The Hengistbury Group Hengistbury Head Outdoor Education Centre. Learn to sail in Bournemouth & Christchurch.
The Hengistbury Group
Calling upon our wealth of knowledge and wide ranging network of contacts, both in business and the 3rd sector, The Hengistbury Team are now in a position to advise a wide variety of organisations on how to best benefit from the concept of “social enterprise”, helping make a difference to the lives of people in their own community.
We are able to provide the following services:
Mentoring and coaching
Mentoring contributes to improvement of performance and effectiveness of managers with a view to building their leadership capacity for the future. Successful organisations have a culture of continuous improvement and self development, which in turn creates a learning organisation and supportive environment in which to do business.
Mentoring is a developmental relationship in which one person (the mentor) - usually someone more experienced (though ‘peer’ mentoring can be as successful) who helps another (the mentee) to discover more about themselves, and develop their potential capability. It is a status-free relationship based upon encouragement, constructive feedback, openness, mutual trust, respect and a willingness to learn and share. Mentoring is undertaken outside of the normal line management structures to provide a safe, independent, impartial and confidential environment for personal growth.
Mentoring is about exploring and increasing awareness of self and others. It is usually part of a development plan which shares experiences and widens an individual’s network.
- It is an essential part of building the capacity of employees and ultimately underpins organisational growth.
- The mentor can provide knowledge and understanding of the objectives, needs and culture of the organisation, facilitating the integration of these with the goals of the mentee.
- The mentor acts as a role model and cascades good practice and demonstrates a high level of management competency.
- Development of first line managers for more senior roles – contributing to workforce development and potential succession planning.
- Improves staff retention/motivation.
- Supports personal and professional/management development.
- Supports self managed learning and for growth of a learning culture.
- Breaks down barriers that can deter individual progress.
- Creates cross organisational working, greater understanding of challenges and sharing of best practice.
- Provides relevant and accessible development for all levels of management.
- Translates learning into improved performance.
- Supports ‘grow your own’ approach.
- Provides cost effective development opportunities for both mentors and mentees.
- Increases morale for those participating in the scheme.
Small Business guidance and start-up situations
We have a full ‘money-back’ guarantee for smaller firms if what we advise doesn’t add value/save you potential costs.
Lots of help and advice is freely available from many sources but when the reality hits home there is only you. We can help when you feel under pressure. Its ‘simple when you know’ and we often do. We have run businesses ourselves and provide honest, trustworthy help from first-hand experience.
Finance, People, Suppliers, Banks, VAT, marketing, IP, even pre-advice around legal questions are all things we may have a useful approach on.
Third Sector
We have set up and run several community-based social enterprises.
The knowledge we have gained from this “blank sheet of paper” experience is unique, and the ability to apply this to other fledgling organisations is invaluable.
We also specialise in spotting opportunity where it exists in the public sector, giving local communities a sense of ownership, turning traditional services in health, education and councils into those where people are empowered in the decision making process which affects them. Helping people to take responsibility, being trusted and reliable, becoming partners with Authorities to achieve positive results.
Organisations we are involved with:
Do you know people who are being made Redundant?
Tell them we can help
- Advice and guidance service. Totally confidential.
- Impartial, independent, well-informed from practical first-hand experience.
- Mature advisors who recognise your family needs in difficult times.
- We are people who care about outcomes and delight in your success.
- Feeling lonely damages health. Wellbeing is paramount and we can help.
- Finding a brighter future with positive unbiased advice focussed entirely on you.
The service
Open-ended/free-range discussion based on Client priorities.
Provide you with a written Action Options summary of each area important to you.
1:1 or ex work-group together
To explore/explain options, help to develop activities as required.
Method
Mentoring, counselling, action learning, facilitation.
For individuals
Personal, wide range of informed advice based on your individual circumstances
Whole life perspective, help to plan your future, CV’s, job search, applications etc.
Survival, financial factors, practical measures, life-style necessities and choices.
Start-ups, business planning, getting things organised. Reducing and managing risks.
For groups of colleagues
Facing common needs, tackling the future together, full time/part time,
Practical steps, quality planning, simple teamwork opportunities.
Using your talents and organisational knowledge in a concerted way
Various organisation options; Self Employment, Limited Company, LLP, Partnership, CIC, Co-Op, social enterprise, Charity etc.
For Public Service Organisations
Overflow provision, urgent cases, senior management/professional/skilled staff.
Additional capacity, rapid response.
Secure, reliable, professional.
Deal directly with your advisor.
For Clients facing redundancy
3 options:
- A referral service for individuals
- Ex work-groups together
- An extension of your firms’ service (outsource facility)
Fees (on application) also Concessionary rates available for individual circumstances
Change Management for larger organisations; structure, strategy, planning and Talent
Combined management techniques and practice applied for maximum effect. Gleaned from over 30 years experience in industries, sectors and workplaces across UK and Europe.
