibility and funding criteria, including State Aid requirements. We created a briefing document and advised Saint Gobain to proceed with an application to seek support for the cost of installing an entirely new furnace and production line component replacements utilising the very latest technological advances, including company-developed processes covered by patents.
We then assisted Saint Gobain to identify the total eligible project cost by determining the difference between a like-for-like replacement of the glass furnace, and the proposed energy efficient model. We worked closely with the business’ technical team to complete the project benefit calculator which identified a forecast lifetime reduction of 276,836 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
We prepared a detailed Gantt chart highlighting the project activities that would be completed through five work packages. The chart highlighted which team member would lead on each activity and the dependencies between tasks. We completed each question in the IETF application form and liaised with staff from Innovate UK to resolve technical queries before submitting the application.
The application was approved and Saint Gobain replaced the oldest glass furnace in their facilities worldwide delivering significant environmental benefits whilst also increasing production capacity.
Levelling Up Fund bid Blackpool
We were commissioned by Blackpool Borough Council through GENECON to write the Council’s £39.5 million Levelling Up Fund bid.
We commenced the commission by reviewing Blackpool’s socio-economic profile and previous bids for related schemes. We identified six major challenges that the three projects addressed including:
• Retail under pressure with a significant drop in footfall;
• Poor quality built environment;
• Dependency on short-stay tourism; and,
• High unemployment.
We worked with staff across the Council and the multi-disciplinary consultancy team to outline how the three projects address identified market failures and national and local priorities. We developed a bespoke theory of change model for the bid setting out how investment in a new hotel, active travel and connection measures and the Winter Gardens would deliver outcomes including:
• Reduced cost of town centre congestion;
• Reduced demand on the NHS through adoption of active travel;
• Creation of employment at the hotel; and
• Increase in long stay visits and visitor spend.
We outlined how the requested investment supports existing and planned investment from other funding sources including the £40.5 million Town Deal Programme. We developed the commercial and management case providing a timetable from the receipt of Levelling Up Fund support through to the completion of the three schemes. A decision from the Government is expected in Autumn 2021.
We commenced the commission by reviewing Blackpool’s socio-economic profile and previous bids for related schemes. We identified six major challenges that the three projects addressed including:
• Retail under pressure with a significant drop in footfall;
• Poor quality built environment;
• Dependency on short-stay tourism; and,
• High unemployment.
We worked with staff across the Council and the multi-disciplinary consultancy team to outline how the three projects address identified market failures and national and local priorities. We developed a bespoke theory of change model for the bid setting out how investment in a new hotel, active travel and connection measures and the Winter Gardens would deliver outcomes including:
• Reduced cost of town centre congestion;
• Reduced demand on the NHS through adoption of active travel;
• Creation of employment at the hotel; and
• Increase in long stay visits and visitor spend.
We outlined how the requested investment supports existing and planned investment from other funding sources including the £40.5 million Town Deal Programme. We developed the commercial and management case providing a timetable from the receipt of Levelling Up Fund support through to the completion of the three schemes. A decision from the Government is expected in Autumn 2021.
Feasibility Study for Elsecar Heritage Centre
We were commissioned by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council to create a detailed Feasibility Study for the development of Elsecar Heritage Centre. The Council have ambitious plans to enhance the visitor experience at the Centre, create new workspace for creative businesses and connect the Centre to the Borough’s principal towns with a cultural engagement and leadership programme.
We began the commission by reviewing the Council’s extensive documents on the Centre including a Masterplan, a Business Plan and previous funding bids. We reviewed the Arts Council England guidance and liaised with consultants appointed by the Council to work on the application.
We identified how the development of Elsecar Heritage Centre reflects national, regional and local policies and initiatives. We then identified different options for delivering the Council’s objectives and issued a stand-alone appraisal. We worked closely with the Council and the consultant team to confirm the scheme’s financial and output forecasts.
We identified that the scheme’s forecast economic impacts include:
Jobs – we calculated that the scheme will deliver £13.2 million in Gross Value Added through the creation and safeguarding of jobs.
Health benefits – we forecast £1.4 million in health cost savings.
Well-being benefits – we calculated £473 million of benefits generated by people engaging with the cultural and heritage offer at the Centre.
We completed our work within a 3 week period to enable the bid to be submitted by the deadline.
We began the commission by reviewing the Council’s extensive documents on the Centre including a Masterplan, a Business Plan and previous funding bids. We reviewed the Arts Council England guidance and liaised with consultants appointed by the Council to work on the application.
We identified how the development of Elsecar Heritage Centre reflects national, regional and local policies and initiatives. We then identified different options for delivering the Council’s objectives and issued a stand-alone appraisal. We worked closely with the Council and the consultant team to confirm the scheme’s financial and output forecasts.
We identified that the scheme’s forecast economic impacts include:
Jobs – we calculated that the scheme will deliver £13.2 million in Gross Value Added through the creation and safeguarding of jobs.
Health benefits – we forecast £1.4 million in health cost savings.
