Listening to the people that matter

When it comes to providing services, consultation is essential. Whether you’re selecting new technology for a waste infrastructure project or investigating ways to improve local public transport, a properly conducted consultation process helps you to make an informed decision. It enables you to balance public demand with policy objectives and any fiscal constraints.

It is important to consult with everyone who might be affected. The problem is that most people rarely, if ever, attend public meetings. So how do you reach the silent majority who often hold views in the middle ground? Or those hard to engage sections of the population who find it hard to participate in traditional consultation processes?

Spreading the net

To engage successfully with all stakeholders Resource Futures uses a range of consultation activities including:

• Public meetings
• Focus groups
• Engaging with local community groups and business associations
• Targeted communications and pro-actively searching out under-represented groups
• One–to-one depth interviews
• Attitudinal surveys, face-to-face, telephone and web-based

As well as these consultation activities we offer the technical expertise to inform the choices that need to be consulted on, such as types of technology, impacts on physical environment of different types of renewable energy. What’s more, we are experienced in taking technical and scientific information and writing briefing documents for many different audiences.

How much do you want from us?

We divide the consultation process into four parts and can help clients with the full process or contribute stage-by-stage, depending on your needs. The stages are:

• Developing consultation parameters
• Communicating the issues and options to stakeholders
• Undertaking the consultation process
• Providing feedback

Increasingly, consultation is a regulatory requirement, and you’ll need to carry out the process in a way that can withstand legal challenges. As members of the Consultation Institute, we can make sure everything is carried out to the letter.