Case study: Nottinghamshire County Council
Nottinghamshire County Council use Local Knowledge and SMART Observatory to develop a vision and strategy for the future.

Nottinghamshire is situated in the heart of England and covers an area of 2,085 sq km (805 sq miles). It has a population of just under 766,400 people and a workforce of 360,000. The County Council delivers a wide range of services, including education, social services, transport and leisure and has been an active user of Local Futures since 1999.
"We have enjoyed a long and productive relationship with Local Futures. Their insight and unique way of telling a 'story of place' has helped ensure the council remains focused on key issues and priorities - for Nottinghamshire and its communities. We have found their online services particularly useful and are confident their new integrated service will bring further benefits and savings, both for the council and its partners."
Mick Burrows, Chief Executive, Nottinghamshire County Council

Nottinghamshire CC has subscribed to a range of different Local Futures services over the last decade. The Council was a sponsor of our Local Internet Futures programme and an early adopter of our innovative work on the knowledge economy. We have prepared competitiveness audits, skills and knowledge studies and Local Futures Audits to inform a number of different policy agendas. Our speakers have presented at conferences, Skills Summits, Away Days and policy workshops, helping to ensure participants have a shared understanding of the issues and challenges they face. We have also informed and facilitated scenario planning workshops and helped to shape the Partnership’s vision for the County and its communities.

The Council has been an active user of Local Knowledge and in 2004 we developed the first version of their Local Information System - Nottinghamshire Knowledge. This SMART Observatory has evolved over the years and we are currently involved in a major redevelopment of the system, to include our new ‘Total Place’ mapping functionality.

Case Studies

  • Wakefield Borough Council - Use Local Knowledge to share data across its partnerships

  • Local Government Leadership - we support them in many ways, for example by providing an invaluable evidence base for the Connected Communities programme.

  • Thames gateway London Partnership - we have provided research and consultancy services and have developed the Thames Gateway Knowledge Platform.

  • Nottinghamshire County Council - use Local Knowledge and a SMART Observatory to inform a range of research and policy development work.

  • BT - have used our consultancy and online services for research and analysis. We have also helped BT to organise study tours and inform partnership working.

  • King's Lynn & West Norfolk Council - have used our research and consultancy services and also have a SMART Observatory.

  • The Community Foundation Network - have used our consultancy services, Place Profiles and Local Knowledge to encourage local giving.

  • Eastbourne Borough Council - utilised our Customer Knowledge and Local Knowledge services to inform policy and improve their performance journey.