Well-being benefits – we calculated £473 million of benefits generated by people engaging with the cultural and heritage offer at the Centre.
We completed our work within a 3 week period to enable the bid to be submitted by the deadline.
Glassworks and Cheapside Strategic Business Cases
The commission began with an inception meeting to discuss the focus of the two town centre regeneration schemes. The Council shared a series of background documents which we reviewed extracting information about each scheme.
We developed SMART short and long-term objectives for each scheme and outlined how they contribute to Sheffield City Region’s Core Strategic Outcomes of Stronger, Greener and Fairer. We articulated how both schemes contribute to the Council’s four ambitions for the town centre:
• More than just retailing;
• Investing for the long-term;
• Intelligent Barnsley; and,
• Local and distinctive.
We identified alternative delivery options including the do minimum, business as usual scenario and outlined how the preferred options secure a higher number of outputs and wider outcomes. Detailed risk registers were developed based on a detailed understanding of the strategic, operational, financial and reputational areas of risk. Each risk was mitigated and the static estimate of mean risk was calculated.
We completed the three tests in the UK’s new Subsidy Control Regime, and completed the rationale for each of the seven subsidy principles including that the ‘subsidy is designed to bring about a change of economic behaviour of the beneficiary that is conducive to achieving the objective and that would not be achieved in the absence of the subsidy being provided.’
We completed a draft of each Strategic Business Case, and met the Council’s team to review and discuss. We then updated each bid and provided them to the Council within 9 days of being appointed as required.
We developed SMART short and long-term objectives for each scheme and outlined how they contribute to Sheffield City Region’s Core Strategic Outcomes of Stronger, Greener and Fairer. We articulated how both schemes contribute to the Council’s four ambitions for the town centre:
• More than just retailing;
• Investing for the long-term;
• Intelligent Barnsley; and,
• Local and distinctive.
We identified alternative delivery options including the do minimum, business as usual scenario and outlined how the preferred options secure a higher number of outputs and wider outcomes. Detailed risk registers were developed based on a detailed understanding of the strategic, operational, financial and reputational areas of risk. Each risk was mitigated and the static estimate of mean risk was calculated.
We completed the three tests in the UK’s new Subsidy Control Regime, and completed the rationale for each of the seven subsidy principles including that the ‘subsidy is designed to bring about a change of economic behaviour of the beneficiary that is conducive to achieving the objective and that would not be achieved in the absence of the subsidy being provided.’
We completed a draft of each Strategic Business Case, and met the Council’s team to review and discuss. We then updated each bid and provided them to the Council within 9 days of being appointed as required.
Levelling Up Fund bid Wakefield
We were commissioned by Wakefield Metropolitan District Council through ARCADIS to develop and write the Council’s £34.9 million Levelling Up Fund bid. We worked as part of a multi-disciplinary team including ARCADIS, GENECON, DWF, Opera, Fourth Street and Dove Hague Phillips.
We were assigned the role of lead bid writer and worked with each member of the team to define the content needed for each question in the Levelling Up Fund application and supporting documents.
We reviewed the evidence base for the bid and identified long-term challenges that the two transformation projects would address including:
• Closing the productivity gap;
• Driving city innovation;
• Tackling skills gaps; and,
• Addressing persistent deprivation.
We articulated the market failure arguments that support the need for the two projects and developed a bespoke theory of change model identifying the outcomes that would flow from the inputs, activities and outputs. We outlined how the projects reflect national and local priorities and amplified the impact of existing schemes in the city including the WX Creative and Innovation Hub, XPLOR and The Hepworth Wakefield.
We developed a Delivery Plan template including stakeholder maps and worked with each team member to populate it. We completed three drafts of the main bid, hitting or exceeding the deadline on each occasion. We collected or completed each required supporting document and wrote a compelling bid on the Council’s behalf.
We were assigned the role of lead bid writer and worked with each member of the team to define the content needed for each question in the Levelling Up Fund application and supporting documents.
We reviewed the evidence base for the bid and identified long-term challenges that the two transformation projects would address including:
• Closing the productivity gap;
• Driving city innovation;
• Tackling skills gaps; and,
• Addressing persistent deprivation.
We articulated the market failure arguments that support the need for the two projects and developed a bespoke theory of change model identifying the outcomes that would flow from the inputs, activities and outputs. We outlined how the projects reflect national and local priorities and amplified the impact of existing schemes in the city including the WX Creative and Innovation Hub, XPLOR and The Hepworth Wakefield.
We developed a Delivery Plan template including stakeholder maps and worked with each team member to populate it. We completed three drafts of the main bid, hitting or exceeding the deadline on each occasion. We collected or completed each required supporting document and wrote a compelling bid on the Council’s behalf.
Quick Links
Services
Case Studies
![ESPO Framework Supplier Logo - Main [PNG].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/cb062a_b61c369b340d41ee8b7e71b2e77ece30~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_240,h_52,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/ESPO%20Framework%20Supplier%20Logo%20-%20Main%20%5BPNG%5D.png)
© 2024 Thrive Economics.
bottom of page