Public Relations & Stakeholder Engagement
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Neil is now working with Sonar Engagement, an innovative agency who exclusively supplies Public Liaison Officers (PLO) with proven backgrounds in neighbourhood management, problem solving and communication, all typically found in ex-neighbourhood policing officers.
We work on behalf of Highways England contractors, Local Authorities and private clients by developing comprehensive Stakeholder and Customer Engagement plans for construction projects.
One size doesn’t fit all - before you develop a plan, you need to know who your audience are - we research the location demographics to develop a broad stakeholder base. Only then can you decide the methods of communication best suited to engage with a broad range of diverse stakeholders and customers.
We also carry out ‘horizon timeline scanning’ to identify dates and events that may impact the project and mitigate against them.
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Experience shows that a construction project’s success depends on contractors and developers establishing a relationship of trust and partnering with local communities and stakeholders, therefore community engagement is a vital strand of any project.
Sonar Engagement delivers successful projects by actively engaging with road users, designing and implementing customer and stakeholder management plans with an ongoing cycle of engagement, identifying problems and resolving risks that otherwise could derail even the best planned project.
Customer satisfaction, and whether a construction company will be welcomed back by a community, are key performance indicators for Sonar Engagement.
What our clients said about Neil:
“Usually, a lot of feedback we all get in this industry is tends to be the negative, in giving feedback for this scheme, and for Neil there aren’t any negatives for me to feedback, just positives, and I thought it would be good to raise the profile of the team as we simply couldn’t have done this without them.” Ian Doust: Programme Development Manager – Midlands Region
“Neil has been extremely pro-active in helping with all the Comms on this scheme. He has the right approach in dealing with any conflicts and is keen to engage with the public and provide any help and advice on the works and where people can get help if they require it. His experience and patience are a great asset in his role of PLO, and is a pleasure to work with. He is always punctual, uses all forms of communication and is an essential part of the weekly team meetings on site. Highly recommended”. Andrew Lees, Project Manager Derbyshire County Council
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“Neil was very efficient, and he really took ownership of the stakeholder and customer engagement for the scheme. It wasn’t an easy scheme to manage but he stayed on top of engagement”. Hannah Edwards, Senior Communications Manager, Midlands
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“Neil’s knowledge and experience has assisted in building good relationships with local Councils and other key stakeholders which are impacted by this major scheme. Neil has also been a key asset when scheme event days such as MP visits, onsite media days and engagement with the local communicate”. Steven Longden, East Midlands Asset Delivery - Project Manager
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A52 Clifton Bridge Repair
When Clifton Bridge was closed for emergency repairs in February 2020, Nottingham became Europe’s most congested city. Without a planned lead in to the repair program, the customer engagement became complex and fast changing.
Using skills learned in emergency planning, Neil hosts regular conference calls based on the Local Resilience Forum structure, to manage the complicated multi-agency relationships. His Community Policing and journalism skills have maintained a constant dialogue with local residents and road users.
Birmingham China Town - Public Realm Improvement Scheme
This was a Birmingham City Council project, to upgrade the busy China Town area of Birmingham city centre, in readiness for the Commonwealth Games. A great many small and medium sized businesses were affected on a daily basis by works outside their premises. Neil added a personal approach to traditional mail / email communications.
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A46 Farndon Roundabout Upgrade
This roundabout improvement was completed by Carnell's on behalf of National Highways. Neil handled public engagement around this busy Nottinghamshire Junction. The communications package dovetailed with consultation for an upcoming major upgrade of the A46 Newark Bypass.
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Social Value: Community wants & Needs (CWaNA TM)
Our approach to Social Value delivery sets us apart from other providers. We invest time in understanding community wants and needs. We’re independent and our Social Value: Community Wants and Needs Assessment (CWaNA) reports help clients to deliver Social Value in a more transparent and evidence based way that works with communities priorities and needs.
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Our unique CWaNA © reports detail the make up of an area, including demographics, local priorities, barriers to employment ,opportunities to partner with ‘hidden’ VCSE’s (Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises) and SME’s (Small and Medium size enterprises), among other important stakeholders.
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We capture ‘community intelligence’ by speaking to broad range of people and organisations and present our clients with a range of Social Value Options that are tailored to community needs, and return the greatest Social Return on Investment. We also avoid duplication of Social Value effort and collaborate in supporting ongoing and beneficial local work.
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Our approach elevates Social Value to a more transparent level and helps build more trusted relationships within communities. It informs project leaders and their teams, whose work has the potential to impact on people and communities, positive or negative, direct or indirect.
Our Social Value recommendations (options) are aligned to clients Social Value Strategies, and their organisational values. They are realistic in their capacity for delivery, whilst promoting and encouraging Social Value collaboration across the supply chain.
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The Communities Social Value Options can be delivered over the short, medium, and long term, with outcomes that represent greater Social Return on Investment (SROI).
Benefits of CWaNA ©
Project Inception: PQQ / Tender stage:
Researching Community wants and needs at project inception, during the PQQ / Tender stage, identifies opportunities and risks which can be built into your bid.
It demonstrates to the client that you have taken time to understand their area, and you have tailored your Social Value delivery plans against local priorities. All anchored within a transparent data set
We’re independent and our skilled Social Value analysts collate information in ways that do not expose the client, or raise expectations from the community.
Social Value Delivery (Options) :
We encourage greater Social Value collaboration with the supply chain to deliver locally identified Social Value priorities. A joined up plan, with each organisation contributing their own distinct knowledge, skills, and materials, leaves lasting legacies in communities.
Find out more about CWaNA © and Social Value Options CLICK HERE
CWaNA © Social Value Project support
We’re experienced and professional Social Value practitioners, with years of partnership working and project management experience. In many cases, this experience is drawn from police backgrounds, working in some of the most deprived areas and challenging communities. Through those experiences, we recognise the opportunities that Social Value can bring.
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Twitter: @SonarEngagement
Email: Enquiry@sonarengagement.com
Phone: +44 (0) 7596278260