I have quite an unusual combination of experience in both project management and in sales and marketing, I therefore believe that the services that I can offer could be of significant value to social enterprises, which, if they are to thrive, must be capable of implementing change whilst maintaining their market effectiveness.
My most recent position was as a project manager working for Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) where I had the responsibility for managing a very large project to implement self-directed support (SDS), which entails awarding personal budgets, to all client groups across adult social care. A major aim of SDS, which is part of a national initiative towards the personalisation of health and social care, is to stimulate the growth of a market place of private and voluntary sector providers who could offer a much wider choice of care services.
My work at CCC built on my extensive experience as a product manager and project manager during 1980s and 1990s, whilst working for software companies who supplied solutions to local governement across the UK.
During the latter stage of my time working for software companies I moved into sales and marketing, in order to ensure that the systems that I was responsible for could generate the income necessary to sustain their further development. A later position in sales and marketing required me to research the requirements of a many diverse market sectors, in both the public and private sectors, in order that I could devise appropriate solutions for each. I then mounted sales and marketing campaigns accordingly.
I therefore think that I can fairly claim I have a particular talent for understanding new business areas and in helping to devise appropriate solutions to implement or to improve them. I have also been particularly effective in helping staff adapt to periods of significant change.
But I’m not just an ideas and projects man. I know what its like to have the pressure of managing the bottom-line and so I can help organisations to promote their services in order to secure new or repeat business.
Below is a summary of my skills and experience. Please also see my Services pages to see a summary of the services that I can offer.
Key skills & experience
- Managing multiple projects, ensuring everyone is set clear targets with transparency in monitoring progress against the plan.
- Developing personal rapport with colleagues, individual clients, partners and with user groups.
- An ability to foster and develop strategic partnerships with 3rd-party organisations.
- Self-sufficiency and resilience when necessary, but otherwise fostering a team working culture.
- Supporting and guiding client and partner staff through challenging periods of change.
- Understanding business requirements in new sectors and helping to devise appropriate solutions to improve them. (I have some experience in BPR methodologies such as Lean 6-Sigma and equivalent change management toolkits).
- The ability to communicate complex ideas coherently in plain English.
- Negotiating and financial numeracy.
- Marketing, including making presentations, developing promotional material and organising seminars, etc.
Ken Lingley 