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Monday 28th May 2007, 10:53Successful Public Service

When you work in and around public services, one of the things you get used to is the criticism of public services. There are varied - often opposite - opinions on the merits, success or failure of various public services. Since starting as a Non-Executive Director of a Primary Care Trust I have watched the impact of criticisms on staff working in the sector.

Everybody in the sector recognises the need for improvements and change especially with increasingly tight ‘budgets’. At the same time we have to acknowledge achievement and improvements in our services. The two ar..Mark Lovell View Complete Post

Wednesday 23rd May 2007, 16:11Opening in StocktonLast Monday I was up in the North East opening both a new site and a new division with A4e, focusing on Enterprise and Education. Last week also saw the launch of 'Civic Pride' and the transfer of assets into the community. I was really pleased to see such a strong linkage between the plans we have been developing over the last two years on supporting alternative curriculum and enterprise in education and the idea of making better use of potentially 'redundant' 'civic space'.

Back to Thornaby and our team in Stockton working with local stakeholders to come up with a fantastic and c..Mark Lovell View Complete Post

Thursday 17th May 2007, 00:08Renewing the SpiritRenewing the Spirit

After so many years working in A4e with a team of dedicated people whose sole intent is to “Improve Peoples Lives” is many different ways I thought I would just draw breath.

Each time I get the chance to spend some time in one of our offices I see the dedication which the front line teams bring to their work. I leave the office humbled at the passion and one to one support offered to each of the friends we are working with in our centres.

I also see the way a job can transform a life. I know we do more than “just” ..Roy Newey View Complete Post

Thursday 10th May 2007, 18:11Things that go wrong

Heard a few good things the other day - at the IOD conference - yes it was a very good day - I keep referring to the things I learnt - I can recommend it.

First up was Miles Templeman (the Director General) - he was talking about when things go wrong.

In Business - Don't hide failure - don't reward failure.

Admit when things go wrong - say what you are doing to sort. This will give short term pain but you will get long term trust. Good stuff - honest - I liked his thoughts.

Then Ranulph Fiennes (the explorer)- on what to do when you get a bad appl..eharrison View Complete Post

Thursday 10th May 2007, 17:51How to get green?

I was at the IOD conference t'other day.

They had a session on companies with a conscience - it was well done - some great speakers who run 'sorted' companies.

One guy came out with something that I remembered - 'A Business is legally a person and a person without a conscience is a pyschopath'

Sort of enough said really!

Anyway - the chat turned to going green - and what companies could do to make a difference.

The best thing I heard ( instead of all the fancy words normally said by people who have made the whole green thing their living) - do some gr..eharrison View Complete Post

Thursday 10th May 2007, 11:16Update from my world

Busy busy busy - not posted for a while - sorry.

Come back from a holiday full of new energy - think you are a super hero and next thing you know you have done several months work in a few weeks.

I now realise that I am not a super hero - and that I am ready for another break already!

My busy weeks have been fascinating weeks - someone just looking at the appts in my diary might think it all sounds glam - no chance...

Interviews with journalists, dinner with Mervyn King (Gov. of the Bank of England), A4e's stunning management conference(300 people from a..eharrison View Complete Post