this issue

Open Source Revolution P.1 IT Management Tips P.2 Non-Profit Solutions P.3

Trends & New Software P.4

Urban Futures celebrated its 10th Anniversary on the 28th September, 2011

with a corporate event in Bruce Grove in the Heart of Tottenham. The theme

of the evening was twofold; both celebrating past achievements and laying

out priorities for the future largely focusing on young people.

N E W S L E T T E R 1

Introduct ion from the Chief Execut ive Interview with Derek

Wheeler — HEBP

Who are HEBP?

HEBP stands for Haringey

Education Business Partnership.

The organisation has been in

existence for 13 years as an

independent organisation &

charity. The organisation was set

up to deliver a number of

services linking local schools with

businesses and to meet the

national curriculum for work

experience for year 10 students.

What is HEBP’s relationship

with Urban Futures?

From September 2011, Urban

Futures joined the Board of HEBP

and took the overall strategic

management of the organisation.

The current Chief Executive of

Urban Futures is the Chair of the

HEBP Board.

What are HEBP’s current

projects?

HEBP currently delivers the

following:

Work experience programme

for 9 Haringey schools and 2

colleges placing around

1,400 pupils on a 1 week

placement with businesses.

Pre NEET programme

working with young people.

Specialist 1 week classroom

based programmes for ‘at

risk’ young people.

Who currently works for

HEBP?

HEBP currently has 5 specialist

staff. These are Granville

Barrand, Sherrie Annandie,

Talent Ramsamy, Nurcan Ali, and

myself Derek Wheeler.

Welcome to the first edition of the

new Urban Futures Newsletter. We will be producing this document on a

regular basis to keep you all informed on what is going on in the company across the board, the services and

training that we are currently offering our customers, and as a means of

keeping you informed and connected with colleagues, particularly those situated in our satellite offices across

London and at Stansted Airport.

However, this Newsletter is also an

opportunity for both staff and customers to contribute to the development of the company. Remember we are a social enterprise and a ’not for profit’ company so we value ideas and

views that you have and will always try to incorporate new ways of working if they can prove efficiency and value to our customers

and the services we deliver.

In this addition of the newsletter, we will be highlighting a

number of issues that all staff should take note of. These include:

Matrix accreditation—what it is and why we have it.

Haringey Education Business Partnership—a new Urban

Futures company and an interview with the Manager Derek

Wheeler.

Urban Futures restructuring and our position with Newlon

Housing Trust.

Updates on our performance across the Work Programme, JCP

Flexi Fund, NEET programmes, Apprenticeships, and our

training contracts.

Updating our website and ICT portals.

An update from our Business Development Team on tenders

and contracts won.

And comments from our HR department.

Last but not least, there is a number of additional articles

highlighting events (past & present) and issues/ articles of interest. It has not been possible to fit in all ‘company news’ into this first addition so don’t feel we are ignoring you or your service

—your chance for a company profile will come in later additions so I do hope you will find this newsletter of interest to you and

helpful in your work environment.

Regards

Steve Delaney

www.urbanfutures.org.uk

Urban Futures — Who we are, What we do, Why

we do i t… by Steve Delaney

Urban Futures was created in 2001 from an amalgamation of a number

of public authority regeneration teams from the London Boroughs of Haringey and Enfield and for the first 5 or 6 years was solely dedicated to

the programme management of these public bodies regeneration schemes

such as SRBs, NRFs, and the Objective 2 ERDF European schemes.

In 2006 we changed and slowly started a transformation towards the direct

delivery of programmes and dealing with customers ourselves rather than through sub contracts with other organisations. This started with the

introduction of the Construction Sector Certification Scheme (CSCS), moved to the delivery of wider employment initiatives through the Learning & Skills Council (LSC) and the London Development Agency (LDA), and

culminated in where we are today delivering DWP, SFA, and wider

employment and skills programmes.

As part of this transformation, Urban Futures adopted a new marketing

strategy which saw the formation of a number of delivery brands including:

Employ.

Business Futures.

Construction Web.

Stansted Employment & Skills Academy.

Heathrow Gateway 2012.

