Our Work

We’ve had the pleasure of working with the following organisations:

Case Studies

	We facilitate nationwide stakeholder consultations on standards and training in Nursing and Midwifery. These have ranged from small focus group meetings to large workshops.  The consultations involve registrants of the NMC and lay people who are consulted on issues that will affect the future development of the nursing and midwifery training and practice standards in the UK. Our latest consultation report on ‘Raising Concerns’ can be found here - www.nmc-uk.org
	We evaluated the Vulnerable Adults and Community Care Practice Social Work Diploma on behalf of Bournemouth University. This involved interviews with both candidates and their managers.  This work has been published in Social Work Education – an abstract of this article can be found here – www.informaworld.com
	We were asked by Rathbone Unit Trust Management to run some consumer focus groups to test the readability of their fund application pack. We recruited consumers who fitted a specific customer profile, gave them some homework to do prior to the focus groups to ensure we made the best use of time during the group.  As a result we were able to find out what worked and how the packs could be improved.

Testimonials

"We found The Focus Group to be efficient, effective and delivered exactly what we requested of them. Carol was consistently professional, dealing with any queries quickly and fully.  It is rare to feel completely reassured that the company commissioned will deliver on all aspects, but we can confidently say that The Focus Group did. The commissioned focus group activity was the first undertaken by Public Health, NHS Worcestershire and we were given all the support and guidance we needed. Using the insights identified in the focus group work we were able to develop a very targeted campaign for our target audience." Selina-Nicole Lavictoire, NHS Worcestershire

"We engaged Carol at the Focus Group to work with a sample of our volunteers. The idea was to find out what motivates them to stay or leave our organisation.  In one initial project meeting Carol gained a very good insight into our initial assumptions and areas for exploration.  She produced professional focus group plans for us to agree. Carol required very minimal steering from us and it is evident from the results that she has a great way with the participants. The insights that she delivered in her presentation and report are fantastic.  We are delighted with the outcome!" -  Chris Wade: Head of Learning and Volunteer Development, Victim Support

"We commissioned The Focus Group to test the clarity and readability of our application pack and supporting fund information.  I found our contact, Carol McCloskey extremely professional throughout, showing a good understanding of our brief and making very good recommendations as to the ways we should best proceed.  We were not of course present at the focus groups but the report produced was very well constructed, clear and concise and provided valuable feedback in a form that we could easily action.  Carol held a follow up meeting with us to cover any outstanding questions and points, leaving no doubts as to the interpretation of the feedback given. The Focus Group were always on hand to help and answer questions throughout the process." - David Holloway: Head of Marketing. Rathbone Unit Trust Management

"The Focus Group carried out an excellent evaluation of a mentoring scheme the Open University in the North West was involved in as part of an Aimhigher initiative. The evaluation not only allowed us to clearly see what had been the strengths and weaknesses of the scheme but also outlined the main findings succinctly and this allowed us to make the required improvements promptly and effectively. I would not hesitate to use The Focus Group again" - Paul Sheppard. Open University, Greater Manchester
   
"Never having used focus groups before, I wanted to make sure that our first experience of this powerful qualitative marketing research method was a positive one.  So, I spent some considerable time talking to potential providers of focus group support.  Carol, at the The Focus Group, stood out from the rest as being professional, helpful and supportive in this new venture for our company.  The work she did for us was excellent, from participant selection right through to evaluation report.  I had no hesitation in using The Focus Group again when we wanted further focus group work done earlier this year."  - Phil Levermore, Managing Director, Ebico Ltd.
   
"In June 2008 Dorset County Council commissioned The Focus Group to conduct a consultation exercise with Early Years Professionals (EYPs) across Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole local authorities, regarding the development of a joint EYP Network.  Carol McCloskey wrote a very clear proposal on how best to achieve our objectives from this consultation, resulting in a focus group. Through all our dealings with Carol she was extremely professional and honest, leaving us assured that we were working with an expert in her field. The focus group session went very well, and the comprehensive report and recommendations that Carol compiled were very useful in helping us develop a very effective EYP network, that is still going from strength to strength today.
I highly recommend The Focus Group – and have done on several occasions since." - Tina Ironside Workforce and Training Manager, Dorset Sure Start, Dorset County Council
   
"It was a pleasure to work with The Focus Group. They provided us with a very thorough service, from the initial concept, the recruitment of participants, facilitation of the meeting and the production of a detailed report highlighting the key outcomes from the meeting.  They were prompt in responding to our requests and provided us with sound advice with regards to a discussion guide and getting the most out of the group. Their in depth knowledge of a variety of therapy areas, patients and healthcare professionals ensured that we obtained the insights we needed to progress with our current projects. We look forward to the opportunity to work with them again on future focus groups" - Marianne Thrall: Hill and Knowlton
   
"The Focus Group provided us with an excellent service. They fully understood our needs and requirements and provided a tailored service which fully covered all the aspects of the work we required.  We will definitely work with them again in the near future" - Michaela Slatford, Childcare Marketing and Recruitment Officer, Early Years Service, Bournemouth Borough Council