Since WFTT started up in 2006 we have been responsible for the following projects. You can also view examples of some other projects delivered by the team before WFTT was set up.

Sustainable Services for Small Rural Towns
Clients: Billingshurst Community Partnership/Horsham District Community Partnership and South East England Development Agency
A research study to investigate the demand and provision of services in rural areas, and understand the ways in which a small rural town functions as a service centre for its rural hinterland. The research involved a detailed study of service provision and use patterns in the Billingshurst (West Sussex) area, set in the context of national trends, issues and best practice. Study outputs included a model for use in reviewing service function and sustainability in other small rural towns, and objectives and suggested actions to improve service use and provision in the study area.

Sussex Downs and Low Weald LEADER Submission
Clients: West Sussex County Council, Action in Rural Sussex and others
We worked with the Sussex Downs and Low Weald Local Action Group to write a bid for LEADER funding for this rural area. The work involved support to develop a Local Action Group (LAG); consultation to gather views, priorities and project ideas; establishing an evidence base and writing of the bid document. The bid was successful in securing £2.25M to fund rural economic and community development projects in the LAG area, and – we understand - was one of the highest scoring bids submitted in the bidding round.

Business Support Co-ordination
Client: Brighton & Hove AIF Partnership
B&H AIF partnership have allocated funds to support improved co-ordination of business support, in line with the strategic objectives for the area. WFTT were commissioned to investigate the current provision of business support in the area, and any gaps in service; to identify how support organisations currently co-ordinated activities, and what changes were needed and to advise on actions that a business support co-ordination project might address, as well as wider actions for partners to promote more effective joint working. Proposed actions were framed in the context of the wider national and regional changes in the delivery of business support. Whilst commissioned locally, the project findings were identified by SEEDA as of value in informing the national development of business support co-ordination, and thus shared with decision makers at a national level.

Better Business Parks
Client: West Sussex Economic Partnership
A two stage research project to identify the impacts of crime on business park occupiers, and the effects of introducing security systems such as CCTV onto business parks. This involved telephone based interviews with businesses on business parks in the coastal area to determine their experience of crime and anti-social behaviour, impacts in staff, and on business costs.

Hastings Employment Land Review
Client: Hastings Borough Council
WFTT was commissioned to work with planners at HBC to prepare the employment land evidence base to inform the Hastings Local Development Framework Core Strategy document, and advise on employment land policy options. The research/review covered employment land and premises demand and supply; the implications of employment growth and change; the strategic regeneration context, and associated land policy needs; the strategic planning context and impacts of recent policies on supply.

West Sussex Social Enterprise Research
Client: West Sussex Social Enterprise Network
WFTT was commissioned to create a database of social enterprises in the county, and to report on the sector's composition, characteristics and support needs. The research involved identifying potential social enterprises from primary sources – including Charity Commission; Companies House data; and web-based research. A long list of some 300 potential social enterprises were then surveyed (using a combination of mail, e-mail and telephone approaches. The survey sought information about activities, funding, ambitions, support accessed and support needs. A final database of some 150 organisations that fitted the project definition was created.

Literature Review – Research Phase
Client: Department for Work and Pensions
Working with Bang Communications for DWP, we designed, project managed and reported on a research exercise involving customer telephone research; in-depth telephone interviews with front-line and other DWP staff and E-survey with stakeholders. Research was used to inform a major rationalisation and re-design of DWP written communications.

Literature Review – Implementation
Client: Department for Work and Pensions
Following completion of the research phase, Bang Communications were commissioned to create an information tool to store all the information contained in current DWP information leaflets, and use this to create a new, rationalised set of DWP leaflets (some 80 in total), supported by an information tool to enable future updating. As a sub-contractor to Bang, WFTT is responsible for project management of the process for creating ‘information packets’ and subsequently leaflets, and delivering a robust QA process for both.

A Future Technologies Website
Client: British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA)
Working with Bang Communications, WFTT carried out a stakeholder research exercise to investigate the need for a web-site about future technologies for education. This involved interviews and preparation of a report highlighting stakeholder perceptions of the need for the site, potential users and appropriate content.

RDPE LEADER Business Plans
Clients: Sussex Downs and Low Weald Local Action Group (LAG) and Three Harbours and Coastal Plain Local Action Group
We were commissioned to prepare the Business Plans which will guide delivery for the first two years of each LEADER programme. This involved close working with each LAG to define funding priorities, budgets, strategic and project approval processes.