Stroud District Enterprise

[Stroud DC Local Strategic Partnership
– Creating Wealth Syndicate, CWS]

The CWS is part of Stroud District's Local Strategic Partnership, tasked with developing a climate for wealth creation and retention through enterprise and tourism-based activities.

The Challenge

To achieve its wealth creation goals the CWS required a Business Plan they could use as a blueprint to secure public and private funding for a viable district-wide events and activities programme; and which would also represent the aspirations and contributions of the community in all its diversity.

The Solution

Following some initial stakeholder and market research, we proposed a new corporate entity to deliver a five-year plan and recommended the most appropriate legal and operational structure, complete with organisational design, roles, responsibilities and objectives. The plan itself included a 5 year quarter-by-quarter events framework upon which the new enterprise can build, identifying core themes of Music & Arts, Heritage, Enterprise, Food & Drink, and Attractions. Within the plan we presented a marketing communications strategy for both the enterprise and the district, including timetables and methodology for brand development and ongoing marketing management.

The Difference

The enterprise objectives, events and communications plan were unanimously endorsed by the LSP in a meeting of its members, representing both council and community. This means the CWS has been able to fulfil a key role as a catalyst for change and progress, on behalf of the district. Through 2006 the Business Plan implementation will begin to roll out across Stroud District as it embarks on an exciting five year journey.

"Achieving the Difference have enabled us to realise years of local effort, most of it voluntary, and we can now really move things forward. Their plan is wide ranging and thorough, containing not only the insights from their stakeholder research, but also a wealth of practical advice and recommendations that will help us to hit the ground running, when funds are approved. A first-class, professional piece of work and excellent value."
– Terry Morgan, Chair, Creating Wealth Syndicate