Urban Futures Consultancy.

Urban Futures is a private ‘not for profit’ social enterprise & urban

regeneration company dedicated to delivering quality services aimed at disadvantaged individuals, groups and communities. Although we deliver pan London, we have a particular focus on north London and the

Upper Lea Valley area which is where our headquarters is based (Wood

Green, Haringey).

We specialise in delivering employment & skills programmes and business support projects enabling individuals, groups, and communities to better equip themselves economically in order to support their efforts in

combating deprivation factors inherent in their lives and the lives of the communities within which they live. Therefore, many of our clients are from

traditional working class backgrounds, minority ethnic communities, are refugees, disabled, or have suffered from a series of welfare debilitating

issues.

We have a wide ranging remit contained within our Articles of Association

but can be categorised under 4 main headings, namely:

1. Equipping local people for a 21st century economy.

2. Business development.

3. The environment (in it’s widest economic and social perspective).

4. To maintain and develop a reputation as an urban regeneration

company.

For a look at the longer version of our Articles, visit our webpage on

www.urbanfutures.org.uk

Corporate Development

Objectives:

To constantly review &

improve the quality of

services delivered.

Ensure that we deliver

activities where our

strengths lie in programme

management, direct ser-

vice delivery, and the de-

livery of innovation.

Deliver & champion the

development of partner-

ships & consortia to im-

prove the effectiveness of

services & value for money.

Continue to value & de-

velop our staff team as our

key asset.

Subsequently, we

have now included:

HEBP.

North London Arts

Partnership.

Business Development...by Tanju Yavuz

The Business Development team has had one of its busiest procurement rounds with a

variety of opportunities popping up. The team has recently been successful in securing a sub contract for the...

DWP Education Funding Agency Youth Contract – A programme of support designed to engage 16/17 year olds into education, training and employment with

training.

We have also submitted a major bid in partnership with Outward, Newlon Fusion, and

HEBP for the...

GLA ESF Young People with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities — A

programme designed to provide this target group with support to access

employment within a variety of sectors.

We have successfully moved to stage 2 of the procurement process and have had an

interview for the contract. We will find out in August 2012 if we were successful.

Contracts currently being looked at include:

Haringey Jobs Fund.

East London Flexi Fund.

Bromley Youth Employment Project.

Youth related contracts.

David Lammy MP visited the Wood Green

branch of Urban Futures on Friday, 23rd March

2012. Pictured with Steve Delaney (Chief Exec-

utive) and Garba Sani (Director of Finance, HR

& Central Services).

Urban Futures has been

successfully delivering

t h e D W P W o r k

Programme since May

2011 and has supported

over 100 people into

employment outcomes.

Urban Futures are

currently delivering the

SFA Apprenticeships

programme and have

supported over 20 young

p e o p l e i n t o

Apprenticeships in Retail,

Customer Service and

Business Admin.

The Matrix Standard

What i t ’s a l l about and why we must have i t… by

Anita Garrard

The Matrix Standard is a quality standard for organisations to

assess and measure their advice and support services. It is

imperative for organisations who deliver welfare to work, training

services, and job brokerage to have this accreditation as it is an

industry benchmark and funders tend only to award contracts to

those organisations who hold this accreditation.

By holding this standard, we are ensuring that the management of

the company is continuously working to improve services by

engaging with staff and customers; that staff are trained to the

required level and have the resources to do their job; and that

customers are receiving quality service delivery geared to meeting

their needs.

Every 3 years our organisation has to go through a re-accreditation

and our initial accreditation to the new and improved standard took

place in June 2012 when we received a partial pass. We will go

through a stage 2 process in August/ September 2012 where we

will have the opportunity post our restructuring to show that we

fully comply with the standard.

In the run up to the re-accreditation there will be several meetings

which you may be asked to attend (this will keep you informed of

what is happening in the re-accreditation / company).

The Matrix Standard comprises of four elements:

Leadership and Management.

Resources.

Service Delivery.

Continuous Quality Improvement.

