ej Partnership information

ej Partnership’s mission is to support the long-term development of creative people and creative organisations.

We want individuals and organisations to accomplish more. More product, more job satisfaction, more
confidence; more of the essentials.

We want people to create the time to focus on the important issues and not waste time trying to function with
failing systems and procedures.
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Target Area Levels of service offered

1. Structure reviews and development
Organisations 2. Developing vision and writing business plans
learning, training and 3. Managing work placements and apprenticeships
development 4. Managing volunteers
5. Financial review and training programmes
6. IT review and training programmes
7. Developing and maintaining networks
1. Identifying useful support services
Governance structures 2. Facilitation & Action Learning
training and development 3. Skills review, organisational needs and legal requirements
4. Bespoke training & development programmes
1. Identifying useful information services
Individuals 2. Facilitation and Action Learning
(employed and freelance) 3. Individual and group skills reviews
learning, training and 4. Development needs analysis and bespoke training programmes
development 5. Individual and group CV reviews
6. Career development assessments
7. Job search strategy
1. Snap-shot of existing systems and policies
Organisations 2. What’s working and what’s missing
HR review and support 3. Development of existing and new HR policies
4. Staff appraisal systems
5. Performance management and absence policy

A number of associated consultants work with ej Partnership, and many of the above services are delivered in partnership with
established and sector recognised business support and training providers.
The level of service provided is determined by the needs of the organisation or individual and budget constraints.
All policies, strategies and systems are developed in accordance with current legal requirements, good practices and are relevant
to the size, type and context of the organisation.
Further details are available by contacting Edward on Edward@ejpartnership.plus.com or 07796175399
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The ej Partnership approach

Our approach or methodology is to ensure that the organisation or individual receives results that they want and expected. Our
outcome-focused approach consists of five key elements:

 ej Partnership specialises in absorbing the culture, operating conditions and needs of an organisation or
individual in a short amount of time. We can do this because of the consultants’ long history and experience in
working with an extensive range of creative organisations, managers and practitioners.

 We spend a considerable amount of time discussing and defining the brief and expected outcomes. This
way, we can manage expectations and deliver outcomes that are clearly understood and measurable.

 We deliver the expected outcomes in accordance with the culture and situation of the organisation or
individual. ej Partnership will strive to balance the need to investigate and extract information, with a high level
of sensitivity and respect.

 Expected outcomes are delivered within the timeframe agreed unless changes or unexpected external
factors come into play. The level and type of reporting is detailed within the agreed brief and in accordance
with the individual or organisation needs.

 All of our work is informed by extensive research, sector comparisons and the development of best
practices relevant to the individual or organisations.

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Areas of expertise

The combined expertise of the consultants linked with ej Partnership is summarised on this page. Each project is assigned a
principal consultant who acts as the single point of contact for the life of the project. Edward Birch monitors quality control and
outcome delivery for all projects.

Skills policy for the creative and cultural industries:

Funding issues, sector specific policy, creative apprenticeships, engagement with Further and Higher Education

Workforce Development:
National and sector specific strategies, programme development and delivery, best practice examples, future thinking,
competency frameworks and standards, qualifications and accreditation systems

Professional Development:
Funding streams, the full range of development opportunities, learning styles and preferences, sector comparisons,
different delivery models, online learning

Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG):

National and regional services, business support organisations and networks, quality standards

Diversity:
Supporting Disability and Culturally Diverse arts organisations

Organisational Development:
Structures, governance, human resources (HR), planning and development

Partnership working and Network building

Service level agreements, partnership agreements, maintaining and managing networks
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The thinking

ej Partnership mission is to support the survival, improvement and long-term development of creative people and organisations.

We want individuals to create more without increasing the number of associated problems.
We want organisations to maintain productivity but experience less stress.
We want people to create the time to focus on the important issues and not be concerned with failing systems and procedures.

Simply, we want individuals and organisations to accomplish more – more product, more job satisfaction, more confidence; more of
something that is considered important.

The level of support available for individuals and organisations is considerable but not linked in any logical manner. This makes
accessing relevant information time consuming and problematic. There appears to be a distinct lack of engagement between
business support services and creative individuals and organisations. A limited number of creative organisations and individuals
appear to access the range of sector-specific services on offer. ej Partnership wishes to help address this imbalance.

We have found that many individuals and organisations require an outside eye or some method of reflection to help identify key
needs and solutions. ej Partnership offers a range of services that facilitates the user to examine and develop a range of tools,
policies and procedures that once established, can serve the organisation or individual for a significant period.

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Diversity Policy

ej Partnership believes the need to support practitioners from a range of cultural backgrounds continues. We have a history of
working with disabled and culturally diverse individuals, and implementing programmes with the aim to diversify the workforce; our
ethos being: why would any employer want to select an employee from a restricted and incomplete skills pool?

ej Partnership is committed to recognising diversity and promoting equality. It is our aim to create a supportive working environment
where everyone is treated with dignity, courtesy and respect.

ej Partnership recognises that the ethos of valuing diversity and promoting equality rests on a firm foundation of good equal
opportunities practice. To that end, we intend to uphold and, wherever possible, exceed the guidance provided by anti-
discrimination and related legislation.

ej Partnership will continually assess the impact of its working practices and procedures and will take whatever steps necessary to
identify and eliminate any unjustified adverse impact. All allegations of unacceptable behaviour will be investigated thoroughly and
will be dealt with appropriately.

Edward Birch will take the lead in implementing this policy and any future associated action plans. All consultants and staff
engaged with ej Partnership have a responsibility to make sure that unfair discrimination does not occur. All ej Partnership staff
and consultants have a contractual duty to comply with this policy. Any breach of policy is regarded as serious, and could lead to
termination of contract in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

This policy will be reviewed regularly in consultation with all stakeholders and will be supplemented by issue-specific policies,
where required.

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ej Partnership publications include:

• Top 10 skill needs for managers

• Career assessment tool-kit
• Applying for funding musts!
• Traffic lights tool-kit for successful project management
• Traffic lights tool-kit for learning organisations
• Work-based learning opportunities for managers
• Diversity audit check-list and implementation guidance
• Team building – a new approach
• Useful organisations directory
• How to appoint and work with a consultant
• The 11 stages of partnership working

ej Partnership past clients include:

• Arts Council England (national)

• Arts Council London
• Arts Council South west
• CreativePeople (information network for the creative and cultural sector)
• London Borough of Bexley (arts strategy and Bexley festival)
• Artsline (arts and culture information for disabled people)
• London Disability Arts Forum - LDAF (leading London disability arts organisation)
• Disability Arts Managers Network
• Diverse Arts Incubation Project (culturally diverse arts and training organisation)
• London Borough of Southwark
• Southwark Arts Forum (information, advice and networking organisation)
• Middle and senior arts managers

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