Ennerdale Consulting Ltd: Client testimonials

"Ennerdale Consulting carried our the Best Value Review of the Central Services function of the Shepherds Bush Housing Group. The review involved dealing with a high profile service, which required help to make a step change to meet rising customer aspirations.

The review was carried out sensitively, on time and to budget and has produced real service improvements. It has been featured as a best practice example by our peer group benchmark club and has led to further assignments from SBHG."

"We found the work undertaken by Ennerdale Consulting Ltd most interesting as we had not formerly considered how we used energy in our daily activities. The Consultants report indicated how the Climate Change Levy affected us and calculated the carbon dioxide emissions generated through our use of electricity and gas."

"The Company was able to meet our specific needs and kept the Council fully briefed during the project"

"I was impressed with the level of analysis and scrutiny provided by Ennerdale during their assignments with us. This has resulted in establishing longer term relationships with clients and a successful partnership with Ennerdale."

"The research and analysis carried out by Ennerdale Consulting was well thought out, diligently executed and provided a sound base for our Best Value review of disabled adaptations.

We found the information collected very useful as a basis for discussions with partner agencies, and it has been particularly helpful that their consultant was able to translate complex information into a format that was easily understood by our tenants."

"Ennerdale Consulting enabled our staff to adopt a robust and comprehensive approach to 2 of our Best Value Reviews. We were particularly impressed with the strategic overview that Ennerdale provided which enabled our organisation to radically rethink aspects of service delivery"

"We have used Ennerdale Consulting for over two years and would wish to put on record our thanks for the work the company has undertaken on our behalf. There have been some complex assignments; notably IT marketing advice, work on the Brent homeless hotel feasibility project and the procurement of various services including homelessness administration, housing advice and waiting list management at Hertesmere.

In these, and all assignments undertaken by Ennerdale Consulting, we have been impressed with your Managing Director’s technical knowledge and ability and the capacity to manage the assignments in a businesslike manner".

"Ian Gardner carried out a piece of work to critically appraise our repairs and maintenance service as part of our best value of housing management. We found Ian's approach to be extremely thorough and challenging as he identified a number of important areas to concentrate on as part of the review. Interestingly enough these were the areas that were centred upon when the inspectorate came on site!"

"Ennerdale Consulting undertook a challenging assessment of how the Council manages the reletting of empty stock. The Ennerdale team produced a good report, which enabled us to improve performance significantly in one of London’s largest housing authorities."

"Ian Gardner got six major best value reviews back on track and delivered on time. He supported colleagues in a wide range of services and quickly established credibility with both elected members and staff. He provided balanced and sensible advice on a range of performance management and best value issues."

"Ennerdale Consulting provided an efficient and experienced team of consultants who worked with the Council to carry out the Homelessness Review and develop our Homelessness Strategy. We were particularly pleased with the standard of communication and the quality of advice offered during the assignment."

"Ian was able to improve the skill levels and knowledge of existing staff. He was flexible in his approach, provided good 'reality checks' and was able to provide staff with examples of good practice elsewhere. Ian made an important contribution to helping turn round the Housing Service."

"Ennerdale Consulting, through its Managing Director, Ian Gardner assisted Caxton Consulting by providing specialist Best Value Housing Advice and Consultancy to a large Housing Association and a Borough Council during 2002/03.

Both clients expressed their pleasure at the no nonsense way Ian approached and conducted the assignments and were high in their praise and gratitude at the level of advice they received and the very helpful nature in which it was given. Both stated that they would have no hesitation in employing Ian again or recommending him to others."

"Whilst working for SOLACE as Interim Head of Housing in Swindon, I had a very tight deadline to prepare for the Housing Inspectorate. The Best Value Improvement Plan had been drafted but there were some gaps and I felt that it required external validation. I contacted a number of sources and SOLACE provided me with some CVs for consideration. Out of these, I chose Ian Gardner, as he appeared to have the qualifications and experience to undertake the task.

I had a week in which to do this, but Ian turned the work around in 2 days. The assignment was completed to a very high standard. Gaps in the Plan were filled and in addition he made constructive comments, which were followed up. These undoubtedly contributed to the authority receiving a higher rating than it would have without Ian’s input. As such I would unreservedly recommend Ian based on speed, quality and value for money."

" Ian fulfilled the role of 'critical friend' in support of the Council’s best value review of internal communications between July and November 2001. His work included:

Ian’s work in all of these areas was highly professional and very effective. His facilitation of the session with Members and Officers was particularly useful. He encouraged rigorous challenge of the effectiveness of our systems and our planned improvements while at the same time ensuring that staff who were trying to improve these systems felt supported. It was a sensitive and impressive performance.

Our Executive Board subsequently endorsed the recommendations that resulted from the review, which have now all been implemented. The Council has benefited significantly from the work that Ian contributed to the review."

" Ian Gardner assisted with the Project Management of the Planned Maintenance IT System implementation. We not only benefited from his knowledge of the business area but also from his attentiveness to detail and understanding of the need for good project documentation."

"I have always found Ian Gardner’s advice to be relevant and useful. i.e. short on spin and big on practicalities"

"Ian was commissioned through the Housing Quality Network to review the relationships between the Council and the new housing management company as part of the Best Value review of the Council’s Strategic Housing Service. Ian’s knowledge and approach provided both a robust challenge and a range of options and solutions that contributed positively to this review and the successful inspection of the housing management service."

