Keith Jones

Associate Manager

Keith brings over 20 years experience at chief officer level in local government, managing a range of professional services. He has considerable experience of creating and successfully leading multi-disciplinary teams including Legal, Estates, Economic Development, Business Support and Tourism, Planning and Strategic Housing. During this time he created an Economic Development Service from scratch, which went on to successfully bid for, and deliver £multi-million regeneration programmes.

He is now responsible for managing our growing team of associate consultants, ensuring their extensive skills and experiences are best used to deliver solutions which address our clients' needs.

As a consultant himself, Keith is skilled in policy and strategy development including corporate planning and strategic option analysis. He has guided a successful large-scale voluntary transfer of Council Housing Stock and developed strategic options for a direct labour organisation, which led to the amalgamation of client and contractor for waste management under a new recycling contract. He is able to inject enthusiasm into service planning and performance management through innovative and motivational approaches that reinforce a focus on outcomes for the customer. With skills in partnership working, he has led the creation and development of a Local Strategic Partnership and a community partnership for a market town which was the catalyst for a major rejuvenation programme.

He has also led complex negotiations to create joint venture companies with the private sector including an award winning golf and country club, a national hunt racecourse and a bus company. Keith also has considerable experience of performance assessment and peer challenge in local government including CPA, People Management, Audit Commission service inspections and Use of Resources. He has successfully applied his skills with private sector clients in procurement; supporting 'blue-chip' companies in producing bids for multi-million pound contracts with utility and highways companies.

He also developed the Quality Manual and Quality Management system to ISO and industry standards for a multi-national Liquid Natural Gas Terminal company, which included process mapping and the writing of company policies and procedures. Keith is an experienced trainer and mentor with a track record of devising and delivering successful training and personal development programmes in the public, private and NGO sectors. He uses a variety of coaching and training tools to stimulate participation and ensure skill and knowledge transfer that bring added value to the work place. He is currently studying for a Mentoring qualification to Masters degree level.

Outside of work, Keith enjoys walking and looking after his large organic vegetable garden. Keith can often be seen with his iPod earphones on listening to Mozart or supporting Leicester Tigers.