Experience

• 

  Focus Consultants

  • Partner

    • 1901 - Present

    "Check out our website at www.focus-consultants.co.uk.....we do pretty much most things for a pound note that are borderline legal." - IanIan is a Founding Partner of Focus with responsibility for the economic development, research and grant advocacy activities of the company. To date, this has resulted in over £953 million of UK Government and European Commission grant assistance being attracted to a Client portfolio of over £1.3 billion of projects. Ian specialises in creating successful applications to new funding sources. He works expertly with Clients to understand new guidance, systems, UK and EU priorities whilst at the same time developing robust and meaningful partnerships. Ian has led all of Focus’s project appraisal work including:• Lincolnshire Enterprise, Single Programme application appraisals• North Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire Sub Regional Strategic Partnership, Single Programme application appraisals• Coalfield Alliance, Single Programme and ERDF application appraisals• East Midlands Development Agency, Single Programme and ERDF application appraisals.Ian’s experience in the development of funding proposals and master plans in the cultural and heritage sector is extensive and includes:• Bolsover Castle, a conservation, community, education, and tourism project • Leicester City Museums 10 Year Heritage Strategy• Successfully securing the first Objective 2 Strategic Development Opportunities (SDO) – £6 million for Flaxengate and Danesgate in Lincoln and £180 million for the Cultural Quarter of Leicester.• Producing the first EU thematic Action Plans to be approved in England – £10 million each for North Derbyshire, EMTEX and the regional Chamber of Commerce Export Initiative. • Developing the unique £6.5 million Regions in the New Economy pilot programme for emda.• Successfully securing first ERDF geographical area regeneration strategies – the £85 million programmes approved for Lincolnshire and the Coalfield Alliance.