An assessor will visit our offices (Wood Green and may arrange to

visit satellite offices) and gather evidence from a range of sources

including:

Face-to-face, telephone, video conferencing or group interviews.

Observing events such as meetings.

Information from you on how you believe you meet the matrix

Standard.

Discussions with clients, employees and partners.

YOU may be asked to attend an interview with the assessor to talk

about your area of work or if you are new to the company you may

be asked about your induction. As a company, we will be holding

briefing sessions so you are aware of the company objectives, how

we measure progress through identifiable milestones, and what

your role is in ensuring we meet standards.

Remember, everything we do as a company is to support

disadvantaged individuals, groups and communities in London

through employment and training and business support initiatives—

it’s why we were created.

For more information on Matrix accreditation please ask Anita

Garrard for a copy of the Standards.

Our mission is to:

Deliver high quality services for all local communi-

ties including local residents, businesses and organisations that in turn deliver sustainable and positive change.

Maximise the benefits of national, regional and local

developments for local communities.

Work with all local communities to broker solutions

to needs and aspirations.

Deliver a range of appropriate services including

programme/project management; solution brokerage; the direct delivery of training; employment support & job brokerage.

Support the aims and aspirations of partner organi-

sations to maximise the impact of available resources on the region.

Constantly review, evaluate and improve our services

to ensure that they are appropriate, of a high quality and meeting local needs. Invest in our staff to maximise our ability to deliver quality services.

Objectives

Business Development:

Ensure an integrated suite of business support ser-

vices to start-ups, local SMEs & larger employers.

Promote business creation and self employment to

local residents.

Contribute to an environment where businesses can

thrive and prosper.

Promote the development of social enterprises.

Sustainable Development:

Support economic development in deprived areas.

Deliver recycling strategies for SMEs.

Support employment that enhances the environ-

ment through sustainable development.

Social & Employability Development:

Equip local people with the skills & aptitudes to

remove barriers to employment.

Support activity designed to empower local people &

communities.

Promote lifelong learning & an effective transition

from education to employment.

Develop the local skills base.

Cl ient Outcomes—del iver ing our services to

the best of our abi l i t ies and achieving successful

outcome for a l l of our c l ients.. .by Ani ta Garrard.

Most staff will always try to achieve the best possible outcome for their

clients whether that is Information, Advice & Guidance, Job brokerage,

training or indeed through contract compliance issues with funders. But do

we ever ask ourselves why we are doing it?

It is extremely important that we are continuously asking ourselves this

question in order to ensure that we are indeed delivering Best Practice. If

we deliver contractual outputs only (the payment triggers for many of our

contracts), we cannot be sure that we are delivering what is best for the

individual client in their bespoke journey with us.

We do not deliver our services for the sake of it (or indeed for profit

necessarily), we do so to meet the company Aims & Objectives of

supporting disadvantaged individuals, groups and communities and we do

so to ensure the best possible positive outcome for each and every clients.

I have highlighted some clearly definable objectives for some of our

headlines services:

IAG:

To deliver an impartial and bespoke service meeting the needs of clients.

To deliver the above in consultation with the client and focusing on

current skills, or identifying skill requirements.

To deliver IAG with fully qualified staff equipped to meet client

requirements.

Job brokerage:

To source sustainable employment opportunities for unemployed people

that pays a living wage.

To source employment opportunities that offer a career and progression

and up-skilling initiatives to progress people personal skills and support

their efforts in personal development.

Training:

To deliver quality vocational training that is accredited to Ofsted

requirements and progresses individuals employability skills.

To deliver our training using only qualified trainers/ assessors who

objectively explain the aims and objectives of our training to clients.

Employment programmes:

To deliver holistic employment programmes that support individuals,

groups and communities to address personalised economic issues and

improve their lifestyles.

To provide a client focused ‘end to end’ service for all clients including all

aspects of the client journey.

Programme management:

To deliver an holistic service meeting & exceeding clients objectives.

Contract compliance:

To meet and or exceed all contractual compliance issues including all

audit requirements including transparency and client confidentiality.

Monitoring & Measuring

Effectiveness of Services:

Urban Futures has a number

of methods.

