Stakeholder consultation workshops
Often during the course of a public sector project, and sometimes in a commercial programme of research and development, it is necessary to ensure that the wider stakeholder community can both ‘buy in’ and contribute to the thinking on a particular programme designed to generate new policies and strategies. Sometimes this requires engaging experts from external organisations, such as academics and NGOs, other times it might be necessary to involve representatives of citizen groups and local bodies, or industry specialists. Using a range of techniques, such workshops are designed to involve stakeholders in a constructive dialogue with the project direction and maximise the useful contribution to the process involved.
Specifically developed for public sector clients who need to consult with a wider group of stakeholders in order to legitimise a strategic initiative or policy development, this approach can deal with large and disparate groups of individuals who may have conflicting perspectives and agendas. We are able to design and execute sessions in ways that will ensure active participation and real engagement with key issues over half or full days. This can involve a maximum of 100 people providing sufficient budgets are available for a large facilitation team and if necessary, additional support such as interactive voting tools.
Costs: £7,500 - £20,000
Examples of these types of workshops include Canterbury City and District Council for their Future Vision project, Defra Rural Futures - backcasting workshops in Surrey and Northumberland, Commission for Rural Communities - the future of rural disadvantage, and the Future of Waste, and Co-Operative Ethical consumption projects.