Cranfield trust delivers 1,000th free consultancy project
Howard Lake | 13 March 2006 | News
Free management consultancy The Cranfield Trust has delivered its 1,000th project, an HR project for The Befrienders in Bedfordshire.
The Trust, a registered charity itself, was founded in 1988 at the suggestion of HRH The Princess Royal, now its Patron, who suggested that staff, students and alumni of Cranfield University put their skills to use to support the voluntary sector.
The Trust now holds a register of 600 volunteers from the commercial world who give their time to help charities with management problems, working in any areas where skills can be transferred between the commercial and voluntary sectors.
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Feasibility studies for income generation activities are not surprisingly one of the most frequently requested types of support. So too are strategic and business planning; HR issues such as job evaluation and salary issues; marketing and communications; and understanding costs, particularly in relation to contracts.
Alison Fisher, Chief Executive of The Befrienders, which received the 1000th free consultancy project, said: “We very much value the support and expertise The Cranfield Trust has brought to The Befrienders”. The landmark project addressed HR issues with the support of Professor Shaun Tyson, HR professor at Cranfield School of Management.
Demand for human resources support has led the Trust to develop an internet-based advice service for organisations without a personnel professional – HRNet. HRNet members can post questions on employment issues to a panel of 50 HR practitioners – and share information and ideas with each other.
The Trust’s consultancy service is open to charities addressing issues of poverty, disability and social exclusion. HRNet is open to all registered charities. Both services are free.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.