Firstly, this is done through

our contractual obligations to

funders.

Example 1. Partnership compli-

ance meetings—usually held on a

quarterly basis.

Secondly, we have internal

procedures and staff targets

for each of our services

Example 2. Individual appraisal

targets and monthly performance

targets.

Thirdly, we ask service users/

clients/ contractors for feed-

back through a number of

methods including verbal

and written methods.

Example 3. Evaluation ques-

tionnaires/ Customer feed-

back forms.

And last but not least

through our quality processes

and internal audit proce-

dures.

Example 4. Site Checksheets.

Conducted by our Performance &

Audit Manager quarterly.

Urban Futures maintains a

Quality Improvement Plan

(QIP) for the company as a

whole. All staff have a re-

sponsibility to contribute to

the development of the Plan

which you should do so

through your immediate Line

Manager or Chief Executive.

New Contracts — The Number 36 Bus… by Russ Patrick

New Enterprise

Allowance (NEA)…

by Michael Locke

Business Futures, the

business brand of Urban

Futures, is currently

delivering a Department

of Work and Pensions

(DWP) project called

‘ N e w E n t e r p r i s e

Allowance’. Business

Futures is working as a

sub contractor to Avanta

the main contract holder.

The aim of the project is

to support unemployed

p e o p l e t h r o u g h

structured help and

mentoring so that they

can explore the potential

to become self employed

by setting up their own

business enterprises.

We are currently on track

with the contract output

to the end of June and

having supported 113

people to develop

Business Plans which

hopefully will results in

new enterprises starting

soon.

Unlike the urban myth of the

number 36 bus, Urban

Futures has been very

successful in securing

contracts and they have

come along one after

another.

In January 2012 we secured

a major contract to deliver

the Booster+ Programme

through JCP’s Flexible

Support Fund. The project is

b e i n g d e l i v e r e d i n

conjunction with our partner

Prevista who are delivering

in the central London

boroughs while we deliver in

Haringey, Enfield and

Waltham Forest.

The UF element of this

project is currently being led

by Angela Bailey & Paul

Dempsey and is working with

new claimants of JSA to

deliver a programme of

intense support to get them

into work.

With unemployment levels

still rising, a lack of

confidence in the economy

general ly, the recent

disturbances, and higher and

higher levels of young people

unable to get work, this

project is key to supporting

local people.

Urban Futures were also

successful in securing a

contract with Uxbridge

Co l l e ge and Ea l i n g ,

Hammersmith & West

London College to deliver pre-

vocational training for learners

across London that will be

delivered through our West

London offices, our Stansted

and Wood Green offices and in

partnership with Newlon Fusion

and other external partners.

This contract is worth around a

million pounds and works in

conjunction with our existing

provision for the unemployed.

Uxbridge College has been the

top FE college in London for

five years running so we have

had to meet very high

standards to gain this contract.

Two contracts aimed at young

people were also won this year

- a project aimed at young

NEETs in West London; and a

similar one in NE London and a

further two sub contracts – one

to deliver pre-vocational

training in the east of England;

and a contract to deliver in-

work qualifications. We have

also now secured a very

valuable sub contract to deliver

the governments new flagship

Youth Contract in Enfield,

Haringey, Hillingdon, and

Hammersmith & Fulham.

www.urbanfutures.org.uk

Apprenticeships… by

Russ Patrick

Urban Futures has a number of apprenticeships (16-18 year

olds) delivered under a contract with Ixion Holdings Ltd, a partner based in the east

of England. Urban Futures has worked with Ixion since

October 2011 pr imari ly delivering 19-24 year old apprentices but also delivering

an ESF classroom based training programme which is

now drawing to a close.

A recent Apprenticeship recruitment drive has seen

Urban Futures take on a number of apprentices –

ranging from 16-22 years of age – across several of its sites. This brings the total

number of apprentices to just under 20 with the majority

having found roles ranging from receptionists to trainee job brokers within the

company. All apprentices are

progressing well against their

set aims and enjoying the work/study balance which

forms the programme’s USP.