World Class performance can be achieved in your organisation through systematic approaches and effective Action Learning. Our Project Consultancy includes direct involvement, management and design in leading organisations.
- High tech design and manufacture – composite materials – UKTI Exporter of the Year, 900% growth in 3 years
- Construction – collaborative working, offsite manufacture, lean construction – saved 20% on £38m project
- Electronics – reorganisation and new manufacturing methodology – transformed loss into profit of £250k/month
- Printing – organisation re-engineering/restructuring - rationalisation speed and effectiveness
- Fire Alarm Systems manufacturer – manufacturing strategy/implementation – 50% reduced products, flexible teams
- Agriculture and Development consultancy (ADAS) and other projects – Germany, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Egypt, UK
- Team Air Lingus – communications and re-structuring – re-engineering implementation agreed by (unionised) workforce
- Prince2 admin system – OGC approved product achieving world-wide take-up
- ISO9000 for six local SME’s – qualification achieved and quality production improved
- Top Rank Bingo - Supervisors programme – 750 people trained, savings £1.5 m pa
- Training and Enterprise Council – set up and research for 50 firms working together
- Training Company development – provision of wide ranging training services to NHS hospitals
Quick Review and Improvement (QRI)
For an update, review and risk assessment of your current Programmes & Projects, this scheme provides a rapid and cost-effective independent check. Will it deliver on time and on budget? Is the right team in place? What are the options? QRI helps to flesh-out your contingency plans. This is a short model of how it works;
You set One target
- Desk study
assess current situation; scope, outcomes and time-scales
Key participants submit a short (written) update report - Review
attend a 1-day Project presentation and workshop
Supply chain attendees; ie project participants, suppliers and clients (recipients).
Outputs; agreed focus methods for implementation from this point forward
With costs, resourcing and time requirement.
Quantified improvement plan - Written report
to Project Sponsor/Programme Director/Council lead-member with
recommended options. Discussion review to clarify and explain.
Written conclusions including extra improvement and change possibilities
Rules:
All discussions are confidential. Detail remains with participants (Chatham House rules)
Summary sent to CEO/Leader (or their chosen group)
Purpose
Project On-Time, team together, Waste reduction, cost certainty, stakeholder impact
Low cost – high value; injection of professional/common sense/business sanity with Community awareness
Advisor time - 2 days. Participant time - 1.5 days. Management time - 1 day maximum.
Price (fees) = % of savings (or £1000)
Values; encourage best practice and new ways of working.
Results
for participants – get problem solving help, skills, trust and confidence-building.
for Council/ Employer – Best possible results on every project put under the spotlight.
The principal partners
Paul & Mark
In 2009 Paul and Mark spearheaded the campaign to stop the closure of the Hengistbury Head Outdoor Education Centre, and with a small team of talented and committed local people, formed a Community Interest Company in a bid to run the centre. The campaign was a success and last year the centre saw 23000 student-days, with a new 25 year lease signed.
More recently Paul and Mark have joined forces again to ensure the continuation of youth services in Christchurch, after the latest round of Local Government cutbacks. They have formed another CIC – Christchurch Activities for Young People, which organises holiday and out of school activities and is seen as a major contribution to the low youth crime and ASB figures within the borough.
Paul Clarke
07966 966935
email: paul@hengistbury.com
Paul is a dynamic, entrepreneurial businessman with a social conscience.
After Business Studies in Higher education he was highly successful in the licensed trade and for the past 20 years has owned and run a Watersports business, with multiple High Street branches and online. 15 years in the Round Table movement have been a springboard to other “not for profit” experience, and Paul is currently Chairman of Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce executive committee, servicing 400+ local businesses and administering Bournemouth Borough Council’s recession fund.
Paul advises BBC on seafront and Watersports related issues and mentors several small businesses and individuals locally.
Mark Merritt
07836 355538
email: mark@hengistbury.com
Mark’s key skills are people-oriented, he delights in helping people learn and is a good listener.
He has excellent capability to help clients bring complex situations, diverse people and activities; together to achieve goals. He has worked within various industry/service sectors and across Europe. Business start-ups, community capacity-building and strategic thinking in relation to health are current projects.
Considered and thoughtful in his approach to leadership, his abilities as a motivator and facilitator have always been important to building achievements. Teamwork, Project Management, Financial awareness, Decision-making, Marketing and risk-assessment are other areas of expertise.
Mark’s time is currently divided between being Treasurer of Christchurch Community Partnership which is a registered charity, CAYP cic, Consultancy and other projects.