I’ve worked as an interim a number of times in my career, and pretty much consistently for the last five years. I now offer this service alongside my other roles, and doing so on a part-time basis makes it more cost-effective for you as client, as well as providing opportunities for other members of your team to step up whilst being mentored and supported by me.

I’ve worked many times on old buildings that people love, and whilst it’s smaller in scale than my programme management and regeneration work, it’s often the most challenging as well as rewarding. I think this partly because of the passion people in the community feel about the building, and sometimes conflicting views. More often than not it’s the lack of care that previous owners have shown, leaving the building unloved, unmaintained and deteriorating in front of the eyes of those with energy and passion to do something about it. My friend Jess Steele refers to delinquent ownership, and lots of work needs to go into wrestling buildings into responsible ownership.

There’s then the fundraising to do, and this can be a mountain of work in itself. I’ve got years of experience in fundraising and importantly also sitting on the other side of the table as a grants manager/advisor. I worked for Architectural Heritage Fund across Yorkshire, assessing grant applications and making recommendations to trustees for funding as well as mentoring and supporting the organisations making the applications.

I can develop strategic fundraising plans, as well as making applications on your behalf, whichever is your preference.

Once the funding is in place, I can help with capital project management, including procuring and managing architects, landscape architects, engineers, quantity surveyors etc, and working alongside them and the client group. This is often useful when the clients are volunteers, and is sometimes a prerequisite from funders such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund. I’ve project managed the conversion of a Town Hall into a business centre, and churches into arts and music venues. Let me know if I can help you in this area.

Flexible, expert advice when you need it. Book hourly support across a range of topics—from planning to problem-solving. This focused consultation will help clarify your goals, map out next steps, and identify opportunities for growth.

A common theme in my work is building a narrative or storytelling.

If you represent a community group trying to secure a building through community asset transfer, you’ll need a strong argument to build support from locals, and to persuade the council to transfer the building to you. You’ll need a strong message or set of messages to weave through any funding applications you make.

At the other end of the scale, attracting developers and investors to a town requires a compelling narrative, not only of what the town once was and is now, but also the ambition the residents and the council representing them have for the future.

I’ll work hard to make sure I understand the story you are trying to tell, work with you to refine this and target to the audiences you want to attract.

If you’d like me to help you with web copy or LinkedIn posts, I can do this too. This can be explicitly me writing on your behalf, or employing me as a ghostwriter the post will come from you, whichever you prefer.