The delivery team is confident that the upcoming external

verification process will result in a clean bill of health in terms

of Urban Futures’ delivery and our in house apprentices will continue to flourish in their

roles.

We continue to develop our

delivery procedures and processes and have recently recruited additional assessors

to reflect both the recent

increase in the number of

apprentices as well as an anticipated steady stream

of new recruits going

forward.

Indeed, we are currently

looking to sign a contract to fill 15 new apprenticeship

vacancies in social care with a London based provider and are talking

with others as we speak!

In addition to the above,

and over the coming months, we will be setting new targets for our satellite

offices delivering the Work Programme looking to

these teams to support the delivery of apprenticeships

and help the company

widen its portfolio of work.

We already have jobs which

can be converted to apprenticeships (19 plus)

and each will be targeted to realise one 16—18 year

apprenticeship per month.

The North London Arts Partnership... by

Rob Prague

Urban Futures was asked by the London Borough of

Enfield to open an art gallery in a derelict shop in

Ponders End, Enfield.

The Temporary Art Gallery Project has now come to a

close, however, it was warmly welcomed with open

arms by the local community.

Its presence challenged people’s negative perception

of Ponders End, provided local artists with a platform

to create and display their work, made use of a

vacant shop unit and restored it to a state in which it

can be commercially utilised again.

More importantly however, the gallery contributed to

raising awareness and interest in the arts in North

London and highlighted the diversity of services

delivered by Urban Futures.

A strategic partnership

with Newlon Housing

Trust… by Steve

Delaney

As noted at the 1st Annual

Staff Conference, Urban

Futures has made an

application to become a

Group member company of

the Newlon Housing Trust

group of companies.

The application is on-going

however both parties have

agreed to pause the process

in order to better understand

a number of legal and

structural issues that need

to be resolved before full

membership can be realised.

In the meantime, we

continue to develop closer

working relationships with

the Trust and other member

organisations both in terms

of operational and service

delivery issues but also in

backroom functions such as

our HR support that we

currently receive from

Outward.

We have a number of

potentially exciting projects

that we have tendered for

with group companies and

continue to look at other

ways of integrating our work

for the future.

I will continue to update

staff on developments with

the Trust over the coming

months.

Urban Futures successfully held it’s 1st Annual Staff

Conference on the 21st May 2012 at the new and superb

Newlon House building at Tottenham Hale, part of the

major new housing development on the former industrial

site.

The Conference was attended by all UF staff (now 84

people) and was the first chance for the whole

organisation to come together since our major increase in

staffing and site locations with the introduction of the

Work Programme contract and our new training delivery

programmes.

The Conference focused on a number of issues such as

strategic direction of the company, with key note

speakers including Dave Wyatt, Chair of Urban Futures,

Steve Delaney, Chief Executive, Mike Hinch, Chief

Executive of Newlon, and Peter Little, Chief Executive of

Outward. Myself, supported by Russ Patrick also outlined

operational requirements and financial matters.

The Conference broke into smaller group sessions to

discuss key issues as well and included Quality & the

Matrix Standard, Young Peoples services, Work

Programme, Training and it’s delivery, and partnership

developments. A number of ideas and proposals were put

forward by staff and specially invited guests from some of

our contractors and these are currently being discussed

and reviewed by the Senior Management Team.

We expect to lay out an operational delivery plan

emanating from the break out sessions in the very near

future incorporating the input from each and every one of

you so look out for this soon. We look forward to an

equally exciting Conference in 2013.

1st Annual Staff Conference… by Garba Sani

Human Resources Department… by Minh Cong Tran

We’ve been working closely with Outward (a London based social care organisation and social

enterprise) for the past year and they currently help us manage our HR functions offering

their expertise and experience at both the operational and strategic level.

Together, we have successfully developed the new absence management policy and delivered workshops to our staff in support of this and we are currently working towards developing strategies to update our current practices to benefit staff in terms of engagement, reward

systems and support available. Hopefully these will be developed sufficiently over the coming

months so that we can implement them in the new financial year in 2013.

We are about to radically review our appraisal systems for all staff as we are aware that the current system is not working to the standards that we would all like and we will be bringing

in a new system for the new year.

