The Challenge

Develop a strategy and business plan for the commercial operations of a land based college (fruit production, cider making, commercial nursery, and retail garden centre) that would bring together a dispersed set of operations, deliver a surplus, and better integrate with the student learning experience.

What we did

Formed a project team consisting of commercial, operational, and curriculum management staff to discuss issues and opportunities related to increasing revenue, reducing costs, and integration with the land based curriculum.  Used workshops and individual coaching in business planning to develop a set of business and investment plans that supported a new, profitable, and cohesive strategy..

Result

A consolidated business plan and report was produced that had the buy-in of the entire commercial and curriculum teams, detailing how a change in focus, and an investment in new technology and teaching methods could deliver a surplus and a better learning experience.  The business plan and proposals were subsequently accepted by college leadership and implementation / investment approved.

Outstanding work and delivery of all objectives. Craig worked above and beyond to deliver an entire commercial strategy and implementation plan for a public sector organisation within 6 weeks. Without any prior knowledge of the sector, he was able to translate the future aspirations of an FE college into business models to enable investment opportunities to be realised and commercial growth to be planned through an appropriate infrastructure. Of particular excellence was the way he worked with the teams throughout this process and as a result, not only have I got the desired commercial strategy but full team ‘buy in’ right from the word go, enabling us to move quickly forward as an organisation to make the changes and realise profit. I cannot recommend him highly enough.
Tamsin Jones

Interim Principal, Pershore College, part of Warwickshire College