"Ian did an exceptional job in a very short space of time in assessing our preparations for CPA, making sure we were heading in the right direction and giving us constructive feedback on how to improve. His contribution has made a big difference to how we performed."

" I remain very pleased and impressed with Ennerdale Consulting. A key attribute is their ability to understand issues from previous experience, and analyse options. Very Impressive."

"I have no hesitation in recommending Ennerdale Consulting. I have twice used Ennerdale in completing research and support projects to assist with change management. Ennerdale’s capacity to quickly understand and help develop the brief, fully research the subject area, and deliver results that are both high quality and on time (not a skill always practiced by consultants!) has been impressive.

Engaging consultancy support can sometimes be something of a lottery. I am pleased to report that this has not been my experience with Ennerdale”

"Ian provided focus and experience that enabled the Council to move forward its improvement objectives for the Council Housing Service that were progressing too slowly and not addressing a number of difficult management issues.

He led a process of significant step change having quickly gained the confidence and support of senior officers, members and staff within the service. Ian’s contract was extended a number of times in order to ensure that the change process and improvements were embedded in the service."

Brian Bailey, Director for Finance & Physical Resources,
Wolverhampton City Council

"Ian Gardner has been the Interim Chief Landlord Services Officer for Wolverhampton City Council throughout one of the most challenging periods in the Housing Authority’s history. This includes Wolverhampton getting the approval from Government to establish an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) for the City’s 27,000 homes.

Ian has specifically overseen an Audit Commission Inspection of the Repairs Service which witnessed an improvement in its rating from a 0 Star Rating to a 1 Star Rating with promising prospects for improvement. He has also been responsible for producing a comprehensive Organisational Change Plan to provide the relevant structure to deliver necessary improvements to housing services across the City.

His personal skills, knowledge and competency ensured that he quickly secured the respect and support from his peers, elected members and staff and tenants. He is thorough and reliable and he communicates effectively with people at all levels. Ian’s hard work and commitment to achieving results has been exceptional and I would not hesitate to use his services again.”

“Ian came to us with a strong recommendation for his attention to detail, progressive management approaches and as a robust project manager. He has worked tirelessly and has been selfless in the face of the Authority’s need to deliver an ALMO for its tenants. He has been challenging of management but none the less has brought us to a position where against the odds we are within shouting distance of the prize (£289m capital development money). Whilst a team effort, I do not want to underestimate Ian’s level of involvement and we here in Wolverhampton City council thank him most sincerely”.

"Ian was appointed in July 2005 to undertake a targeted piece of support work within the Council’s Parking Service.

This work included the production of Project Plan for Parking Services Projects in 2005/6, a review of the Council’s Vehicle Pound and the development of options for reducing its financial deficit, a review of Business Risks and the preparation of robust Risk Register for Parking Services.

In addition to the above Ian developed a Procurement Plan for Contracts to be tendered in 2005/6 and carried out reviews of Out of Hours and On Call Arrangements, and a critical analysis of all service income and budgets.
Ian’s appointment was made at a critical time when the service was experiencing significant change. In addition to the project based tasks above, he also provided mentoring and support for senior staff during the change process.

Although Ian’s core experience was not in the management of Parking Services, his broad based management experience, coupled with his analytical approach enabled him to fulfil the brief to my complete satisfaction. I have engaged Ian on two occasions now and would not hesitate to use him again."

"Ian’s practical, no spin, jargon free, no nonsense approach at a time clear direction and clarity was essential to avoid abortive, wasted effort preparing for re-inspection.

Ian challenged our processes and procedures in his systematic way, his advice always making an invaluable contribution to our end product. His personal skills, knowledge and competency ensured that he quickly secured the respect and support from senior officers, elected members and staff.

A breath of fresh air at a very difficult time for the service. A pleasure to have known and worked with."

"Ian was part of an Interim Change team which I led at Hull City Council, and contributed to the Council achieving a one star inspection result only five months after the government threatened intervention. His considerable knowledge, pragmatic approach and his attention to detail were extremely valuable to me and created a platform from which we were able to drive up performance and restore confidence in the housing service."

"Ian Gardner was engaged by Coast & Country Housing for a period of seven months ending in May 2007. His brief was to act as the Interim Building Services Head of Service and his deliverables included the following:-

Ian has delivered on all the above, with clear progress reports being produced regularly that comprehensively set out the issues being prioritised."

"We had some concerns about budget spend and were experiencing staffing shortages, so needed some interim management and consultancy to address service delivery issues and work to audit and analyse activity with a view to realigning some systems, procedures and staffing arrangements.

Ian Gardner took a thorough and challenging approach, working across the Association with a range of staff to help us identify and establish a range of actions to address the issues we identified. Ian established a project management framework, reporting to and involving our Board of Management to consider and address financial and management systems and re-engineering some of our procurement arrangements. Ian also established a good rapport with contractors as he worked directly with them to improve value for money and clarify and codify practices relating to service delivery and Health and Safety.

Ian’s approach has been enabling to staff. He also ensured that all staff recognised the issues and the responsibility to improve extended beyond the immediate Maintenance team. His wide experience and knowledge has been extremely valuable to us, and has helped set us on the right road for the future."