All of these changes will be instrumental in delivering significant improvements to our current approach to HR management and in response to the many changes we’ve experienced over

the last few months, both as a department and an organisation. We will continue to solidify the teams across the organisation reducing the numbers of agency staff ensuring the bulk of

full time roles are Urban Futures staff .

Urban Futures—New Staff

Richard Penny — West London Area Manager

Angela Bailey - Employment Adviser - Wood Green

Paul Dempsey - Employer Engagement Officer - Wood Green

Sam Sheikh – Employment Adviser - Wembley

Zavery Tito – Employment Consultant - Wembley

Neena Gharu – Employment Adviser - Uxbridge

Sandra Brown — Employment Adviser—Wood Green

Cara Bowie – Trainee Marketing Assistant – Wood Green

Victor Stephenson-Henshaw — Trainee Administrator — Wood Green

Jordon McIntosh - Trainee Project Worker – Wood Green

Anna Fujer – Trainee Project Worker – Wood Green

Maruf Ahmed – Trainee Project Worker – Wood Green

Luke Neal – Trainee Receptionist – Wood Green

Karyn Lamb — Trainee Receptionist — Wood Green

Restructuring… by Steve Delaney & Garba Sani

A seemingly on-going process, however, one which is crucial to the success of the

organisation. Over the coming few months we will be finalising the restructuring of the company and will be issuing a new corporate pictogram of all the current positions within the

organisation.

To date, we have finalised much of the satellite office positions and solidified the teams. However, there are still a number of agency staff prevalent in the teams and we will be

seeking, where appropriate, to bring the positions in house in the fullness of time. Similarly, at our Wood Green headquarters we have made some significant changes, none more than

the creation of a new young Peoples Services Department headed up by Derek Wheeler—we

are expecting great things from the team over the coming months and years.

We are now looking at more senior roles and have created Area Manager posts for both North

and West London. There are still some areas to be filled at the senior level and the Board continue to discuss the best way forward. All will become clear over a period of time so it’s

now all down to the operations and successful delivery to meet our Aims & Objectives.

Meet the Marketing Team — What we provide and a sneak preview of our new website… by Robert Prague & Aaron Sands

What to expect from our next edition

Newsletter coming soon…

A spotlight on Heathrow Retail Academy.

An interview with Richard Penny, Area

Manager West.

Urban Futures creates a new Youth

Services Department.

The Youth Contract.

Matrix—how we ensure it drives

continuous improvements.

Training, training, training—a new look

Urban Futures.

Work based learning update.

Financial services are important too! A

snapshot in the life of the Finance team.

The Stansted Employment & Skills

Academy.

Here at Urban Futures we welcome input

and ideas from all staff and customers. If you have any ideas for articles of interest

or new design formats then please

forward these to the marketing dept.

Contact:

robert.prague@urbanfutures.org.uk or

aaron.sands@urbanfutures.org.uk or

info@urbanfutures.org.uk

Alternatively, you can contact by telephone on 020 8352 5900 or via the

website and other electronic connections

detailed:

www.urbanfutures.org.uk

Urban Futures is a company registered in England &

Wales. Company registration number: 04131420.

Registered address: Unit A012, The Chocolate Factory,

Clarendon Road, Wood Green, London N22 6XJ.

Tel: 020 8352 5900. Fax: 020 8352 5901.

Email: info@urbanfutures.org.uk

© Urban Futures, Unit A012, The Chocolate Factory,

Clarendon Road, London N22 6XJ.

Urban Futures’ marketing team provide all manner of

marketing materials for all 7 UF offices across London.

For the last 2 years, everything from flyers to banners

has been produced in-house, all to a bespoke design.

The marketing team were also responsible for the Urban

Futures 10th Anniversary Dinner and worked tirelessly to

ensure its success.

As we enter our 3rd year at Urban Futures, we are hap-

py to announce the launch of our new website. The new

website is by far the most accessible we have ever pro-

duced and will feature a Twitter feed and a Facebook

like button, enabling clients to keep up to date with cur-

rent Urban Futures products and services.

Contact Us